SXSW 2008 - The Raveonettes

Despite not having the complications getting into Austin that we encountered last year, the first day of SXSW seemed to start out slowly. We got checked in fairly quickly (these guys are incredibly well organized down here), and set out to start seeing music.

Our first stop was at Red 7, where I really wanted to catch Sex/Vid (amazing recorded band that also happens to bear the distinction of being one of the hardest bads to Google EVER!), who were listed on our schedule as playing at one. Unfortunately the bar had yet to get their beer delivery, and hadn't opened their doors. We moved on, with the hope that we'd catch them at some point during the festival.

Next up was the outside stage of Emo's for an afternoon performance from the Raveonettes.

This is a band I'd never seen live, and was actually quite worried about how good they'd be. Recorded, the duo plays noisy, thick complex music, with elements of the Velvet Underground and Jesus and Mary Chain; it's the sort of sound that often comes from complex studio work and is impossible for many bands to reproduce live. Jesus and Mary Chain really couldn't.

The Raveonettes can.

Despite the heat of day, the band (a trio with the addition of a drummer for touring) took the stage and hammered through a set that was tight and true to their recordings. We were right in front of the speakers and the sound had mass, and hit us with a force that jumbled your guts and made your hair stand on end (which is surprisingly a good thing).

They played my favorite, "Attack of the Ghostriders" (Download from Amazon), and Nicole's favorite , "Love in a Trashcan" (Download from Amazon), and a host of others, all true to their recorded chaos.

And as a final note, not only can they do all that, but it has duly observed that bassist Sharin Foo can sing, play and chew gum at the same time.

Photo © Nicole Lucas