I keep expecting Molly Ringwald to pop out of Vivian Girls’ video for “Take It As It Comes,” but red-headed Katy is the next best thing. She and Cassie have the heart-to-heart we’ve all had with our girlfriends about jerky cheater boyfriends, but with a backdrop fit for any John Hughes film (or the “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” scene from Grease). And with an ending fit for those Brat Pack classics, the video sends an important message: guys will come and go, but girlfriends are forever.

As people started to file into Rickshaw Stop Wednesday night, they were met with up and coming locals Lilac. Starting their set immediately with no introduction and driving into aggressive guitars underneath crimson lighting and psychedelic projections, Lilac proved that they’re a force to be reckoned with on the emerging local scene. The biggest appeal is how the band plays off of each other, creating an equilibrium through juxtaposition. Kirsten Knicks hip sways compliment Will Ivy’s near whiplash inducing head bangs, just as the hastened guitars and drums compliment the lithe tambourines and keys. With no talking between songs except for a quick “Hi, we’re Lilac. We’re from here; we are your neighbors,” frontman Will Ivy emanates a sheepish cool much like that of early Jim Morrisson. Lilac is dark and brooding, without being too psuedo-profound. Despite a few sound issues, Lilac proved their ability to play an amazing live set and win over a crowd by the end of it.

Lilac photo by Hayden Schiebler

In between acts, No Joy proved to be just that. With their usual lineal set up, the audience didn’t exactly “get” the band’s noise-gaze thick with syrupy reverb (the question “when are we supposed to clap” was asked by a kid behind me). Laura Lloyd seemingly can be compared to an early Courtney Love circa ‘Doll Parts,’ without the crazy. Her voice has a perfect mix of raspy and dark met with ethereal harmonizing. No Joy performs in a way that makes it appear like each member is performing a different show – hair everywhere, spastic glitches, etc etc – but it works for them. By the end of their way too short set, No Joy had somehow gotten the “when do I clap” kid to clap whenever he felt fit and a out of place Marina transplant bro to do a weird fist pump half dance combo.

“Last time we played here it was my birthday. It’s not my birthday today, but last time we played here it was my birthday” – an instant ‘cool story bro’ moment occurred followed by a failed attempt to get the crowd to say happy birthday to audience member Susan, whose birthday it really was. Headliners Vivian Girls pulled their usual ‘we’re cute, we’re girls, look at us hold instruments’ spiel. The thing with them is, they would actually be a moderately decent band if they would just play rather than play up themselves. Katy Goodman’s vocals are legitimately good when she takes out the 5 year old squeak and just sings without all that romping around stage like a My Little Pony. The best part of their set was when they paused from the cute cute cute gimmick and just PLAYED in a three minute mini jam session, thoroughly accentuating the real talent of the band, Cassie Ramone’s guitars.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say Vivian Girls were from somewhere in Scandinavia. In the new video for “I Heard You Say,” the trio seems perfectly comfortable in their plush fur coats, staring across a snowy landscape. The video literally plays with fire and ice—in between the scenes of a winter wonderland, flames surround the girls in a floral-laden motel room. Even though I’m watching it on a nice spring day, the whole video unleashes some massive hot cocoa cravings.

Why don’t the Vivian Girls play “Where Do You Run?” I wasn’t that surprised when they were touring for their first record didn’t play it, but this round I was a little annoyed. It’s the song that broke them and made a semi iconic band out of the cute edgy looking girls with tattoos and severe bangs that can sing sixties doo wop and can legitimately rip.

I liked everything else about the set though, especially the a cappella section where they harmonized with each other as they stood together stage right. “Tell the World” is just as good as the aforementioned neglected song, and it was a privilege to hear “Wild Eyes”, and “When I’m Gone” from their new record. They’ve put out two very cool LPs (and some singles too, including a cover of the Beach Boys’ “Surfs Up”) and the crowd was into all of it, bouncing through the songs with each other.

I walked into The Independent for the last few Hunkx and his Punkx songs and Hunkx declaring, “Don’t even talk to me if you don’t have a boner.” The guys were gay swagger to the max in tight spandex and fishnets. They were (of course) the most popular band on the tour, with both Abe Vigoda and the Vivian Girls proclaiming their love.

Taking to the stage, The Vivian girls thanked Hunkx for cutting their hair just before the set. Their hair looked really cool… Everything about the Vivian Girls is cool. Cassie Ramone rips on the guitar, sings like she’s bored, and drinks Jameson on stage. Kickball Katie is as cute as can be on the bass and provides good harmonies, so does Ali Koeler, who is more than adequate on the drums. At the end of the show, Cassie moved to the bass, Katie moved to the drums, and Ali played lead guitar.

