1 Lou Reed
photo by Erik Adams
SXSW08: Lou Reed’s got a degree in dope
March 13, part 1, in Austin
By Erik Adams
Published: March 14th, 2008 | 9:20am
No one should ever be excited by the word "keynote," but I nearly jumped out of my chair the morning I found out that Lou Reed was booked to give the keynote address at this year's SXSW. Of course, in SXSW language, "keynote address" means "skillfully guided onstage interview," so I wasn't too worried about having to sit through a lengthy dissertation by one of all my all-time heroes (which I really wouldn't have minded, anyway).
As a person, Reed was everything I was expecting: grouchy, dry, not totally there. He was like a grumpy grandfather in a constant state of just waking up from a nap. During his conversation with producer Hal Willner, Reed stopped twice to chastise attendees for not turning off their phones (justifiable) and lost a struggle with his microphone stand, resulting in a conked noggin (hilarious).
Moments of brilliance shined through, though, like when Reed provided this nugget, in a response to a question about the authenticity of his lyrics: "You're supposed to have qualifications for rock lyrics? I have a B.A. in dope. And a PhD in soul."
To be that close to an individual without whom there would be no underground music scene, no pop music dealing in darker than dark themes, no SXSW even? That's gotta be worth being reminded about cell-phone etiquette.
After grabbing an Italian sausage from a Best Wurst cart (seriously, it is the best), it was time to continue catching up with Michigan bands, at the Quack! Media party at Darwin's Pub.
The Silent Years rocked grandly but a little blandly. Child Bite guitarist Zach Norton attempted to take the energy of his band's set out the window and on to 6th St., but alas, the cord would not reach. Great Lakes Myth Society gave a performance that might have sailed over the heads of those born south of the Mason-Dixon, but I think everyone ought to be able to relate to a crackerjack live band that ruminates so well on the passing of youth, the pleasures of drink, and epic fistfights between mythical giants. Finally, the Hard Lessons brought rock back to the people, starting their set in the crowd, while guitarist Augie picked up Norton's wanderlust, crawling on anything that could be crawled upon and hanging his Telecaster on an unsuspecting photographer. It was a fiery and sweaty affair, made all the more fiery by Ko Ko Louise's raised-on-soul growl.
When the music stopped, Darwin's became the scene of a SXSW trainwreck of synergy, as comedians from Quirkee.com launched countless jokes that failed long before they could reach the punch line. It was a sad and curious thing; a Web site and its creators granted an opportunity to promote themselves at this massive event (which wasn't an official SXSW event), but getting in way over the heads and turning in a fairly embarrassing showing. They complained a few times about a cold audience and bad timing and venue, but sometimes unfunny is just unfunny.
I'm at the Mohawk now, so I'm going to stop writing and go watch the Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian/Dead Oceans showcase. Today, March 14, brings uncertain day plans and the Merge showcase with Destroyer, She & Him, Wye Oak and others.
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CHECK BACK OFTEN
This is the second installment of Venus Zine’s 2008 SXSW coverage. Visit venuszine.com daily through March 16 for twice-daily reports.
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