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SXSW: Top 25 Moments Spanning the Wild, the Wonderful and the Weird
- Posted by Jason Cohen
25. The Flaming Lips' Parking Lot Symphony
Parking Garage at Seventh and Brazos, 1997
Redferns / Getty Images
One downtown garage, 30 car stereos, Wayne Coyne in a yellow raincoat and the Flaming Lips' "random, precision, surround-sound inner sound tape deck performance," resulted in one of the most weirdly indelible gigs in SXSW history, setting the stage for both the band's 'Zaireeka' album and their recent YouTube/cell phone track.
24. Rachael Ray and Perez Hilton Invade SXSW
Beauty Bar, 2008
Jack Plunkett, AP
Speaking of trendy, the arrival of these two media personalities certainly took SXSW to another level in the world of gossip and marketing. Rachael Ray's first party featured the Raveonettes, the Stills and husband John Cusimano's band the Cringe, while Perez had Robyn, Katy Perry and (in 2009) Lady Gaga. Both are now a stalwart presence at the conference.
Watch Rachel Ray Interview at SXSW 2008
Watch Rachel Ray Interview at SXSW 2008
23. Ozomatli Get Arrested for Illegal Dancing
Club Exodus, 2004
L. Cohen, WireImage
Before their 1AM show at Club Exodus, the L.A. Latin-hip-hop world-music collective Ozomatli sat down with the fire marshall and agreed to empty out the room via a samba line to 6th Street. Unfortunately, nobody told the cops, and what began as a misunderstanding ended in a semi-riot, with two members of the band spending a night in jail.
22. Icarus Line Steal Stevie Ray's Guitar
Hard Rock Cafe, 2002
Redferns / Getty Images
SXSW or no SXSW, it's simply not punk rock to play a Hard Rock Cafe, so Icarus Line (and future Nine Inch Nails) guitarist Aaron North rebelled by smashing up a showcase holding the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's piece of sacred Austin music memorabilia. The band still got to play SXSW again the next year.
21. Trail of Dead Destroy Their Stage
Buffalo Club, 1999
Redferns / Getty Images
Austin's own And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead gave themselves a reputation for destruction at this show, pelting one another and fans with beer, ice, a Flying V guitar and finally, members of the band itself. "Glass is sharp," former bassist Neil Busch once told Spin when talking about Iggy Pop. "Try cutting yourself with a snare stand!"
20. Marilyn Manson on Charles Manson Panel
SXSW Panel, 1994
Patti Ouderkirk, WireImage
Marilyn Manson was still an unknown quantity nationally when he appeared on a SXSW panel with several journalists as well as music business cult figure Phil Kaufman (who had been in jail with Charles Manson before the murders, and would later steal Gram Parsons' body) to discuss "The Family and Rock 'n' Roll."
19. Fred Armisen's SXSW Parody Video
SXSW 1998
SGranitz, WireImage
Way back in 1998, the former Trenchmouth drummer and then-husband of the Mekons' Sally Timms made a satirical Sacha Baron Cohen-style video, "Fred Armisen's Guide to Music and SXSW" -- his first real foray into comedy. 'Saturday Night Live' and now, Portlandia, would follow.
18. Queens of the Stone Age Play a Hangar
Austin Airport Hangar, 2005
AFP / Getty Images
Another one of C3 Presents' "secret" invitation-only shows, this one was at an airplane hangar and became the one that everybody talked about that year. QOTSA returns to SXSW for a proper show this month.
17. Tom Waits Gets Fed Up With Texas
Paramount Theatre, 1998
Redferns / Getty Images
First, a rare Tom Waits appearance at the Paramount Theatre turned sour when someone without a ticket got into the venue and began berating the troubadour during his encore. Then on the next night, when a friend of Waits' got into an altercation with bouncers at La Zona Rosa, it prompted Waits to say he'd never play Texas again (a vow he kept for a full decade, as he still has not returned to Austin).
