CoolDad Does Austin: SXSW Day 2

Downtown Boys cannot be stopped.

Cheer Up Charlie's, Little Dickman Records, NOBUNNY

After my experience of getting shut out of shows I wanted to see on Tuesday night, I made it a point to arrive early for the AD HOC Magazine Day Party at Cheer Up Charlie's. The show featured a full slate of bands I wanted to see at the festival, so I could park myself in one spot and check acts off of my list.

There was no crowd when I arrived, and I got to check out both Surfbort and Wall on the inside stage. Both bands are from New York. Surfbort is more hardcore punk, while Wall is kind of post-punk in the vein of Priests. I enjoyed both sets, but Wall kind of blew me away.

The outside stage featured All Dogs, Frankie Cosmos, Waxahatchee, Dilly Dally, Downtown Boys, and White Lung. Every single one of those was an act I came to see, and every single one of those were fantastic in the hot sun yesterday. All Dogs were just as good as I remembered them from seeing them at Asbury Lanes in the summer; and Dilly Dally lived up to everything I'd heard about them. Drawing on influences like Pixies and Hole, Toronto's Dilly Dally became a new obsession of mine.

Frankie Cosmos played as a duo; and Greta Kline charmed her way through some technical difficulties, guitar tuning issues, and forgetting some lyrics once or twice. It was still an enjoyable and relatable set. Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield) played solo and fought the din of a competing show across the street. She managed to hold everyone's attention with her singular voice.

Downtown Boys' passion once again had me choking up in the front row as singer Victoria Ruiz stalked around the edge of the stage delivering impassioned speeches about empowerment and injustice. Every one of their shows is like a political rally and it's hard not to get swept up. White Lung brought their new sound and new songs. Lead singer Mish Way was a commanding presence, and the band appear to be onto something cool with their new record.

I hadn't eaten a damn thing all day, so I made my way back to my hotel to clean up and fuel up before heading to Carousel Lounge for Little Dickman Records' Rock Or Die III party featuring Sharkmuffin, T.V. Tramps, Dentist, Darkwing, and Fruit and Flowers. It was another good night of hanging with some friends from back home, and all the bands got good reactions from the crowd.

It was an early show; so, after some In and Out Burger, Chris from Little Dickman and I headed downtown to catch NOBUNNY close out Hotel Vegas for the evening. That was a wild, wild set. Constant stage diving, beer cans flying through the air, and just a continuous barrage from the band. Thanks to Chris for dragging me to that one. I probably would have missed it left to my own devices.

Time to make my way back downtown for some more day party action. Until next time.