The girls were impressive live, and their self-titled debut album is great. The songs deal with heartbreak and love and although they pull from many genre’s (60s girl groups, 80s punk), they sound fresh and familiar. “Tell the World” started the set with immediacy and force, all the girls contributing on vocals. Other standouts were “All the Time” and “Wild Eyes.” “Where Do You Run To” was noticeably absent, and although the girls are totally the type of band that won’t play they’re popular single because people want to hear it, it would have been nice.

- Review submitted by Jeff Bracco.

I firmly believe that the people behind Home Slice Pizza managed to crawl inside my head and bring my innermost desires to life. Rock and roll, pizza, AND beer? All in one place at one time?? Somebody pinch me. Seriously.

And thus is how I started my Saturday at SxSW 2009, which was also (unfortunately) my last day. The aforementioned Home Slice Pizza peeps were celebrating the last day in their Music by the Slice series, a three-day set of day parties featuring great bands, pizza, and beer on their sunny outdoor patio. I went primarily to catch Deer Tick, but the band called in sick. Booooooooo. I mean, that’s too bad – get well soon, dudes.

I chatted with some folks and enjoyed a set by the Uglysuit, a band from Oklahoma with lots of hair and heavy guitar chops. The band shredded heftily through their set, playing large-and-in-charge indie rock with an orchestral, post-rock vibe. No complaints here, that’s for sure.

The Uglysuit

I soldiered on. If the SxSW side parties are what truly make the festival (refer), then my Saturday at this year’s festival was this idea x5. A quite sizable outdoor festival took place at Waterloo Park, known as Mess With Texas 2009. This festival could easily stand alone, boasting two big stages, a solid lineup and lots of sun – in conjunction with SxSW, however, it was yet another excellent option for getting your rock and roll on. And unlike many other day parties, Mess with Texas was very easy to access: all ages, no lines, wide open space. Plus you could lay out on the grass and really get your burn on, if you weren’t sun-kissed enough already. I caught the end of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, full of crackling energy and infectious pop:

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down

After Thao came the allmighty Vivian Girls, the Brooklyn buzz band with many a lo-fi, garage-rock tune in tow. I can’t say with total confidence that the trio’s music came forth with much strength at Mess with Texas; maybe things were different at one of their other 8 gajillion SxSW performances.

Vivian Girls

After resting for a bit to drink some water and eat my leftover breakfast taco from earlier that day, I made sure to get a good spot for the Thermals. I love the Thermals. I will outwardly proclaim my love for Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster and the band and their ridiculous energy and pure, driving rock and roll. Seeing them live is an experience not to be missed, as the unadulterated spectacle will lift you up and bounce you off the walls.

The Thermals

Then, I heard some of Crystal Antlers‘ set. I don’t get the hype. It was time to do some wandering.

Another persistent element of SxSW is what comes from a simple stroll down 6th St. A hefty section of the historic downtown Austin district is shut down during the festival, allowing for a mass gathering that spills from the sidewalks and through the street itself. The people-watching alone can provide hours of entertainment, not to mention the truly unofficial, impromptu street performances. In particular, my friend and I caught the busking of a musician named Steve Taylor, who drove his portable piano out from Oakland and did his soulful, jazzy thing right out on the street.

While I sampled several events here and there on Saturday eve, the true majority and highlight was the Merge/Barsuk showcase at the Parish. Starting with Telekinesis (really enjoyable, jangly indie rock with the drummer on lead vocals) and ending with Ra Ra Riot (lush, energetic pop, full of strings and bittersweet melodies), the evening was packed with talent from top to bottom. Say Hi made an excellent display of their angular, affable indie rock; Lou Barlow (Sebadoh) and Imaad Wasif strummed together on a low-key, yet lovely and intricate set of tunes; and The Rosebuds fervently played their dancey synth to a very receptive audience.

My absolute favorites from the evening, however, were Austin’s the Wooden Birds, the project of the American Analog Set‘s Andrew Kenny. The band consisted of Kenny, Ola Podrida songwriter David Wingo, vocalist/guitarist Leslie Sisson, and Lymbic System drummer Michael Bell, and they played a set of immensely enjoyable proportions. Mellow and ornamental, percussive and layered, well-structured and full of sweet vocals – the Wooden Birds’ music was one of the best discoveries I was lucky enough to make at SxSW 2009. Keep an eye out for magnolia, which comes out on Barsuk in May.

The Wooden Birds

I concluded my first SxSW experience with a 4:00 a.m. trip to the Austin airport and a head full of new memories. I often wondered if a SxSW would ever be in the cards, as the festival’s sheer density and complicated structure can appear unattainable. What I can say with confidence, however, is that it’s much easier to tackle than you’d think, and it’s well worth the effort. See you next year! I’ll be there with bells on.

You can read my Wednesday diary here, and my Thursday diary here.

- Article by Anna Gazdowicz.