SXSW 2007 Day 1

No wristband for me this year. I decided to just go to free day shows and parties that I could get invites to in the evenings. Heres how it has gone thus far.

So today was shit weather-wise. In the 60s and grey and rainy. I was in a tent all day so i didnt really care, but it kept the crowds at bay most of the day. I saw 7 bands. I spent almost all of the day at the Emos Annex (ie the tent across the street from Emos). First band I saw was called The Foundry Field Recordings, they're from Missouri and were pretty decent, didn't know who they were going in, but I'll check them out. Soon after foundry started the bartender announced that the party's sponsors had bought out the bar for the next couple hours and drinks were free as well as the food, so that was a bonus. Next was a band from Detroit called Canada, and unsurprisingly they came off as a band that desperately wanted to be broken social scene. After that was this band called The Affair and they sucked. Next up was The Twilight Sad and this was what we went to see. 4 guys, 1 guitar, 1 bass, 1 drummer, 1 singer who mainly just banged on the crash cymbal. They were great. They surpassed Mogwai in 2000 and Explosions In The Sky in 2003 as the loudest band I've ever heard and it wasn't even close. I am hoping that at some point this week they play a show with a sound guy who is more skilled at mixing a band with their extreme loud/soft thing. After that I just walked around and poked my head in here and there, and then came back to see Apostle of Hustle (good but a shitty mix) and The Black Angels (again good, but the mix was not the best.) Then I called it a day since there arent really too many good shows tonight for the wristbandless and the line was way too long for Architecture in Helsinki. Tomorrow will consist of some combination of Mexican food, SoundTeam, Beer, Cold War Kids, Midlake, and whatevere else I happen to catch. If you guys have any suggestions for what i should attempt to catch tomorrow (http://www.showlistaustin.com/thurs-day.shtml) let me know.