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SXSW Scene Report: Vivian Girls at the Pedestrian Bridge, 3 a.m. Saturday
In a SXSW overrun with sponsorships, corporate branding, promotional swag and industry insiders, the pedestrian bridge punk rock shows remain a particularly devout hold-out.
Taking place every year in between the close of the bars and the rise of the sun, the show takes three punk bands, drops them into the middle of the Lamar Boulevard bridge, and surrounds them with an unholy mix of hundreds of hipsters and hardcore punk rock fans. Girls in oversized glasses and guys on fixed gear bicycles share space with tattooed and pierced metal fans in leather jackets and Misfits T-shirts, and for one night, at least, they get along swimmingly.
Truthfully, the music isn’t always great. Since the equipment is minimal and bands play on the same level as the audience that surrounds them, you can rarely see or hear much unless you’re within 15 feet of the band. But the night, with its violent mosh pits, projectile beer and quality people watching, does provide one of the city’s best tastes of underground Austin culture.
Saturday morning, an enthusiastic college student cornered observers for random high fives. A blond-haired man with a grungy beard and a knit cap handed out free Pabst Blue Ribbon beers from his backpack. And bits of debris — cans, cardboard boxes, fabric — went flying through the air, serving as a kind of low-budget confetti.
Of course, when the music does click, it really clicks. The Vivian Girls perhaps recognized the unique qualities of their audience, and played loud, fast and hard. No song lasted more than 2 minutes, and many were compressed, speedier versions of the already punchy songs that debuted on their self-titled 2008 debut album.
Bassist Kickball Katy spun around the makeshift stage like a Whirling Dervish, looking, with her bangs and red hair, like a more heavily tattooed Jenny Lewis. And lead singer Cassie Ramone proved herself worthy, assuming she needed to, as soon as she took colliding with a drum in stride. The Vivian Girls clearly believe in what they do, and both on general principle and a series of solid shows, they deserve kudos for their hard work.
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By Secret Agency
March 21, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this
Less Artists More Condos and Secret Agency Secret Bridge Night Party
:: Tyvek :: Psychedelic **** :: Kurt Vile :: US Girls
After 1AM Saturday night on the Lamar Blvd Pedestrian Bridge.