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SXSW 2009: One last recap, part 2

Efterklang, Voxtrot, An Horse, and Silversun Pickups wrap up the music at the Austin fest.

An Horse
by by Stacy Schwartz March 27, 2009
Along with the small army of writers from Decider’s Austin site and the A.V. Club mothership, Minnesota photographer Stacy Schwartz also went down to Austin for the 2009 SXSW festival, and sent back daily reports to Decider Twin Cities on what she saw and heard. Here (and admittedly a little belatedly), we present the second part of Stacy's wrap-up of the fest from Saturday, March 21, including two final concerts from Efterklang, Voxtrot, An Horse, and Silversun Pickups.
7:09 p.m.: We head back towards Sixth Street in search of food. I grab a quesadilla from a walk-up window. SXSW is all about the walk-up eating: Easy, quick, pretty cheap, and really tasty. As we sit on the curb and eat, we watch the craziness walk by. There are random bands carrying large banners to promote themselves, a dude on stilts dressed as "MEGANAUT," women with large feather headdresses, hipsters, hippies, people like my mom, teens, little kids, and pretty much any other sort of person you can think of. We even have a Hare Krishna try and convert us.
Random Bands Advertise On The Streets
8:30 p.m.: Off to Emo Jr’s. The lineup is Efterklang from Denmark, An Horse from Australia, and Austin’s own Voxtrot.
9:04 p.m.: Efterklang start their set with electronic fuzz beefed up with some violin. There’s also guitar, of course, plus flute, two drum sets, keys, trumpet and vocals—seven people on stage, and each one really doing something worthwhile. Their noisy, orchestral electro-pop is great, and my head won’t stop bouncing. Lead singer Casper Clausen is perhaps the smiliest person I’ve seen all week—well, maybe except for Craig Finn. Maybe they can hold a smiling contest?
Efterklang
9:40 p.m.: An Horse is setting up, and I notice how tiny lead singer Kate Cooper is. Her voice will prove to be pretty big later.
10:20 p.m.: Cooper is the cutest. I want to put her in my pocket. She and drummer Damon Cox have the following exchange, made more adorable by their Australian accents:
KC: It’s been a real pleasure here at SXSW to see all those pale white legs in cut-off jean shorts.
DC: Is that why you cut off your jeans last night at the hotel?
KC: Shhhh! You just said that into a mic. Remember what we’ve talked about? … But the air flowing up those shorts is amazing. So thank you in advance for that, Austin.
An Horse
An Horse
11:02 p.m.: Ramesh Srivastava of Voxtrot is wearing exactly the same outfit I saw him wearing last time I saw them play, in 2007: a black-and-white striped shirt, black suspenders and black skinny jeans. However, the skunk stripe in the hair is gone now. Voxtrot hits the stage running and doesn’t stop. Their older stuff is really what does it for me, and they don’t disappoint. I’m only able to stay for a couple of songs if I want to make it to Silversun Pickups, but I do get to hear “Raised By Wolves” and “Firecracker,” so I’m happy.
Voxtrot
Voxtrot
11:33 p.m.: After waiting in a ridiculously long line at Antone's for the Silversun Pickups show, I finally get in and get up to the front using good old-fashioned Minnesota nice. Once I get there, I realize I'm standing next to Drew Barrymore. We chat a bit before I realize it’s her; she’s low-key and just here to see music. Son enough, a SXSW volunteer pulls her away to a VIP area. I'm jealous.
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
12:04 a.m.: Silversun Pickups take the stage. The lighting is crazy dark. I’m not thrilled with that (photographers love light), but the band plays almost every song I like. Also, I love Brian Aubert, their singer/guitarist. The Pickups finish their set, which is also my last show of the festival. I join my friends Kyle and Jorge, and we rest our sore feet by sitting on the curb. It was a good SXSW this year—though I was disappointed in a few shows (Glasvegas, Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Decemberists), it's always worth being reminded again that The Hold Steady are the Best Bar Band In The World, and to catch musicians I never expected to be so thrilling, especially Janelle Monae, The Wrens, and Hot Leg. I can’t wait for next year… but I’m going to let my feet rest first.

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