SXSW Field Report: The Boxing Lesson 03/20/09

Since I couldn't go to SXSW this year I invited a handful of bands to submit "field reports" of their SXSW experience. Here's our third report from The Boxing Lesson, written by keys / synth player Jaylinn Davidson. (Read parts One and Two.)


"Before I get started on Friday's adventure, let me say one thing about FREE PANTS. Not only were they free, but they were also tailored. Wow. Wow. Wow. Never have any pants fit like the FREE PANTS do. No less than ten compliments upon them. Way to go Levi's. Advertising at it's finest.

"Onward.

"The Boxing Lesson's 3rd annual SXSW day party was by far the most incredible we've hosted yet. Hats off to Paul and Ryan for booking one hell of a day at Guero's Oak Garden.

"The sunny, breezy Austin afternoon was a perfect setting for our buddies, The Calm Blue Sea to kick off the day with a sonic assault that both created and destroyed. I mean that in the most awesome of ways.

"Next up was The Sleepover Disaster. We shared the stage with the gents in Fresno and they blew our minds. First with their music, then with their hospitality, then with breakfast, then the Fresno Zoo, then the kitty piano, then the sweet zombie flick... I could go on and on. .. . Not only did they make sweet shoegaze music then, they killed it again at Guero's. Go check them out now. Seriously. They are awesome. In my opinion, they had the standout bass tone of the day.

"Somehow we were still on schedule when it was time for Starfucker. H O L Y S H I T they were sofa king dope. Two turntables and a microphone and that wasn't all..... Sweet gear, catchy tunes, and super talented dudes. Blew me away. I danced. I drank. I cheered. I danced. I envied their ability to wear such hip shades.

"Our good buddy Nardo showed up with Ben Pringle from The Rentals and his new band Yearbook Pictures. They were just in time for Built By Snow, one of my favorite local bands who is set to blow. (DUCK!!!!) BBS loves the Rentals, and actually cover "Friends of P". Needless to say, they played their hearts out for one of their idols. I stood next to Ben during a portion of their set and he was very impressed. As was the other 100 people in the Oak Garden at that time!

"As Superdrag took the stage, the Garden filled to capacity. This was to be their first SXSW show as they had missed all their other shows due to bad weather on their way to Austin. They rocked so hard for every super-fan and newcomer in the audience. No one could believe that the show was free and that they were really seeing one of their favorite bands so up close and personal....

"As we helped Superdrag unload through the Hobbit door off the stage, I met Heisenflei of The Pity Party. Her and I shared one of the most interesting conversations about poo, elongated nipples, a human tail, multi-tasking and Fecal Shock. Then she got on stage and showed everyone that she freakin' rocks... One hand playing drums, one hand driving the synth bass, two feet keeping perfect time. M, the guitarist RIPPED. Period.

"Another LA band, The Happy Hollows followed up The Pity Party. Happy Hollows is another band that we played with at Spaceland while on tour. I remember Sarah and Charlie being so awesome in LA, and yep – they are awesome. So nice, and so rockin. Sarah's sweet face directly in contrast with her hard rockin guitar playin, her shakin head, her fierce voice. It's a winning combination.

"By the time The Upsidedown started, I was feeling pretty good. After three 13 hour days and several shows ourselves, I had started to drag ass around 5:00. We were only ten minutes behind schedule (and I know this is awesome because we personally showed up to two shows that were over two hours behind) and I was about three beers (+) into the day. YAY! His voice is like a velvet painting of Elvis. Smooth, dark, dirty and sweet.

"Up next, Wax Fang. My new favorite band. Salty rock and roll dripped from your little sister's pink Sunday dress drum kit adorned with the a stuffed lion's head. A stuffed lion's head that rocked to every kick. RAD. Don't think that lion's head was alone up there. No Siree. There was an abnormally large My Little Pony (with a pink wig) on the bass rig. There was a Mardi Gras mask shoved in between the two racks. There were two of the biggest amps Fender made in the 70s – the Quad Reverb and the Super 6. Add to that fist-pumping, dirt-stomping, head-banging rock and fucking roll.....!!!!

"I should have stopped drinking at this point, but it was too damn fun. And the vibe for me turned into that of a “regular” show – I was a mere one band away from my time slot.. Time to get mentally prepared. Time for Tito's.

"Hopewell from Brooklyn took the stage and channeled the space rock from the cosmos to cantina. I heard this entire set from the other side of the Hobbit door – which was the parking lot behind the Oak Garden. Paul and I had tried to keep this area coned off all day from public parking in order to save the spots for the bands. That was a losing battle for us. Apparently, no body gives a damn about orange cones.

"Hopewell killed it and now it was our turn!!! No matter how exhausted my body gets, when it's time to rock something happens. The energy comes from somewhere other than the physical. It's pretty cool. Something else takes over and my fingers know what to do. My feet know what to do. And I get to just jam out from the best seat in the house. It's so fun to play at Guero's. I look forward to it every SXSW.

"Next thing I know, Muerta is over and people are everywhere and clapping. There was even a Perry Ferrell sighting with some hot young vixen on his arm, according to the S. Congress Sewing Circle. I see a lot of familiar faces and lot of strangers. I had on my Bass Master hat (pronounced like the instrument, not the fish) while we played and didn't really notice how crowded it had gotten. Awesome.



"We loaded out and our good friends, Gliss got ready to take the stage. They stay with us whenever they are in Austin, yet we rarely get to hang out with them. We are like two rock and roll party boats passing in the night. Not this night though. We both got to enjoy each other's set. I wish I had a camera so I could take Victoria's picture as much as she takes everyone else's!!! She is so cute. We love Gliss. We can't wait to see them again in May. Oh – and play some more shows together.

"Still only ten minutes behind and getting ready to take the stage is Izzy the Eskimo. Stephen Gilmour is a rock and roll legend. I don't care who knows or doesn't. Period. He lives and plays to the fullest, and has amazing guitar tone. How can you not have great tone with an ear and gear like he has? He jammed, he (as Paul puts it) prayed to his amp. He ran his Gibsons through an Echoplex and some custom Pete Cornish pedals and into a sweet vintage Orange amp. Consensus of the night: There is no delay like Real tape delay.

Meow.

--Jaylinn Davidson, The Boxing Lesson