Fiddle While You Burn™: 03.17 SXSW Day 4 (photos)

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(Note: click on any photo below to open the full photo set for that band)

Day four of my SXSW trip might have been the best one, here's a quick recap:

the Holloways @ Emos (AP/Wide World of Warped)

I woke up, dusted myself off, gunned some leftover Sparks, & rolled into Emo's as London's Holloways were winning over the ladies in the crowd with an impressive set of Brit-punk. They're touring in the UK with the Rakes right now so it looks like big things could be in the near future for this talented young band.

Watch & Listen:
the Holloways - video: "Two Left Feet"

Pinker Tones @ Emos (AP/Wide World of Warped)

Barcelona Spain's Pinker Tones were just pure electro-dance-rock fun complete with synchronized dancing and rave-style wall projections. It was an instant party from the moment they hit the stage and its hard to imagine anyone into techno not having fun at one of their shows.

Watch & Listen:
Pinker Tones - video: "Mais Pourquoi"

the Automatic @ Emos (AP/Wide World of Warped)

Used to playing for huge crowds in the UK but just catching on over here the Automatic were up to the challenge playing like headliners feroiciously pounding their instruments, diving into the crowd, climbing the beams at the club - all in the middle of the afternoon. Their best songs "Raul", "Monster" have a huge sound that should appeal to any fans of punk or dance-rock.

Watch & Listen:
the Automatic - video: "Raul"

Alfie of the Holloways taking in the Automatic's set

Ghostface & Rakim @ Stubbs (Scion/Vice)

Two of the best mcs ever, a live band, a great crowd - all for free! It's interesting how haters are steady whining about how hip-hop is dead, but this was by far the biggest crowd of the whole week, even without relying on free beer as a lure, hmm...

Watch & Listen:
Ghostface Killah - video: "Live @ Stubbs, SXSW '07"

Scanners @ Beauty Bar (Puma/Dim Mak)

Another band that seems to be on the verge of making big moves - two beautiful ladies with guitars & an excellent debut LP "Violence is Golden", what more do you need?

Vietnam @ Fader Fort

Another excellent set from the NYC southern rockers, the perfect music downing beers on a breezy afternoon in the Texas sun.

Watch & Listen:
Vietnam - video: "live @ Fader Fort SXSW '07"

Redman @ Fader Fort

Funk Doctor Spock, Reginald Noble aka Redman repped Brick City with a fun set best symbolized when a fan in the front row offered him a "smoke" Red immediately replied "Yes, I will take that - thanks!" puffed and went right back to his crazy rhymes. One of the best freestylers ever Redman's got a new album on the way - don't call it a comeback!

Watch & Listen:
Redman - video: "Put It Down"

B-Boy / B-Girl jam session @ Fader

I was about to jump in and show off some of my poppin' & lockin' moves but, um... I had a beer in my hand!

Dragons of Zynth @ Ms Bea's (Todd P)

I hiked across town just in time to catch the end of the Dragons of Zynth's set. Canned rock-crit labels like afro-punk, angular, etc. just don't do this band's raw tsunami of noise enough justice. Much like associates TV on the Radio, the Dragons are sonic adventurers that conjure slightly different sounds everytime I see them live but each time they get a little better.

Watch & Listen:
Dragons of Zynth - "Labor Day Lung"

Death Set @ Ms Bea's (Todd P)

This was one of those sets where it seemed like at any second everything might go haywire but it never did. The Australian punks rocked the hell out of the tiny second stage at Ms. Bea's.

Watch & Listen:
Death Set - video: "Negative Thinking"

Matt & Kim @ Ms Bea's (Todd P)

The main stage at the Rambler was completely mobbed as Matt & Kim played one of the best sets I saw all week.

Watch & Listen:
Matt & Kim - video: "Yea Yeah"

After this I'd had enough of photoing and headed back to South Austin to pack, then partied dumb hard at the Vice after party until that ended early when a railing gave out and someone took a header off the roof balcony. From there it was back to PureVolume until they closed down & straight from there to the airport for the redeye back to Brooklyn. I caught 55 bands in the four days, caught up with a lot of old friends & made some new ones - SXSW '07 was crazy fun!

Peace & Love to everyone I met up with this week.