(deep breath)

..let’s do this.

I started the morning by catching The Big Pink in the Convention Center. Yeah, the bass was heavy but it wasn’t giving me heart palpitations like it did before.

My first new act of the day was Justin Townes Earle.

This guy is what Ryan Adams used to be for me (minus the drunk dramatics). He mostly performed songs from his upcoming album and they’re so beautifully written and his solo acoustic performance was so amazingly intimate that it brought the crowd to their feet. He is an act worth catching.

Grabbing a grilled cheese on the run, I caught Dinosaur Feathers at the Dickies party.

Not bad. I can’t wait to see what they grow into.

As I had time to burn and wanted to maximize the number of shows I saw, I ducked into the British Party @ Latitude 30 to catch D/R/U/G/S.

Goddamn, this kid is a turntable wiz. His tracks don’t do him justice. Catch him live.

After dinner I raced all the way across town to catch a New York band, check, a Brooklyn band, check, a… fuck, I can’t remember what neighborhood they were from but that’s how they identified themselves (wankers), a band called The Echo Friendly.

Aaaaanyway, these guys were okay. Not bad, not great.

I started my way towards the center of it all and caught Dillion Francis.

First, if you read my tweet, I wasn’t kidding about meeting this beautiful girl that danced like a demon. Sorry, no pic. To dazzled.

But I digress. The kid was pretty great despite being drunk. Worth a listen.

I then hit the molasses that was 6th street to see LA band, correction, the Echo Park band (wankers), NO.

These guys were pretty damn good. I gotta look them up when I get home.

Next door I caught The John Steel Singers.

Poor guys, the main sound tech was so drunk I think he was having his son run the board. The result was that their sound was awful. Bummer.

Next I caught another band I first heard at SXSW, We Were Promised Jetpacks.

I love these guys but I’m not the biggest fan of their latest album.

I wandered back into The Stage on 6th (no woman waiting to choke me this time) and caught a bit of Jimmy Cliff.

What can I say, he’s a legend.

I finished the night with The Heavy.

Man, they brought it so hard that they brought the house down.

And my pick of the day is… shit, since it’s the last day I’ll give you three of my favorites that speak to the diversity of SXSW, as well as my own tastes.

First, Justin Townes Earle.

Second, Dillion Francis.

Third, NO.

And that’s a wrap. Next stop, home.

Next fest: Sasquatch. I have two tickets. If you want to come with me, just write a 500 word essay about why you’d like to spend a sexy weekend with yours truly.

While they sounded very good, they weren’t quite doing it for me.

Next, I managed to snake my way into the SPIN party and caught The Big Pink.

Damn, could the bass be any louder. Yeah, these guys sounded good but a little less bass and I think I could have made out the rest of the band.

After a scramble back to the Convention Center I caught Blitzen Trapper.

They were rockin’ it out… gotta say I prefer their more quiet moments.

I then ran back to the SPIN party to see the act everyone has been talking about, Santigold.

Holy! She was amazing. Could easily be the best performance of the festival.

After an all too short nap I hit the Japanese Night for The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass.

Man, these girls could really rock.

I was so pleased I hung around for Kao=S.

They were a much more traditional act than you usually see here.

It was very pretty but left me scratching my head (and not just because I’ve been elbow-to-elbow with dirty hippies all week).

Next I caught Bear Hands.

Not bad. I wasn’t blown away but that could have been because the band was exhausted and ready to go home (the lead singer said as much, more than once).

As I was just around the corner, I headed back to the Japan Night for Saito Johnny.

Goddamn, this kid is a bluegrass wiz, plus he covered “Video Killed The Radio Star” and “One More Time“. And if that weren’t good enough, the kid then strapped on the banjo and killed it.

I mean he was a demon on that banjo.

I then fought my way through the thick of 6th street to catch England’s newest rap sensation, Lady Leshurr.

My jaw dropped. Not only is she a tiny bundle of energy, she can spit rhymes like crazy, plus she has an absolutely infectious and winning stage personality. Hell, she was so good she got one of her back-up band members to come up and rap with her.

Feeling good, I decided to cap the night with more from the Japanese Night. I mean, it’s always been awesome in the past so why should this year be any different?

I could not have been more wrong when I caught Vampillia.

Think of a cross of Emo and Death Metal with insane theatrics. It was too much for me. I had to leave.

Can you guess my pick of the day? I went with Saito Johnny (although it could have easily been Santigold or Lady Leshurr). Enjoy.

…wait, I only have one more day? No fair.

Day One

Yeasayer – Sounded great. Would love to check them out in a proper venue.

Ra Ra Riot – Much improved from their SXSW show, which was riddled with technical issues. Fell in love with the violinist, crushing hard on the cellist (who might have the best ass in indie rock)

The Specials – Sounded so good. Wish I would have checked them out longer but had to catch…

Passion Pit – Tons of fun but the lead singer needs vocal lessons… or the mix was way off but I doubt that because the second he sung falsetto (which is always) he was impossible to hear.

