Lost in Austin - Saturday

I officially love the Wednesday morning to Saturday afternoon schedule. It always feels like Saturday night at SXSW is a complete let down---the 6th Street crowd gets unruly and pathetic, while everyone tries too hard to make the last night of the Fest memorable. Its like everything bad about New Year's Eve...just more intense. So, flying out before all that ugliness afforded us a chance to see a few more bands, soak up a tad more sun, and then get the heck out of there.

Here's a rundown from the morning (which began with a great Argentinian brunch!) bands:

1. Gentleman Jesse and His Men – It is weird that I have seen this guy three times in the last six months given how few shows I have seen. He sounds like early Elvis Costello without the good songs. Kind of catchy power pop. If he matures as a songwriter, he could be really good.
   
2. The Growlers - Country inflected slacking guys with a keen Walkmen sheen. I am buying up their catalog now.
   
3. Computer Logic – Forgettable way to end the festivities…

There you have it. If my math is right, 43 bands. And my count was probably lower than the rest of the crew. Speaking of them, here are pictures of Pete and Ashley in front of one of the real disappointments of the Fest for me. We spent a ton of time sitting next to a Japanese street food van that looked fantastic but never opened to sell us balls of stuff fried rice...though it was a classy photo backdrop: