2010 March - South By South West and Austin, Texas

Day 1

Off to Texas... usual stuff… managed to spend $50 on chewing gum, a drink and a biscuit – that’s why they want you to get to the bloody airport 4 days early, to ensure you get thirsty and hungry.

Keith Urban and Nicole were on the flight, but I didn’t have time to chat – sorry guys – maybe next time.

We’re in the air – I don’t get it – you save for a year to do an overseas holiday, the day comes, you hop on a plane, they wine and dine you, they show you a movie – it’s all wonderful – then they turn out the lights and expect you to sleep for six hours... What?  I’ve been waiting for this for a bloody year and you want me to sleep?? I don’t think so!!

Finally got to San Francisco, the crew were very kind, they made a little presentation to me—they said I was the first passenger to take on more fuel than the Plane!!

Day 2

Got to Austin in the arvo, flying and airporting for 2 days, immediately went for a 5km run... NOT!! Unpacked and went to our first appointment – David Murray’s recording studio for a meet and greet.

As luck would have it, I’ve recorded several songs with Kate Meehan by local Austin Songwriter Kathy Murray, so it was GREAT to have someone on the ground, in the Biz to connect with and converse with regarding Songwriting, Recording, and general prospects in the US... very valuable.... It struck me that I’d closed the door on my recording studio 2 days ago, have just travelled for to the other side of the world and where am I?  In a recording studio.

Met Bob Dylan’s guitar player – nice guy – had a chat to him about how in the history of rock music and other such light subjects.

I’ve always thought that a great band generally has a great or at least, a good name, except for Maroon 5, which is the worst name for a band since “The 13th Floor Elevators”.  Some of the bands that are playing over the next few days have the wonderful names that are hard to beat, such as:

All in the Golden Afternoon
All Smiles
Amie & Sanget Millenium
Bass Drum of Death
Bastard Child Death Cult
Beans on Toast
The Bewitched Hands on Top of Our Heads
The Spit Brothers
Shitty Carwash

Day 3

Jetlag?? What jetlag? Put Vegemite on my Weetbix, poured milk on my toast and had a cup of washing up water.

Went to the first lecture where the world’s most respected No. 1 mastering guy, Bob Ludwig talked. That was cool, sorry Jan, there’s now 2 photos in my wallet.

Lecture No. 2 about publishing. Met the guy who released my favourite CD in the last 5 years, Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Kraus. Had a 10 minute one-to-one with him… very impressed (so was I..!!!)

Saw a wonderful band called Broken Records. Asked them if they had a CD to sell. “No – we got pissed last night and we forgot them” – they came from Scotland to get pissed and forgot to bring what they’re trying to sell in America... The very first gig in the US, they forget their CD’s... this band will be big, nothing can stop them!!!

There are people and bands EVERYWHERE. You can’t go in any direction without hearing a band, duo, soloist from all corners of the world. Very cool atmosphere. Kind of like Mardi Gras with less make-up.

On any given week there’s more live music in Austin Texas than any other city in the world. I met a guy who plays Zimbabwean xylophone (hey, who doesn’t I ask!!) – he plays 2 or 3 gigs a week and teaches – he’s a professional musician.

Booze is cheap here too. I got a flask of wild Turkey 101 (the extra good stuff that I can’t normally afford) for $7.90. It’d be a good $14 in Australia. 

Went to the famous “Antone’s” tonight to see Jim Lauderdale. It was very exciting to see  a REAL country band – acoustic guitars, pedal steel – they were wonderful and the bass player was absolutely fabulous. He played a lot, but it all fitted in incredibly well. Jan got a photo with him on the way back from the Loo... ”hey, what the hell, can I have a photo ”... but we didn’t realise till we Googled Jim what a STAR he is, I think I might have said, “gidday mate, how yu’ goin’”... oh well... they gotta learn humility from somewhere!!!

Two ex-members of the Dixie Chicks were in the next band and they were absolutely hopeless. All the songs were extremely unmemorable. But got to see the famous Buddy Miller on stage with them for a couple of songs. He’s a legend. Looked like one, and played like one.

Kathy and David Murray use to go to Antones all the time and as a result knew Stevie Ray Vaughan and the fabulous Lucinda Williams, who use to ask Kathy to record her songs!!!!

