SXSW: Born Free

Tight economies ain’t gotta slow anyone down. SXSW is chock full of
free shows and most importantly, FREE BOOZE. Yes, anyone of legal age
can literally walk into some shows and guzzle to their dark heart’s
content. Or until they set something on fire.

Heartless
Bastards put on a barroom rockin’ show over at Waterloo Records, with
lead singer Erika Wennerstrom doing her southern-gothic PJ Harvey
thing. “Sway” got people moving, coaxed along by the free Shiner Bock
in the back of the joint. We spotted Echo & The Bunnymen’s Ian
McCulloch next door at Waterloo Ice House with a sullen blonde.

Bicycles
have been a godsend this year, what with the venues getting ever more spread
out. We took a three-mile ride down to Urban Outfitters off Guadalupe
to see Chairlift behind the store under a patio. Free booze, dogs
wandering aimlessly, and a makeshift thrift store gave the scene a flea-market vibe.

Chairlift
could easily be this year’s MGMT-like success story. They remind us of
a My Bloody Valentine you can shadow dance to. Some in our group
described it as a down-tuned Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark.