Amplifier

SF Station Blows It Up

By Misha Vladimirskiy (Mar 21, 2008 )

1. Does It Offend You Yeah? @ The Parish, Austin, TX, March 12, 2008

This being my second SXSW in a row I kind of knew what to expect with crazy lines and over 1500 bands. You have to pick your battles and I must say I did -- and won. The first one was a band from the UK called Does It Offend You, Yeah? Who, with an almost slight of hand, made an entire club stand up and dance. With catchy electro beats and infectious personalities the boys stomped all over my head. http://doesitoffendyou.com

2. The Whigs @ the Paste Magazine party, Austin, TX, March 12, 2008

If you haven’t heard of The Whigs you will soon. The threesome from Athens, Georgia made me a fan after catching them at the Paste Magazine party on the Friday of SXSW. They had fun garage rock songs and a great stage presence that included Parker Gispert doing a cool jig every time he got into a song. http://thewhigs.com

3. David Banner @ Levi’s Fader Fort, Austin, TX, March 12, 2008

All I can say is that the best performance of SXSW 2008 came from the most unlikely source and his name is David Banner. I don't mean to say that he is not talented but that you would have expected him to be some kind of indie band that has something to prove. But no. It was like a full punk show with stage dives, mosh pit and a photographer carrying Banner through the crowd (e.g. ME). His stage presence was f*cking ridiculous and he made everyone in the building an instant fan. I don’t even have the words to describe it. http://www.david-banner.com