Them Crooked Vultures – Good to see John Paul Jones live but I wish they didn’t sound like Queens of the Stone Age outtakes.

Echo & The Bunnymen – He’s such a prick but he’s earned it.

Vampire Weekend – Without a double my pick of the day. Last time they were nervous, stiff and out to prove themselves. This time they came to rock and boy did they.

Jay Z – So I can check that off the list. And now I love how Danger Mouse improved him even more.

Day Two

Camera Obscura – I was certain they’d wilt in the desert heat but they were surprisingly awesome.

White Rabbits – I wish these guys were surprisingly awesome but they’re young so I’ll cut them some slack.

Tokyo Police Club – Man, I wish they were better live.

The xx – Their sound is huge. Go see them, preferably outdoors. Just awesome.

Dirty Projectors – Oh, oh, oh damnit, you’re only good on albums.

Corinne Bailey Rae – Still beautiful.

Faith No More – They opened with a bitchin’ cover of “Reunited” and commanded the stage until their last note. Without a doubt my pick of the day.

MGMT – They sounded better. I’m done saying nice things about them.

Muse – In theory I should really, REALLY like… unfortunately that’s just in theory.

The Dead Weather – Alison, don’t leave The Kills for this band. You and The Kills are better than this side project.

Day Three

Mayer Hawthorne – I’m a little over the current white soul surge… or maybe just this guy.

Florence and The Machine – Very good but not magical and she really should have been magical.

Julian Casablancas – Sounded great, just like The Strokes (are they still together) but still great.

Charlotte Gainsbourg – Yawn.

Phoenix – Just when I lost my faith in the French they rocked it. For sure my pick of the day.

Pavement – Sounding good guys.

The Big Pink – Way heavier than their album and I wish they weren’t. Still, worth checking out.

Gorillaz – Damon, get your ego out of your ass and stop boring me!

On a final note, the new “in/out” policy whereby people can enter the show, leave to go back to their car and then return, resulted in way more folk rolling. Christ, I saw a pack of fourteen year-old girls doing blow, in public no less. The whole event took on a different vibe.

Okay, I’m off the soapbox. Here are my pics.

One last note.  This is my 500th post.  I wasn’t sure if I was gonna go all Clark Boyd but I knew I wasn’t gonna go Brian Ibbott.  Instead, let this marker stand as a good place to look back, then look forward.

Of all those listed, I’m most excited about…

• The Specials – Never seen them before.
• Public Image Limited – Ditto.
• Vampire Weekend – Saw them a few years ago, thought they were good but needed to mature as a live act. Let’s see how that’s progressing.
• Them Crooked Vultures – I keep hearing good things.
• LCD Soundsystem – Saw them a few years ago and I thought they sucked but I want to give them another chance.
• Jay-Z – How can I miss this? If past years have proven anything it’s that mainstream rap acts rock.
• Band of Skulls – Keep hearing good things.
• Frightened Rabbit – Absolutely seeing them at SXSW and I won’t miss them here.
• Tokyo Police Club – Missed them a few years ago and have been regretting it ever since. Won’t make the same mistake this year.
• Camera Obscura – I really hope their delicate sound survives the Coachella heat.
• The xx – Here’s hoping the live show holds up to the album.
• Dirty Projectors – Ditto.
• Devo – Put on a great show at SXSW, looking for them to rock the desert.
• The Dead Weather – The Kills are one of my favorite bands so I’m counting on Alison to cast a spell on me with her siren song.
• Faith No More – Last time I saw them was opening for Metallica so here’s hoping they rock just as hard.
• Muse – Missed them the last time they played Coachella and I won’t let that happen again.
• The Soft Pack – Heard a tune online, am curious to see them live.
• Yann Tiersen – Wait, is this the soundtrack guy?
• Florence and the Machine – I’m ready to fall in love with her (sorry Neko).
• The Big Pink – Love that one song; let’s see if they can rock it live.
• Matt & Kim – Am listening to them as I write this. I hope they put on a good show.
• Gary Numan – As in “Cars“? If so, sweet!
• Sly and the Family Stone – Um, how could I miss these guys?
• Phoenix – Did a phenomenal job playing a tent during daylight so I’m only expecting the best.
• Pavement – Got into them very late so I’m hoping to see what all the fuss was about.

As was the case last year, I’m kinda hoping it’s “the year of the old man act” but I’d love to mix that up with some “I never heard of those guys and they blew me away” action too. Also, there’s a good chance I’ll see most of these acts at SXSW in March but maybe some of them will be worth a 2nd whirl.

So who are you excited to see?

Still, work can’t get in the way of Friday Fun. Allow me to present you with song that grabbed me the second I heard it on the radio. Say hello to “Dominos” by The Big Pink.

Also, I thought I should share fortune for the week.

(… I’m speechless)

Until I’m back on the West Coast, have a happy fun Friday!