Even before the official music portion of South By Southwest started, many musicians, industry insiders, and fans crowded a few showcases on Tuesday night. BMI welcomed artists and VIPs to their 10th Annual “Howdy Texas” Happy Hour at Stubb’s Bar-B-Que. Although mostly known as a BBQ joint, Stubb’s would host many of SXSW’s most anticipated shows including She & Him, Broken Bells, Muse, and The Walkmen. Across the street from Stubb’s, bands such as Brazos andCartright, warmed the stage and speakers at Club Deville for Tugboat Hustle’s Freaks Meet Folks party. A few blocks from that, Paste Magazine and PureVolume prepared for their own celebration.
Paste and PureVolume’s Kickoff in Austin Party at the PureVolume House signaled the beginning of all the powerhouse showcases SXSW has become known for. Although the crowd’s high energy (thanks to the open bar) and intriguing venue led to the promise of an entertaining night, the laidback, mellow lineup of Joshua James, Johnny Flynn, and Jakob Dylan & Three Legs featuring Neko Case caused the mood to fall flat. The Wallflowers’ lead singer, who is known for catchy writing and hooks, gently rocked his audience to sleep with songs from his new project, Three Legs. Even the addition of the talented Neko Case could not wake the sleepy mood Dylan had created. However, across town the audience at Zynga’s Fader Fort party was wide-awake and inciting dance riots due to the lively performances from Atlanta’s The Constellations and Metric.
Kim Burdges
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