Last year, ladies were out in force at South by Southwest. This year, the number seems to have skyrocketed. With the Runaways movie in town, Courtney Love wandering around, and the amazingness of the sissy bounce performers, the week had that feminine mystique.
For all the camaraderie, however, I’ve got to say I heard a disconcerting number of stories from ladies about being physically intimated, harassed, or, in one case, actually put in a headlock, by male concertgoers. In the latter case, she had to bite the guy’s arm and draw blood to get him off her. It’s an indie-rock concert, asshole, not a frat party, and I can’t believe that has to be said in 2010.
Aaaanyway, some highlights!
Those Darlins: Their Thursday night set was a hot country-punk mess and not for the eyes of children. (Side note: Really, you’re bringing your baby to a bar at midnight?)
Beaches: Australian psych-rock fivepiece with three guitars and good bangs. Their set pressure-cleaned my eardrums. Breezy extendo-jams of the Flying Nun variety.
Grass Widow: Also had great hair, as well as killer harmonies and minor-key guitar jangle. Looking forward to their Kill Rock Stars summer debut.
Explode Into Colors: Yes, they’re pretty much the definition of a “Portland” band, but their double-drummered, cowbell-clanging, ESG-channeling dance-punk was really fun.
Golden Triangle: Southern garage rock slink via Brooklyn, raised on the B-52s.
Soft Healer: Local fourpiece with a dreamy take on sax-ified No Wave.
Ms. Tee, Vockah Redu, Magnolia Shorty: The NOLA bounce showcase made my Saturday, even though Big Freedia never showed, having dislocated her shoulder the night before. No matter, these ladies blurred the gender line with straight-up realness and the kind of house party music that makes you dance so insanely you drop the contents of your purse on the floor and don’t care.
This article appears in March 19 • 2010.