SXSW: Clash's Mick Jones Joins Alabama 3 On Stage
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Artist:
A quiet Sunday follows the last ultimate hoorah, a SXSW Saturday. I’ll miss it all, especially the catching up with old friends who flew down from all points on the map and the constant blaring of live music from every direction. 
I caught the Alabama 3 set at La Zona Rosa, where the Clash’s Mick Jones stopped by to play the band's most recognized number, "Woke Up This Morning" (aka theme song from Sopranos.) For those of you that aren't hip to Alabama 3, the bad is not a trio, nor are they from Alabama, but hail from Briton, London. I fell in love with singer Larry Love's ramblings between songs. The things that come out Love’s mouth, made you think he is definitely off his rocker. The London outlaw sings with a Waits-meets-Cash gruff, but moves around like he is Mick Jagger on stage when he isn't sitting. Love waxed poetic on taking med, being schizo and even “Amy Winehouse Crackhouse Smackhouse.” 
When Jones came on for just the one song, Love told the veteran rocker “No punk rock business, this is strictly country.” The set, was mostly acoustic, with the only electricity coming form Jones guitar. And there was no punk business only "Sweet Muthafuckin Country Acid House Music." 
Seated across the stage were harmonica player Nick Reynolds AKA Harpo Strangelove and the lovely Gwen Stefani/Betty Page look-alike Zoe Reynolds AKA Devlin Love, who kept naturally looping her voice like it was another instrument on stage. Highlights other than the Sopranos song included the “U Don't Dans 2 Techno Anymore” and the Johnny Cash cover “Folsom Prison Blues.”Earlier that day after arriving an hour and a half early for the Jim James solo show, everyone in line was told the venue was in capacity and no one else would be let in till after 11PM. So after searching for a back entrance to no avail, I had to resort to a boring set by the Constantine. The band switched between somewhat interesting and just dull during the Arts & Crafts showcase at The Parish. The hike to the Don't Mess With Texas set-up at Waterloo Park seemed like it took forever. Healiners included the Breeders, Kimya Dawson (of Moldy Peaches and Juno soundtrack fame. We stuck around for San Fran duo Two Gallants set. The Don't Mess with Texas day party is more of another mini-festival, with three stages, added to the insanity that is SXSW. A festival within another festival -- that's how crazy it gets here.
Don't Mess With TexasI also stopped by the Austin Conference Center for a live Direct TV taping of the Sons & Daughters set, which was nuts. The band also closed with a Johnny Cash cover as vocalist Adele Bethel commanded the stage and mike with a bedazzled leotard and knee-high gold boots. This is a band I’d recommended anyone checking out. A fitting end to the whole thing was when myself and fellow MOGger Faith-Ann (aka indiepixie) took to the mike at the Provost loft party, where we've been staying, belonging to one of my bestest pals from NYC Shannon. Earlier during the day neo-roots rockers Phonograph took the living room stage for a well-rehearsed set. 
PhonographI survived my first ever SXSW. It was awesome. I recommend it to everyone who’s built like an ox. This thing beats you to the core. But at the end of it turns everyone into a rock star.
(indiepixie (aka Faith-Ann and me) ooohing and aahhhing to "Up On Cripple Creek")
I caught the Alabama 3 set at La Zona Rosa, where the Clash’s Mick Jones stopped by to play the band's most recognized number, "Woke Up This Morning" (aka theme song from Sopranos.) For those of you that aren't hip to Alabama 3, the bad is not a trio, nor are they from Alabama, but hail from Briton, London. I fell in love with singer Larry Love's ramblings between songs. The things that come out Love’s mouth, made you think he is definitely off his rocker. The London outlaw sings with a Waits-meets-Cash gruff, but moves around like he is Mick Jagger on stage when he isn't sitting. Love waxed poetic on taking med, being schizo and even “Amy Winehouse Crackhouse Smackhouse.” When Jones came on for just the one song, Love told the veteran rocker “No punk rock business, this is strictly country.” The set, was mostly acoustic, with the only electricity coming form Jones guitar. And there was no punk business only "Sweet Muthafuckin Country Acid House Music." Seated across the stage were harmonica player Nick Reynolds AKA Harpo Strangelove and the lovely Gwen Stefani/Betty Page look-alike Zoe Reynolds AKA Devlin Love, who kept naturally looping her voice like it was another instrument on stage. Highlights other than the Sopranos song included the “U Don't Dans 2 Techno Anymore” and the Johnny Cash cover “Folsom Prison Blues.”Earlier that day after arriving an hour and a half early for the Jim James solo show, everyone in line was told the venue was in capacity and no one else would be let in till after 11PM. So after searching for a back entrance to no avail, I had to resort to a boring set by the Constantine. The band switched between somewhat interesting and just dull during the Arts & Crafts showcase at The Parish. The hike to the Don't Mess With Texas set-up at Waterloo Park seemed like it took forever. Healiners included the Breeders, Kimya Dawson (of Moldy Peaches and Juno soundtrack fame. We stuck around for San Fran duo Two Gallants set. The Don't Mess with Texas day party is more of another mini-festival, with three stages, added to the insanity that is SXSW. A festival within another festival -- that's how crazy it gets here.Don't Mess With TexasI also stopped by the Austin Conference Center for a live Direct TV taping of the Sons & Daughters set, which was nuts. The band also closed with a Johnny Cash cover as vocalist Adele Bethel commanded the stage and mike with a bedazzled leotard and knee-high gold boots. This is a band I’d recommended anyone checking out. A fitting end to the whole thing was when myself and fellow MOGger Faith-Ann (aka indiepixie) took to the mike at the Provost loft party, where we've been staying, belonging to one of my bestest pals from NYC Shannon. Earlier during the day neo-roots rockers Phonograph took the living room stage for a well-rehearsed set. PhonographI survived my first ever SXSW. It was awesome. I recommend it to everyone who’s built like an ox. This thing beats you to the core. But at the end of it turns everyone into a rock star.(indiepixie (aka Faith-Ann and me) ooohing and aahhhing to "Up On Cripple Creek")
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