Brooklyn Boy at SXSW

Well I was able to catch one of Kevin Devine's sets at The Belmont on Saturday. I've seen him a few times before and this guy never fails to put on a great show. the song selection is always fantastic and he truly gives it his all. The set was sprinkled with some new material that added a musical intensity to the show. I'm really looking forward to his coming full length. 

The Dicks - SXSW

Funny story: I was at Red 7 watching the TXHC Showcase but I didn't want to miss The Dicks (and David Yow), so I trekked 14 blocks (one way) to the Austin Music Hall. Phew! I got there and crammed myself at the front of the stage along with a bunch of old Texas punks. It was a pretty cool crowd; one that especially stood out at the Austin Music Awards ceremony. David Yow accepted The Dick's award, which was pretty damn cool, I must say. Nearly 30 years-old, the band put on a great show, pleasing it's audience with their "don't-care" attitude. As a youngin' it was a great show for me to watch.

  

Metallica at Stubb's SXSW

That's right. If you didn't go, I'm sure you heard all about it. Honestly, I'm not the biggest Metallica fan, but I definitely wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me by. I mean, let's be serious: Metallica at Stubb's outdoors - for free! I'm so down. The show was actually great. The crowd was significantly different from any other show I saw at SXSW this year. I was probably one of the youngest spectators, coming in at a whopping 21-years-old. The majority of the crowd was older and all badge-holders. I feel like this made my viewing experience ten times better because it seemed like everyone there was absolutely into it - and not showing it through immature actions (like throwing beer and trash cans into the "pit"). I tried to get some pictures but my flash didn't reach very far and this 5'2'' gal can only reach so high. 

  

As you can see, there was a sea of fists and head-banging. Metallica played a fantastic set that looked a little something like this:

Creeping Death

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Harvester of Sorrow

One

Broken, Beat & Scarred

Cyanide

Sad But True

Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

Master of Puppets

Blackened

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(didn't catch 1st song in encore)

Whiplash

Seek and Destroy

SXSW "Bridge Show"

The "bridge show" is guaranteed to be a great disaster each year. I say that because the show is always great but the event itself is chaotic.  Last year featured Fucked Up. This year, Annihilation Time, Vivian Girls and Trash Talk (literally) tore up the Lamar Pedestrian Street Bridge. It was nuts because you could feel the entire bridge moving underneath your feet. I staked my claim on the edge of a garden planter near a light post and captured the following insanity:

  

I left right after Annihilation Time played but I heard the show got "violent" during Trash Talk's set. It's probably a good thing, 'cause I don't think my 105 lb. body and fragile camera could've survived such an event.