SXSW Day 1: Breathless, Feckless

Nas is in there somewhere, I swear

What to say about day one other than it is easily the most exhausting. Less time to spruce up, stretch out, enjoy things. There’s a mad dash, from airplane to baggage terminal to cabstand to hotel to check-in to Show One.

That first show wasn’t much to write home about: Freelance Whales, a competent, cheery, relentlessly “indie” quartet at the Fader Fort—the gargantuan one-stop midday shop during SXSW—who whipped out the banjo with perhaps too much regularity.  Seemed like nice guys though. Synth rockers BRAHMS were next. They were sleek and ragged-looking, decked in all-black; perfect for a dark club in lower Texas. Alas, we were awash in free Budweiser in the 7pm sunlight.

Things picked up after Nas and Damian Marley linked up for a spirited surprise set to close down the Fort for the day. They did the hits, alone and together, as well as a few promising new ones from their upcoming Distant Relatives. Nas especially seemed happier and more invigorated than he has in some time, opening his set with a strident version of underrated I Am favorite, “Nas Is Like.”

Other great things I saw:

-The Walkmen. So tight, so yearning, and, as ever, so good at Stubb’s tonight. They played to a surprisingly limp crowd, but ripped through at least four (maybe more) new songs from their forthcoming first release for Fat Possum, coming later this year. You and Me is a personal favorite, and Hamilton Leithauser—an honest-to-rockness frontman—didn’t disappoint, particularly on a heart-clenching version on “In the New Year.”

-Cloud Nothings at the Market Hotel/Group Tightner showcase. Dylan Baldi writes gorgeous, deceptive pop songs drowned in, well, yeah, lo-fi surroundings. He nailed his set with a full crew behind him, teasing his gifts without boring the 14-year-olds (!) in the crowd at this hyper-young outdoor setting.

-Cloud Nothings were followed, appropriately, by another pop nerd steeped in lo-fi pedigree: former eMusic Selects wunderkind Best Coast. Bethany Cosentino played a short, simple, lush set of songs, including the lion’s share from her recent Make You Mine EP. (Go get it!) Her debut is sitting firmly at no. 1 on my 2010 list.

-Wrapped things up with those old Austin stand-bys, Spoon. Efficient, steely, surprisingly groove-centric. Britt Daniel and the boys came swinging a new sound, plucking mostly from their next one, Transference, (admittedly not my favorite from them). They also added an outstanding, louche cover of The Damned’s “Love Song.” Dependably tight and tough.

More tomorrow.