Tony Nelson Photography: SXSW 2010 Day 2

So, hopefully a little less words here today or I'll never get through all 4 days of this. Here goes.
Day Two - After not much sleep but, at least well fed, it's off to Waterloo Records at noon on Thursday to check out Titus Andronicus who are opening the day on the stage they've now got out in the parking lot.

Then we're off to the VitaMN & Best Buy Co. sponsored Minnesota music show on the rooftop of Maggie Mae's on 6th Street. On the way there I bump into Maggie & Grant of Look Book who will be playing in a few hours.

Actual Minnesotans are in attendance.

Bight Club is on first. This is a truly strange venue in which the bathrooms are located behind the stage and people have to basically walk across it to get there so there's this weird constant parade of bystanders walking along the side of the stage that need to be avoided when photographing.

After a little detour for some more portaits I catch a glimpse of Minneapolis buzz band Solid Gold's billboard. Self Promo is the name of the game here.

Then a quick stop at the NPR day show at the Parish to see Surfer Blood.

We're back across the street at Maggie Mae's in time for Look Book's set.

Followed by Solid Gold.

Through a set of closed doors is Maggie Mae's other room where Gibson Guitars is hosting a show of their own. So, after going outside walking down the street & around the corner & back upstairs, I'm standing 10 feet from where I was watching Solid Gold and waiting for Austin legend Alejandro Escovedo to come on.

Then a little hike to see a couple sort of experimental noise bands, Japandroids and No Age.

Japandroids

No Age

We start the night shows with a bang by seeing Minneapolis punk duo the Birthday Suits on the least impressive stage I've seen so far. Basically just a corner of a room at a restaurant called Jaime's. The side of the "stage" did have a window that open directly to the bar which I suppose has its advantages.

Then just a couple blocks to Emo's when another Minneapolis duo, Peter Wolf Crier is impressing the crowd with their official showcase.

At some point here it starts to become a bit of a blur. There's Leslie & the Badgers, some old fashioned country we saw on the recommendation of Pete Jesperson who was working the conference for his label New West.

There was a really great set by Dawes followed by the very rockin' Whigs at a very dark venue called the Beauty Bar Palm Door - not to be confused with the other Beauty Bar on 7th street (we did confuse them ).

Dawes

The Whigs

There was Minneapolis pop/punk band Off With Their Heads who were a blast at the Red 7.

At some point back at Stubb's to see Band Of Horses but got there a little early (or were the bands a little late?) and found myself watching the Drive By Truckers again. Worse things could happen, I guess!