SXSW Day One: Absinthe to Auerbach

Categories: SXSW
JosephGordon.jpg
Photos by Craig Hlavaty
It's official: This author loves absinthe. Or whatever it was that they were serving at the Music Gym off 6th Street that they were calling absinthe. Who the hell cares? It was free and it opened our SXSW 2009 with a strange and weird sensation in the facial area. Plus, it made spotting Joseph Gordon-Levitt from Angels In The Outfield (left) all the more shocking.

Our night began in earnest at Mohawk, where we saw Houston's own resident soul spinner DJ Brett Koshkin throwing down slabs of funk. This was at about 8 p.m., and dude was to be DJ'ing all night long. He's really doing God's work, and he smells good too.

We then walked down Red River to catch the Young Mammals bust out stuff from the new album Carrots. They were bathed in a blue-ish glow and are starting to sound more like the Pixies as the days go by to us.

DAN.jpg
Keyed Up: Dan Auerbach goes it alone.

A jaunt down to the Scoot Inn to see the Homopolice proved to be a washout, as all we encountered was a lonely Chris Ryan sitting next to the stage. Word has it that the rest of the Homo boys ran afoul of a few of the hetero police in Bastrop who found some illicit substances on them on their way in from Houston. In their stead, Ryan put on a one-man noise show, showing off some of his new solo stuff.

We stopped by the Parish to gander Holly Golightly doing her twee hot-mama country mash upstairs opening for the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

Dan Auerbach played a fiery set of tracks from his debut solo record Keep It Hid, sounding like a metallicized Bo Diddley backed by The Band circa The Last Waltz. Dude was on fire and it was glorious. My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan was seen on the bongos and maracas behind Auerbach as well.

My Voice Nation Help
0 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest

From the Vault

 

Houston Event Tickets
©2013 Houston Press, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Houston

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city