BEST BAND THAT COULD STAND IN FOR THE WIGGLES: Devo. Never a cool-looking band in the first place (without the hats, that is), the 50-something members of the pioneering Ohio art-rock band really look like nerds these days. They added to the Wiggles comparisons during the first few of songs in their Austin Music Hall performance late Friday night by wearing matching men-at-work vests and playing several overly quirky, excited new tunes — their first new stuff in 19 years! The members soon got lost in the video collages playing on a giant screen behind them (some of it produced by Minneapolitan videomaker Chuck Statler, the unsung genius behind a lot of their early work). The new stuff got better, too, especially a jiggly rocker that I’m guessing is called “Fresh,” which played with images of fruit and a girl’s swaying bikini bottom. Seven songs in, the band brought out the old hats for “Girl U Want,” which was soon followed by a string of the classics, all played with complete verve, including “Whip It,” “Satisfaction” and “Uncontrollable Urge,” the latter of which the guys played standing in a tight circle bouncing in unison. In that case, they did actually look a little like rock stars.

BEST NEW BAND: White Lies, who headlined the Filter magazine party at Cedar Street Courtyard. Singer Harry McVeigh is a bit too Peter Murphy-like for my tastes in sound, but unlike Murphy he showed a lot of spark and energy, which the band matched with its powerful and dramatic but not mopey material. The Filter party also featured Razorlight, whose last two songs I caught and impressed me as the rare dance-rock I’d like to hear again.

BEST PERSISTENT RUMOR: That Kanye West is going to show up Saturday for the finale at the Levi’s Fader Fort.

BEST SHOWING BY A MINNESOTA BAND: Solid Gold put down their reputation of thinking their too cool for Minneapolis by going from a set at the elaborate Levi’s Fader Fort — probably the trendiest party spot in town again despite its relocation — to the meager and mostly all-MN Cash Moneyapolis bash in a parking lot behind an East Austin dive bar, where “Get Over It” and “Calm Down” went off as perfect pain-relievers for the SXSW mayhem/stress. The band members said they’re meeting with some label reps and other industry folk in town this week but remain leary of signing a deal. Something else they’re fighting off: Frontman Zachary Coulter came down with a head-cold as soon as they left Minneapolis for the warmer climate (figures!), and he planned to go to bed early. No kidding.

BEST SIGN OF UNDYING BRITISH ROCKSTARDOM: Echo & the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch’s wool coat, which he wore in the near-90-degree heat for Spin magazine’s outdoor party at Stubb’s.

BEST QUOTE OF THE DAY: “These are three of the luckiest virgins on the planet.” Jason Dick, of Austin rock station 101X, introducing the three “Guitar Hero” contest winners who got to perform before Metallica at Stubb’s.

FAVORITE ANTI-SXSW T-SHIRT: “Die Hipster Scum” (replaces my previous favorite: “Welcome to Austin. Now go home.”

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am and is filed under Main, SXSW. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.