16. Alejandro Escovedo as Official Closer
La Zona Rosa, 1998
Redferns / Getty Images
The Waits incident also put an end to Alejandro Escovedo's annual Sunday night show at La Zona. Its now held at the Continental Club. Either way, the Austin singer/songwriter's set has always been, as writer Erik Flannigan says in SXSW Scrapbook, "the official and spiritual end of the festival": sometimes epic and crazy and amok with covers; other times a welcome mournful comedown.
15. Robert Plant, Pamela Des Barres Reunite
SXSW 2005
Dave Hogan, Getty Images
The legendary Led Zeppelin singer was giving a press conference after his keynote speech when someone in the room inquired, "So, do you still have groupies?" Recognizing his old friend, Plant jumped down from the dais to give "Miss Pamela" a hug, and then they got caught up over lunch (in conversation, to be clear).
14. Courtney Love Gives 'Rambling' Interview
SXSW 2002
Scott Gries, Getty Images
Then embroiled in a lawsuit against Universal Music, the Widow Cobain was equal parts music industry crusader and boilerplate nuts rock star in her sitdown with the Los Angeles Times' Chuck Phillips. Michael Corcoran of the Austin American Statesman described it as a "rambling, self-indulgent, 'one-on-none' interview."
13. Yard Dog Breaks the Day Show Barrier
Yard Dog, 1996
Anthony Pidgeon, Redferns
Bands playing in the daytime simply didn't happen in the early days of SXSW. This outsider/folk art gallery helped change that, often in collaboration with alt-rock mag and label No Depression and Bloodshot Records, respectively. If you haven't seen Jon Langford play with one of his many bands at Yard Dog one year or another, while also checking out his paintings, you haven't really done SXSW.
12. Blur Pare Down, Soldier On
La Zona Rosa, 2002
Putland, Getty Images
The band's first appearance without guitarist Graham Coxon was unannounced, and then they also had to do it without bassist Alex James, who got held up by immigration. Chris Traynor from Rival Schools filled in for a set that, like Blur's record at the time ('Think Tank'), seemed like a harbinger of Damon Albarn's later projects.
11. Bright Eyes Sparks Wonder, Concern
Electric Lounge, 1998
Scott Gries, Getty Images
The big indie draw at the Electric Lounge that year was Harvey Danger, but the artist who got everybody talking was a 17-year-old kid from Nebraska. Conor Oberst's performance as Bright Eyes was so affecting and depressing that more than one reviewer worried - needlessly, we know now - about his future well-being.
10. Hanson Go From Softball to Stardom
SXSW 1995
Ron Wolfson, Getty Images
The most unlikely and beloved "we got signed at SXSW" story of all time: The three blond brothers from Oklahoma were not booked to play SXSW but showed up at the Sunday softball game with former Runaways manager Kim Fowley. Their a cappella 'MMMbop' caught the ear of A&R Man Chris Sabec, and the rest is history.
9. Johnny Depp and Gibby Haynes Unleash P
Austin Music Awards, SXSW 1993
Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage
This show is memorable inasmuch as Johnny Depp was once in a band with the Butthole Surfers' Gibby Haynes! The group formed when Depp filmed 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' in Austin and also included blues guitarist Bill Carter. "Sorry, Link,": Haynes said after the first song, a semi-cover of Link Wray's 'Rumble' (which he called 'Mumble').
Watch P Perform Live at SXSW 1993
Watch P Perform Live at SXSW 1993
8. The Fugees Weather the Storm
Stubb's, 1996
Thony Belizaire, AFP / Getty Images
It was the first-ever week of shows at Stubb's, which has been Austin's hallmark outdoor venue ever since. The Fugees' breakthrough album, 'The Score', had just come out, and, thanks to an hourlong rainstorm that drove every person in the club to drier ground, they almost didn't play. When Lauryn Hill insisted that they would, word spread and the place filled back up in no time.
