Oliver Future at Stubb's, SXSW 2008 - photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

by Clint Gilders club kingsnake staff

Monday in Austin dawned cold a wet. Safe in my hotel room I wrestled with the "free" internet. In this case free means crap I guess. My shiny new MacBook plays pretty well with the WiFi but Christie's evil windows beast won't even shake hands with the the wireless or wired connection.

Late in the afternoon, the rain stopped and the sun peaked out. Now it was time to hit some parties. My first stop was the PhizzPop Design Challenge Finals. What is the PhizzPop design challenge? I'm not sure really, but I do know they gave me a free t-shirt and the gratis G&T had glowing ice cubes in them. There was only a DJ spinning. I set off in search of live music.

Stubb's is arguably the best live music venue in downtown Austin. One problem, it's outdoors. The weather gods were shining on Opera (and a bunch of other venues) though. I saw two cool bands at Stubb's. The first was Oliver Future. Now living in L.A. these Austin natives mix Electro pop with sometimes roaring, somtimes twangy guitars and Bowie-esque vocals. A Fantastic mash-up. The second Gliss. Gliss play the garage rock that I love with a nod to the Brits, some dance beats and ooze rock star. Both have bunch of shows in Austin over the next few days

The climax of my night was to be Tokyo Police Club at the Mohawk. I knew that before I even arrived in texas. I headed to the Mohawk at 10:00pm. Yeah, there were 2 hours until TPC would hit the stage but I wasn't going to risk being stuck listening from the street (ask JeffB about that).

Tokyo Police Club at The Mohawk, SXSW 2008 - photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer

On my way through the club I stopped for a short chat with bassist/vocalist David Monks. It seems that the airline hadn't bothered to put the boy's instruments on their flight from Chicago. Luckily another band on the bill stepped up and provided guitar, bass and drums.

When TPC took the stage shortly after midnight it was so cold you could see your breath and I'd been standing in the same spot for two hours. None of that mattered the moment they launched into "Box" of their most recent Smith EP, and then "In a Cave" from the soon to be released Elephant Shell. Even on borrowed gear TPC rocked the tiny dark stag at the Mohawk.

Full setlist below: