March 16, 2011

Rock Over Boston Austin: SXSW Night 2

[Photos of Mighty Deerlick, Militant Babies, Li'l Cap'n Travis, and Glossary at Hole In The Wall, Austin, TX 3/15/2011 by Michael Piantigini.]
SXSW preliminary night 2 brought us up to the Hole in the Wall for a high energy night of mostly locals that set the bar high for the rest of the week.

Milwaukee's The Mighty Deerlick, who played the first SXSW 25 years ago, delivered some fun punk rock, aided and abetted by Austin's Militant Babies, who filled out the rest of the time slot with some of the new stuff they've been working on. Guitarist Geof Flasch seems like he might be Austin's Dave Minehan. Slaying. Fellow locals Li'l Cap'n Travis brought the crooning and the California, country, and indie pop. A mix they make work.

Grand Champeen
owned the night. How are they not as big as The Hold Steady? Their Twin Cities-style power chords and explosive energy was going to be tough to follow. Glossary, though, were up to it. Shit-kickers from Murfreesboro, TN, they too had a throng of fist-pumpers down front hanging on every note and country harmony.

To sleep, perchance to dream... of migas.

-Michael Piantigini

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