Combat Rock Promotion

Another South By Southwest is in the history books, and all I can say about that is: it was excellent, as usual. What more can be said about the biggest, friendliest, sweetest, and dare I say most fun music festival out of all the annual festivals there are. The weather is always right, the people are all smiles, the food is fantastic, the bands are amazing, and you always end up seeing lots of friends and associates. Combat Rock clients Oslo played about sixteen shows and rocked every single one of them (including an oddly booked gig at a frat bar on 6^th Street, but even a few UT co-eds couldn’t hold back the mighty Oslo; as the band soon had the college kids rocking out to their hypnotic sounds). Side note: much thanks to all the unsung heroes of the festival- the soundmen, who somehow kept all the bands sounding great. More fun from SXSW 2007: caught a pre-opening night show by the reunited Toadies (and a kick-ass dinner to boot at Stubbs), who blazed through all of their hits from the ‘90s, saw some buzzing indie pop from the Drew Barrymore approved Peter Bjorn & John, saw some cute girly songs from singer-songwriter Meiko, heard some ska friendly tunes from Lily Allen, stoner rock from Dim Mak’s the Willowz, disco-rock from the Rapture, Canadian indie pop from Mother Mother, a cool stripped down set from Rocco Deluca, and a tight soul set from the Cold War Kids (they were like the Blues Brothers!) who also did a sweet Sam Cooke cover. Also saw the “Geddy Lee meets New Order” sounds of the Hourly Radio, heard a tight set from Hip Hop legends Public Enemy, heard the garage-rock mavens and “the song from the itunes commercial” from the UK’s Fratelli’s, caught an intense show from the lovely Ms Peaches, Caught Clash alum Paul Simonon and Blur alum Damon Albarn doing their thing in the new outfit The Good the Bad and the Queen, saw indie pop from LA’s Ride on Rides, heard a great set by Greenland’s charismatic Tunesmith Simon Lynge, and saw an amazing alt-country set by Warner Brothers artists The Films (who’s A&R man Perry Watts-Russel was holding court in the back). Saw some classic artists giving it their all this year: as sixties Brit Pop legend Donnovan proved that he’s still got it by performing a set of all of his hits (in a CHURCH no less!), then 70’s multicultural rock n soul innovator Garland Jeffreys gave an equally impressive set of his hits as well (Jeffreys originally wrote “Wild in the Streets” which was most notably covered by punk kings the Circle Jerks), and punk legends the Buzzcocks and the Stooges gave very impressive shows (even though Iggy Pop’s pants kept falling off). Also saw: The Black Angels, Apostles of Hustle, the Whigs, The Dears, Bloc Party, Eastern Conference Champions, the Horrors, The Bravery, Chromeo, AM, Mew, Aqualung, Robert Shields, and Duncan Sheik. Notable parties included: HD Radio Alliance, Ioda, the Fader Fort, the Filter Cedar Street Experience, the Fontana Distribution party, the Village Voice party, and, as always, the Vice Party (which ended early this year due to a balcony falling apart! Luckily, no one was hurt). Ate BBQ just about everyday (hence the 75% more meat), got free ice cream from the Ice Cream Man (check out this guy’s story here- VERY cool), ran into Kid Beyond, and I told him how great his show in LA was last year, and he instantly added me to his LA email list right there on his Treo. That guy’s got it together! Also ran into Combat Rock pal Anya Marina at the bar of the Driskill Hotel (which is the new spot to hang out- move over Four Seasons!). Finally, I’d like to once again extend a heart-felt thanks to the people of the city of Austin who continue to be the gracious hosts to a bunch of wild Rock n Rollers. As one local put it: “That’s Southern Hospitality, man.” Indeed! See y’all next year…