Day 4 report from SXSW: Bloodshot, foot-stompin and sore legs.

Editor’s note: Technical difficulties prevented The City Wire from posting the fourth and final review by Peter Lewis of SXSW, the world’s largest music festival held annually in Austin, Texas.

review and photos by Peter Lewis.

The evening began with an assumption that there was no possible way it could get any better than the previous night. That prospect only looked truer after the heartbreaking loss to Duke Saturday night. As Mr. Corso is fond of saying, “not so fast my friend.”

Our evening began at 710 Red River on the back patio of the Red Eyed Fly. This low-key bar is normally a haven for punk and rock acts, but in the case of Saturday evening it was hosting the genre defying rock and country music of Bloodshot Records. 

The Deadstring Brothers, a rock n’ roll band hailing from Detroit, began the process of reversing our apathetic states. Laying down bluesy tunes reminiscent of early Rolling Stones albums, the Deadstring Brothers easily got the diverse crowd bouncing.  Interspersed with older tunes were a few from their upcoming album. 

TONKA SOUNDS
Following the Deadstring Brothers were an act called Ha Ha Tonka. Just north of Fort Smith a few hours is their home base, Springfield, Mo. And with a tag claiming that they play “foot stompin’ indie music” heralding the performance, the gentlemen in this band provided exactly that. 

There were several highlights in the show. One was the quartet’s acapello version of  “Hangman” (also generally known as “The Maid Freed from the Gallows” amongst many other titles). This old song of a maiden hoping to buy her freedom from the hangman’s rope has been around for hundreds of years. There have been countless versions to the old tune. For instance, Leadbelly recorded a version that was later covered by Zeppelin.  What this short folk tune proved was that unlike some acts who get by on simple combination of magical verve and music, the folks in Ha Ha Tonka could really sing.

Many of the songs, like the catchy St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor, were from their album “Buckle in the Bible Belt.” However, they too unveiled new songs due to be released on a new album from Bloodshot Records. They ended the show with a cover of “12 Inch 3 Speed Oscillating Fan” by Big Smith, the popular jam band that plays the Fort Smith area so frequently.

What transpired after Ha Ha Tonka was the one disappointing show I saw this week.  Perhaps disappointing is the wrong word since I had no expectations. The Dexter Romweber Duo performance was tepid. It has to be tough to follow an act with as much talent and presence as Ha Ha Tonka. Unfortunately for us, Dexter and his sister’s rootsy blues were not up to the task.

MIDNIGHT EARLE
Then, at midnight, we were relieved to find Justin Townes Earle taking the stage.  Though he played with two backing musicians in Fort Smith in December, this time up found him a man down.  He was on his guitar and a sideman handled the miscellaneous duties of banjo, harp, etc.

Justin began the show somewhat comically by forgetting the words to a song.  Unfortunately when he begun the chords it sounded like he was about to play my personal favorite, The Ghost of Virginia, so I was quite disappointed. He found his form in a matter of moments as he launched through rollicking Appalachian styled tunes from “The Good Life” album released in 2008 as well as those from his latest album, Midnight at the Movies.

DANCING FOOLS
After getting our fill of rustic Americana, we hopped down the street to El Sol y La Luna and strapped on our dancing shoes. What transpired was courtesy of the Toronto based Bedouin Soundclash, group that combines “modern urban sounds with classic reggae fundamentals.” In other words, they know how to throw down and get a party jumping.  The bar was packed to the rafters and they were milking every last ounce of energy out of the patrons within. Great tune after great tune kept getting thrown out of the speakers, as we bounced and danced. I left the bar Saturday night sweating and tired. I woke up Sunday morning with sore legs.

Obeying Jason Isbell’s opening command (Danko/Manuel), we stepped outside and indeed let the night air cool us off. With intentions of getting another gyro at Kabobalicious, we set off north and west a few blocks to find sustenance. Unfortunately there was a line of hipsters as far as the eye could see so we skipped along down to the taco trailer. Again, the tacos were decent but not great. They were certainly not kabobalicious by any stretch of the word. And even though the night itself was not as great as Friday, it certainly went out with a bang. Throwing body blows until the end, it certainly ended up being a great night.