Scott McDonald

What better way to start SXSW's final day than with two dudes from Bristol, U.K., who play toy keyboards through laptops and call themselves the F--- Buttons? What sounded like a gimmick actually proved to be a talented band, as long as you like your music served with an extra slice of loud.

After F--- Buttons (I just like saying it) at Volume, I swung through Emo's Annex for Alternative Press' 100 Bands to Watch party for Charlotte Sometimes, who spoke with Buzznet earlier in the week. "People always ask me to describe my music so I came up with this," Charlotte told me. "It's Fiona Apple dancing to hip-hop beats." Sounded like a winning formula to me and it was nice to see the umpteenth woman who rocked it here in Austin.

One interesting way to spend an afternoon at SXSW is to find an indie label showcase and actually stick around for the whole thing. This is how you discover great musical movements, or at least the spirit of a label. At the Authentic Records party at Maggie Mae's, a very classic roots rock sound wove in and out of each performer, evident of the label's Des Moines, Iowa, home base. The showcase ended with an all-band jam of "Folsom City Blues," a festival highlight for sure.

Johnny Cash's classic made me just miss Kate Nash (OK, and the brat I had stopped for on the way), so I hurried back to the Fader Fort for Spank Rock. (Speaking of Nash, don't miss Buzznet's new contest for her right here!) This misfit gang from Baltimore make hip-hop light on message but heavy on bass and booty references, almost like a modern day 2 Live Crew, who fittingly closed out the party (minus Luke, who no longer performs with the group).

Now I totally rocked my As Nasty As They Wanna Be cassette back in the day and loved every filthy lyric, but to hear these mid-40s dudes singing ""heeeey, we want some pu---" today just feels kinda creepy. I ended up singing along anyway, just like everyone else around me.

After finally not being able to sneak into a show (at a church of all places!) I missed My Morning Jacket singer Jim James' solo gig and instead caught Phantom Planet, who debuted some material from their new album (Go here for an account of a show MMJ played in Austin just a few days ago.) It was a good show, but I sadly realized how many bands I saw in Austin this year that got big help from 'The O.C.'

California … here I come … exhausted.


-Adam Deroy


Buzznet was all about SXSW this year. Check out pics, videos, reports and more as we got our fill of bands on the brink in Austin.

Don't forget that Buzznet and Filter Magazine are giving away a 10 CD Prize Package until March 25. You can ENTER HERE.