This year's edition of South by Southwest featured the old (Los Lobos, the B-52's), the new (the Hives, Van Hunt), the really old (Little Richard) and the really new (Holly "Hank's granddaughter" Williams).
In between heaps of gingerbread pancakes and breakfast tacos, here's the best of what one critic saw:
Best Makeup: Luke Steele of the Sleepy Jackson. This guy performed a tidy two-step men's room ritual before thoroughly rocking the Cedar St. courtyard: tune guitar, apply blue eye shadow.
Best Choreography: British Sea Power. Particularly the part where the keyboard player picks up the drum and they make like a marching -- rather, stumbling -- band.
Best Band Name: The second year in a row this honor goes to an Austin band. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness won here last year; this year: A Tiger Named Lovesick.
Best Singing Actress: Minnie Driver, in a close one over Julie Delpy. Unfortunately, Tia Carrera turned out to be a psychedelic rock trio.
Best Public Service Announcement: Frank Reader, singer of reassembled and oh-so-gentle Scotsman the Trashcan Sinatras: "We're on a slight incline here so anything spherical you drop could wind up under somebody's feet, so please be careful."
Best Advice to Up and Coming Bands: Keynote speaker Little Richard: "Sign your checks."
Best Descendant: Holly Williams, granddaughter of Hank, opened her new-millennial achy breaky heart in the Crowne Plaza's sky lounge: "This song is about codependent relationships." That rustling sound coming from eighteen floors and six feet below was grandpa turning over.
Best Bitter Band: Former buzz band the Brian Jonestown Massacre, in their seemingly tenth straight appearance at SXSW, took aim at current buzz band the Von Bondies. On stage at Club Deville, singer Anton Newcombe mocked, "I wish we could be the latest band to get our ass kicked by Jack White."
Best Crowd Participation: Former Bronx schoolteacher Nellie McKay not only got us folks at the Driskill Hotel to sing along -- in Mandarin -- but she made us jiggle our right feet and scratch our heads. Yes, I believe she was messing with us.
Best Sing-Along: Sam Roberts' debut album might have tanked in the U.S., but he showed why he's a rock star -- and chick magnet -- in his native Canada. During his Momo's set, he held the mike into the audience, screamed "Just the ladies!" and a gang of high-pitched voices crooned back, "Don't walk away Eileen."
Best Timing: Showed up an hour late for the Church. Caught "Destination" and "Milky Way." Ah, fair-weather fandom!
Best Decision: When asked by her indie rock friends to go see Pedro the Lion, a drunk woman dancing at Cedar St. said, "I am not leaving!" On stage was Van Hunt, the Atlanta soul man with the funky band and the sweet falsetto.
Best Battle: Despite complaints, singer-songwriters Mindy Smith, Garrison Starr and Grey DeLisle had to alternate their sets with dancing buxom barmaids at the Coyote Ugly, where Guns n' Roses and the Charlie Daniels Band are enjoyed a dozen times nightly. The jungle indeed.
Best Song Intro: Robyn Hitchcock at the Yard Dog. "This one is for rodent owners."
Best Beard: Iron and Wine. The guy.
Best T-Shirt: "Free Ozo," after members of hip-hop/jazz/world band Ozomatli were arrested for disturbing the peace with an impromptu conga line.
Best Newcomer: Jedd Hughes. This Australian guitar slinger can shred nasty and croon pretty. He also does a mean version of "Luxury Liner."
Best Racket: California metal men High on Fire. It's hard to believe that Ozomatli got arrested the same night these guys played outdoors . . . at midnight.
Best Giveaway: The Polyphonic Spree. Free whistles!
BILL CRANDALL
(March 23, 2003)
