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SXSW - South by Southwest 2006

The Go! Team
Magnic Numbers
Boyscout
Film School
Rogers Sisters
Hudson Bell
Dirty Pretty Things
Bottle Rockets

SXSW 2006 - Day Two - March 16, 2006
Muggy Thursday afternoon highlights – hip-hop electronica by The Go! Team at Waterloo Records, sickly sweet pop strands of the Magic Numbers at La Zona Rosa and the riot grrrl electronic punk of Boyskout.

During an intensely warm evening, the Beggars Banquet showcase featured San Francisco’s Film School with their brooding, textured melodies and post-punk dream pop. Drawing heavily from the Smiths in terms of vocal stylings and Carl Barat and former Libertines drummer Gary Powell didn't have much of a chance to prove their musical staying power before the cops shut the joint down after just five songs keyboards, lead man Krayg Burton had the audience eating from the palm of his hand by the end of the set. Tracks like 'Harmed,' 'Sick of the Shame' and '11:11' off their self-titled debut are more dramatic played live. In attendance was New Pornographers’ Carl C. Newman chatting on his cell phone at the end of the show – an annoying theme of sorts at SXSW – so many engaged cell phones and so many text messages getting sent every minute of each day – doesn’t anyone go to a gig just listen to the music anymore?

Later on, avant pop rock three piece the Rogers Sisters took the stage. Stone-faced lead vocalist Laura Rogers looked somewhat like a younger Jeanne Tripplehorn and not at all like her sister Jennifer on drums. It was a struggle at times to hear the vocals amidst the interesting mix of musical influences – garage rock, surf punk and new wave psychedelia. However, Miyuki Furtado’s crazed bass playing was a treat, providing some much needed enthusiasm in the set.

Up and coming indie rockers Hudson Bell took the stage at the funky rec room like bar space at Habana Calle 6 . The tight San Franciscofour piece wove a great mix of Crazy Horse-like material in numbers 'Slow Burn' and 'The Midnight Year' off 2005’s When The Sun is The Moon.
Rogers SistersEmploying loads of fuzz over some great guitar driven melodies in 'Strange Lands' and 'Atlantis Nights,' lead singer Hudson Bell showcased some of their solid material. The band will be touring with Vancouver’s Destroyer on the west coast of the US later this spring.

Dirty Pretty Things had a rather late start following The Flaming Lips not-so-secret show at the over-capacity Eternal, perhaps the scuzziest, most over-crowded bar on the strip. How the club got away with $2 plastic cups of tap water on such a steamy night was a mystery to everyone. Unfortunately, Carl Barat and former Libertines drummer Gary Powell didin't have much of a chance to prove their musical staying power before the cops shut the joint down after just five songs.

Over at Bourbon Rocks, Festus lads Bottle Rockets played most of their soon-to-be released Zoysia coming out on Bloodshot records this June. Lead vocalist Brian Henneman was in fine form given his newfound sobriety, albeit a bit cranky for some water. Nonetheless, they showed off the full range of their countrified rock and even had some folks up on the floor and dancing.