UNCUT
ALphabet Soup
NIGEL WILLIAMSON REPORTS FROM THE SOUTH BY SOUTH WEST MUSIC FESTIVAL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Quite probably the best music festival in the world, the line up for this years South By South West in Austin, Texas reads more like an Uncut playlist than ever. But how to round up over 800 acts playing in more than 40 venues over four days? With only a little cheating, we offer you the SxSW Austin Alphabet . . .
A
is for Ryan Adams, who fronted a kick-ass band called THE PINK HEARTS, and from the first
jagged guitar chords of the rampart Exile On Main Street-style opener, exuded the
swaggering spirit of rocknroll. The Ramones would have been proud of the
90-second speed-thrash "I Dont Want To Work" and, at the close, Adams
threw his guitar down and left the stage with a dramatic flounce, every inch the strutting
star. Half the audience loved it and half were bemused, expecting the searing country
poetics that made Heartbreaker one of the albums of last year. Even Adams record
company, Lost Highway, seemed unclear whether the sound was indicative of what we can
expect from his new solo LP due later this summer . . .
L
is for Lost Highway, the most exciting new label to come out of Nashville in years and
which made its bow in Austin. With a roster that includes Ryan Adams, Kim Richey, Lucinda
Williams and Billy Bob Thornton, they look, sound and act like an indie. In fact, the
label is part of Mercury (Nashville) and is headed by Luke Lewis, the man who also brought
us Shania Twain . . .
M
is for Tift Merritt, Lost Highways freshest young
signing, whose impressive set suggested she is shaping up to be the new Lucinda Williams .
. .
W
is for Lucinda Williams, the queen of Lost Highways
roster to Ryan Adams king. With a four-guitar line-up, which included Neal Casal,
she showcased material from her brilliant new LP, Essence, produced by Dylan guitarist
Charlie Sexton. Smouldering with the same sort of Southern sexuality Shelby Lynne exudes,
the new songs unfolded with a delicious slow country burn . . .