April 12, 2010People always ask me, “What is sxsw really like?”. “Well”, I usually reply, “it’s quite difficult to explain …”, and the conversation moves on. This year, I thought I’d try to put down in words a feeble attempt to capture what the festival actually is like for one punter. I hope it is interesting.
Tuesday
I [...]
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November 30, 1999It was thanks to Amplifier that my so far brief career as a rock photographer got started. The editor Joe likes his live reviews to be illustrated, so I spent slightly more than intended on a new camera and off I went.
First piece of vital equipment: a good set of earplugs. You have to be [...]
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November 30, 1999They’re coming your way, so you’d better get ready. I’m talking about a new band from Southampton, UK called the Delays. Melodic pop-rock from a band with perfect harstyles is always in with a chance of crossing over, and the Delays have a better chance than most. But what is most shocking about them is [...]
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November 30, 1999I have a friend who has just joined a fast-rising and very fashionable band. My delight about his success is tempered with worry about how it might all turn out. It’s been said often enough, it’s a nasty industry. We punters and journalists can just sit back and enjoy it, but for those at the [...]
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November 30, 1999I wake up a worried man. I’m worrying about everything, but about one thing more than others, namely: Will the venue be too full and will the customers complain? No, hang on, there’s a bigger worry than that: What if the Soft Boys don’t turn up? There’s no reason even to consider this eventuality, but [...]
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November 30, 1999Glastonbury 2000. On the Pyramid Stage, Travis have just finished their triumphant set. In the Dance Stage, Fatboy Slim has also finally shut up. Me, I’ve just had one of the most thrilling experiences of my life in the form of a transcendental performance by Oklahoma’s Flaming Lips on the New Stage.
Suddenly, all is not [...]
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November 30, 1999You might never see the Hoax again. That’s quite a thought. What if, in years to come, someone asked you to analyse the band which almost broke the mould? Where would you start? What would you emphasise?
I’d start by describing a moment which summed up my love affair with the music of this unique band. [...]
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