7. Metallica, aka Norwegian Band 'Volsum'
Stubb's, 2009
Jay West, WireImage
The SXSW schedule initially said this slot at Stubb's would go to 'Volsum,' a metal band from Norway, but by the time Metallica took the stage (to promote the release of their Guitar Hero game) everybody knew what they were gonna get: a classic 90-minute small(ish)-venue Metallica show.
Watch Metallica Perform Live at SXSW 2009
Watch Metallica Perform Live at SXSW 2009
6. Kanye West Headlines 'Surprise' Show
Levi's/Fader Fort, 2009
Jay West, WireImage
It was may have been the worst-kept secret of the year, but who could really know for sure until it happened? Kanye, Consequence, Common, Kid Cudi and guest Erykah Badu all played the three-hour G.O.O.D. Music showcase at the Levi's/Fader Fort, always one of SXSW's trendiest (and hardest-to-get-into) parties.
Watch Kanye West Perform Live at SXSW 2009
Watch Kanye West Perform Live at SXSW 2009
5. Roky Erickson's Musical, Health Comeback
SXSW 1993
Barry Brecheisen, WireImage
The 13th Floor Elevators frontman made a poignant and incredible appearance at the 1993 Austin Music Awards, back when his state of mind was still quite shaky. Roky Erickson is now in good health and is a SXSW regular, including appearances with the Black Angels and Okkervil River, as well as at his daytime "Ice Cream Social" at Threadgill's.
4. No Age and F---ed Up Take It to the Bridge
Lamar Pedestrian Bridge, 2008
Redferns / Getty Images
At an event where Rachael Ray is now as much of a tradition as Alejandro Escovedo, this crazy-crowded punk after-party show at the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge brought some much-needed guerrilla spirit. Legend says the span almost collapsed under the weight of more than a thousand people, and that several members of No Age and F---ed Up came close to drowning in the lake. Which is all probably at least half-true.
3. Ray Davies Joins the New Pornographers
La Zona Rosa, 2001
Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage
The Kinks frontman had already played a solo show and been the keynote speaker when Carl Newman, Neko Case and company backed him up on "Starstruck" as the encore of their own show -- a Kinks song Davies had never actually played live before.
2. Jane's Addiction Reunite Original Lineup
Abandoned Safeway Supermarket, 2009
Mosenfelder, Getty Images
After many years of getting back together without bassist Eric Avery, Jane's were lured to an abandoned Austin supermarket by Hugh Hefner, who no doubt spoke to Dave Navarro personally. OK, not really: This Playboy-sponsored show was also the 10th annual after-hours party from Austin-based promoter C3 Presents, Farrell's Lollapalooza partner.
Watch Jane's Addiction Perform Live at SXSW 2009
Watch Jane's Addiction Perform Live at SXSW 2009
1. Alex Chilton Memorial Lifts the Bereaved
Antone's, 2010
Redferns / Getty Images
Alex Chilton's death on March 17 -- the first day of SXSW, and three days before he was supposed to make a too-rare live appearance with Big Star -- cast a pall over the entire conference. It lifted when the scheduled show became an all-star wake, with not only the Big Star members (Jody Stephens and the Posies' Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer) but also original bassist Andy Hummel, longtime Chilton protege Chris Stamey, M. Ward, John Doe, R.E.M.'s Mike Mills, Sondre Lerche, the Watson Twins and Evan Dando.
Watch Alex Chilton Tribute at SXSW 2010
Watch Alex Chilton Tribute at SXSW 2010
- Filed under: Concerts and Tours, The Hit List
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Add a Comment
Dayna
Why would you name your band "F--ked Up"? I must be getting old half the time I can't tell if they are talking non-sence or if it is a name to a band.
March 17 2011 at 7:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
n
1 reply to n's comment
What a perfect name for RR's husbands band.
Sure made me CRINGE when I heard them.
Seriously ;0(
Bill Hilton
Rachel Ray certainly surprised me! Her taste in food outweighs her taste for ???
March 17 2011 at 11:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
3 Comments