Day 4

Had a business breakfast this morning and afterwards, just happen to stumble into a live radio broadcast in the Lobby with Jacob Dylan (Bob’s son) doing 2 songs live, he was VERY good and the songs were FANTASTIC..like everybody, he’s doing a CD with the legendary Producer T-Bone Burnett..I’ll be buying it..!!

Went to see Cheap Trick tonight.  They were very very good.  They keep their brand name going very strong, with a wonderful stadium rock performance.  Some of their biggest hits are just so classic with wonderful arrangements, you can see why they were successful. 

One thing I noticed in this country is that when you go to the “bathroom”, they have paper towels there, but unlike Australia where about 90% of the towels are outside the bin and only 10% are in the bin, over here, all the towels actually go IN the bin.  It’s amazingly neat.  . 

We’re finding that the Yanks are very patient, courteous and law-abiding, but they don’t like change of plans or unexpected things, they play by the rules, whereas in Oz, rules, bugger the rules…!!!. 

They still have 1 Cent coins if you can believe that.... they’re  a bloody nuisance...: "that'll be $1.68 Sir"... that's about 8 pieces of metal... bloody slows things down for sure... !!

Day 5

Went on a bit of a sightseeing “red bus kinda tour” around Austin.  The place is kinda like Canberra – very well laid out, with shopping malls difficult to find.  One thing we saw on the trip was the famous “Treaty Oak Tree”, which is over 500 years old, and is at the place where several treaties with the Indians was signed.  This idiot of a guy decided to poison it.  It was a huge national story.  They caught him, and he got 9 years in jail.  Everybody wanted him to get life imprisonment.  I reckon in Australia he’d get a fortnight.

Saw the Texas University, which is huge, and has a football arena that holds 100,000 people, and sells out every local game.  It is huge!!  In 1966 a local guy holed himself up in the University of Texas clock tower and started shooting people.  So in true Texas fashion, they started shooting back at him.  He still managed to kill 15 people.

Attended a couple of lectures today.  One of them had Wanda Jackson (Let’s Have a Party), and James Burton, Elvis’s guitar player on the panel.  It was great.  The other lecture included Susanne Vega, looking very “un-star”-like, but she had a lot of information. 

Went to Antones Record bar, there was a drum kit set up…it was the guy who use to be in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, who got sacked for bad behaviour the month BEFORE they had a Top 5 U.S. Hit with "Tuff Enough"... ouch, work for 5 years just to get sacked before they hit it BIG.. he’d be good mates with Pete Best I’m sure…!!!

Day 6

Am at Kathy Murray’s brother’s (David) studio today.  Spent last night re-arranging some songs with Kathy Murray and great Guy hubby Bill.  Am now recording new versions of a few of Kathy’s songs.  It’s very weird being Mr Drummer at someone else’s studio – especially in Texas!! 

Day 7

Drove to San Antonio. Another great road system.  It  only cost  $US27 to fill the car with petrol.  At home it costs me $50.

Saw a “country review” show – 2 hours of country – great songs, but the performers kept up the “though we might swing slightly, we ain’t gonna show it” kind of vibe … nice playing – occasionally great playing – but good to see the real folk doing what they do down here.

Day 8

Well that’s all folks, the show is over.  It’s going to take 27 hours of travelling and waiting and travelling to get home.

The cab guy on the way to the airport tried to guess where we were from.  He said “Britain, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Canada before we finally told him “Australia”.  You know – Kangaroos??  … No!  Then he goes  “Ah – money, money”.  What do you mean we said.  Then he goes – “Sorry I’m thinking of Switzerland”…. “What??  Confusing Australia with Switzerland?”

So ends our trip of the U.S.  Loved all of it.

PS  We’re at LA International Airport.  Saw a muso-looking guy.  Ah! It’s the legendary Dr John.  So went up to him and had a chat and even though he’s the most brilliant piano player, he told me of his early days playing guitar where he could only play in the key of E, and in his first session the song was in the key of G. 

Comments on South By Southwest

I can’t relate how much stuff is on – it’s just endless. I got up a bit of a chat with a guy with a guitar at 10AM. I asked him where his gig was – he said "I’ve just done it".

I personally think the lectures and panels, where they have industry heavies, are the best part. Unless you’re pretty happening as a band with label support, it’s kind of just an experience to come to Texas, and that’s about all, unless you get real lucky – but that does happen sometimes, which is why we all continue to fight against indeterminate and random odds in a savage, nebulous and hostile industry.  (Now there’s a slogan for Sony if I ever heard one).

Regards.... Misipi JEFF