Being Dead, Kydd Jones, Rattlesnake Milk, and Urban Heat Set to Play the Chronicle’s Hair of the 3-Legged Dog Day Party

Of all the noble creatures in the Austin Chronicle office – including writers, editors, production staff, ad sales representatives, and a turtle that’s been a resident of our atrium since the Nineties – no one is more universally loved than our three-legged office dog.

Hank, a charming, medium-sized mutt with a soft, white coat mottled with brown fur, is an exemplar of blessed happenstance. Going from being a shelter dog with an absent back leg to getting adopted by a family that owns an alternative newspaper at which you reign in Godlike adoration to everyone who walks through the doors really seems like the very best possible outcome. Life is unequivocally good for Hank the Tri-Paw, who happens to be the namesake of the Chronicle’s annual South by Southwest day party.

Hair of the 3-Legged Dog runs from noon to 4pm at Hotel Vegas on Friday, March 17. The day party is free with RSVP, available here, to those 21 and up. Hear Chronicle-picked music by Urban Heat, Being Dead, Rattlesnake Milk, and Kydd Jones.

Of all the mid-March day parties, I believe Hair of the Three-Legged Dog stands among the great truly Austin experiences during SXSW. It takes place at one of the city’s most vital venues: Hotel Vegas, it draws a super townie crowd, the sponsors are all legit local delights (stumble in to free breakfast tacos from Eldorado Cafe), and – as always – it waves the flag for Austin music. While we basically threw a punk show last year, this year’s HotD presents an all-over-the-map smattering of incredibly engaging live performers who all happen to be hitting a creative peak right now.

The haunting, high-energy, dark Americana quartet Rattlesnake Milk – recommended for fans of Hank Williams Sr. and people who keep an unregistered firearm in their truck’s glove box – just made a career album, Chicken Fried Snake, that’s sure to be a staple on Best of the Year lists from outsider country commentators. Kydd Jones, a longtime linchpin of Austin hip-hop and creator of the Onyx D’or fashion line, recently seized the spotlight with a immaculate opening verse on the X.O and Quin NFN collab “Pressure,” contrasting “Dog I’ve been grindin’ forever – came out the Salvation Army and ghettos” with “Can’t even stand next to the King like Coretta.”

Synth rock/post punk trio Urban Heat are having a banner year: breaking out nationally with their emotionally resonant single “Have You Ever?,” gracing the cover of the Chronicle, and getting booked to play May’s Cruel World festival at the Rose Bowl with acts like Iggy Pop, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Gang of Four. Being Dead, with their unfathomable quirkiness, hilarious stage demeanor, and garagey, harmonious, psychedelic outsider pop, were recently signed to indie springboard Bayonet Records with a yet to be announced masterpiece coming soon.

In addition to Eldorado Cafe tacos, free sips from ATX Cold Brew will be available while supplies last. Find drink specials from Bloody Revolution, Rambler Sparkling Water, Johnnie Walker, and Copper Dog Whiskey, or stop by vendors including IVitamin's Hydration Therapy lounge and Austin Pets Alive.