Mar 15th '12 by @ 2:49pm 5 Comments

DIRTY PROJECTORS @ EMO'S, 2009: With this set, Dave Longstreth heralded a new attitude, via which his Dirty Projectors would go from an arty band with hocketed harmonies and alienating impulses to an arty band with hocketed harmonies and the intention to nuzzle your soul with songs about sunrises and stillness. This was every single person in that room's first time hearing the Bitte Orca material, and you could tell it was going well by how the band graciously, but necessarily, plugged their ears between songs. Because people were freaking out. Because Dirty Projectors had finally, really, become a band. RIP, Emo's.
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY@ AUDITORIUM SHORES 2009: Explosions In The Sky are Austin hometown heroes, and their spare and twinkly post-rock dives and wails famously soundtracked some of the biggest moments on Friday Night Lights, one of the Austin area's greatest contributions to the general cultural landscapes. (The fictional town of Dillon was filmed nearby.) But it was still a surprise when thousands upon thousands of locals descended upon the free outdoor stage to watch their instrumental slow-burns, raising plastic cups to every ascending rumble. It was a rare rock-star moment for a band who have never carried themselves like stars, and it ended with a breathtaking 15-minute fireworks display -- literal explosions in the sky.KANYE WEST @ VEVO POWERSTATION, 2011: In one sense, the self-aggrandizing Kanye West superhero moment that closed out last year's SXSW was the antithesis of what SXSW is supposed to be about. But in another, it fit nicely with the highlight-new-acts mission, as Kanye gave the first half of his set over to his G.O.O.D. Music comrades (Mos Def, Pusha T, Mr. Hudson, Big Sean, CyHi Da Prince, Kid Cudi), whose perfectly designed mini-sets rocketed by. Taking the stage in front of a supremely amped crowd around 3 a.m., Kanye finally gave a sweaty and emotive performance, then brought out his Watch the Throne collaborator Jay-Z, the biggest possible surprise guest, to general bedlam. So yes, a superstar moment in the end, but one done right.ODD FUTURE @ SCOOT INN, 2011: Since Odd Future thwacked Austin with a number of memorable shows (Fader Fort) as well as a memorable meltdown (Mess With Texas), nothing quite showcased the hysteria like the all-ages show at the Scoot Inn, where those left outside the venue simple broke down the fence in order to witness the insane energy (and no-joke dangerous stage-dives) that the group injected into 2011’s festival.TRASH TALK @ RED 7, 2010: I saw these Sacramento hardcore warriors mostly blind, merely going on a friend's recommendation when I had a few slow minutes. In the crowd just before they started, Fucked Up's Damian Abraham told me that Trash Talk were the most violent band he'd ever seen, and those are big words from that guy. Trash Talk lived up. It's not easy to start a mosh pit at SXSW, but Trash Talk's 15-minute set (if that) turned into immediate bedlam -- bodies flying over, speaker stacks threatening to collapse, minute-long blenderpunk tantrums issuing forth. Magical stuff.
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The “discovery” function of SXSW faded long ago, when the internet democratized access to information and YouTube brought every band’s live show to everyone’s laptops. And at SXSW, this annual cattle call of overbooked bands playing shitty sounding rooms to attention-addled industry types, it’s tough to cut through the noise and make an impression. So, for your benefit, but also maybe a little bit for ours, too, here’s a post to remind that classic sets do happen at SXSW, via five instant vintage SXSW shows we experienced over the past five years. Maybe this will revitalize your flagging faith in the prospect of making some lifelong, sheerly music-based memories during March in Austin. (The taco and tequila memories are a dime a dozen.)

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Miike Snow - "The Wave" Video
Orbital - "New France" (Feat. Zola Jesus) Video
Comments (5)
  1. raptor jesus  |   Posted on Mar 15th, 2012 +2

    Love Michael’s Fuck Buttons t-shirt in the Explosions pic.

    I always felt Explosions and the Buttons have a lot in common.

    Reply
  2. Jeff Martinez  |   Posted on Mar 15th, 2012 +2

    No Death From Above riot show?

    Reply
  3. Adam Schoenborn  |   Posted on Mar 16th, 2012 0

    The five most memorable slideshows.

    Reply
  4. ddogdunit  |   Posted on Mar 16th, 2012 +2

    “and it ended with a breathtaking 15-minute fireworks display — literal explosions in the sky. ”

    VOMIT

    also, jay-z and kanye bringing the bedlam AND trash talk bringing the bedlam….too much bedlam for me. bedlam

    Reply
  5. sighr  |   Posted on Mar 16th, 2012 +3

    5 Most Memorable SXSW Sets Of The Past 3 Years

    Reply

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