Aaaaand we're back, what a week. The dust has settled, the tourists have mostly left, and downtown smells like pee, even in the parts that don't ALWAYS smell like pee. Shows were seen, and a few shows were missed, for reasons ranging from exhaustion to canine ocular trauma to gorgeous weather. I won't bore you, but here's some broad strokes.
Wednesday: Sumerian Records Showcase
This was the first actual show I sought out, mostly to see Tosin Abasi's outfit Animals as Leaders, but I'll get to that. Opening the show up was New York's Ultrageist, a forward thinking act specializing in idiosyncratic breakdowns and bizarre vocal textures. Vocalist Gabriel Perez at first brings to mind Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo, but strikes out into his own sonic territory by using an array of delays, distortions, and octave pedals to warp his voice on stage in real time. Interesting stuff, I'm looking forward to more. These guys were followed by Tamworth, England's Structures, leaning both melodic and death metal, but rarely at the same time, making dynamic songs out of crushing verses and the occasionally merciful break.
And then, Animals as Leaders. I was impressed by AAL's self-titled debut when it came to my attention last year, for a few reasons. Despite being something of a 'virtuoso' album, Abasi actually writes songs that have their own merit, instead of just being a framework for his shredding. There's long been a battle in heavy music over who can tune lower, and while AAL's low-E tuned 8 string guitars are certainly front runners in this, it's the way Tosin Abasi manhandles the damn things that really sets him apart. Rather than just relying on competitively low notes, he really stretches out into the space an instrument like this affords, utilizing broadly spaced intervals and chord voicings, and occasionally being his own bass player, using his low string for percussive patterns and slapped lines, while his right hand taps melodic runs on the tree trunk of a neck his guitar has. On AAL's self-titled debut, all strings were played by Abasi, with drum and synth programming handled by Misha Mansoor (guitarist with fellow djent O.G.s Periphery), but the album's striking elements translate well live, and rhythm guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Navene Koperweis (who is an absolute monster on his kit) enhance the sonic landscape, rather than dilute it. Tosin Abasi and company make music that is more than just skillful or interesting, it really is beautiful. This right here is Mr. Abasi solo, playing "Wave of Babies", a digital single released shortly after AAL's eponymous debut.
Thursday: Friends of Friends Showcase
I was at this thing all damn day. Thankfully not an official SXSW event, but a free party hosted by Friends of Friends Records, Barcelona on 6th evolved from a sparse early afternoon gathering to a heaving molasses of bass over six short hours. A varied set from DJ Sodapop (aka Anticon label manager Shaun Koplow) opened things, followed by a brief set by Baths. After Non Projects labelmates Asura and Anenon, Shlohmo took the stage and delivered a set with an energy his albums don't really indicate, making good use of Barcelona's impressive system. The next big highlight was Ernest Gonzales' masked luchador alter-ego Mexicans With Guns (pictured below left), a throbbing ghettotech Hyde to Gonzales' shimmery Jekyll.
Closing the party was beat scene lifer Daedelus (pictured right), whose recent shows have been seamless club sets, fully of glitched highs and huge modulating basses. Definitely one of my favorite days of last week.
Saturday: Buck 65 @ M for Montreal Party
I've waited to see Buck 65 for a long time, and after a handful of badge-only shows through the week, he played at the free M for Montreal party, accompanied by the talented vocalist Jenn Grant. Combining Grant's sweet voice with Buck 65(aka Ricardo Terfry)'s gravelly but thoughtful raps and live turntable work, the duo offered reworkings of oldies like Roses and Bluejays, and new songs (such as Paper Airplane, shown here in an early incarnation circa 2009) from this year's 20 Odd Years, touted as "The most beautiful hip hop album ever made". Terfry is a pleasure live, as interesting on stage as on his numerous records. Check out the album version of Paper Airplane and other new songs at Buck65.com.And that was the gist of things. Not by any means a full list, but a few high points from SXSW 2011. So here I am, sore and sunburned, exhausted in the best way possible. Back to work everyone.
