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Big Star’s SXSW Show Turns Into Powerful Tribute to Alex Chilton

By Cheap Tickets at 21 March, 2010, 10:42 am

Just as everyone at the SXSW Music Festival was finding their groove Wednesday, news of the death of Alex Chilton hit . “Austin’s in shock about Alex,” read one of the countless social media memes. On Saturday, heartsick Big Star fans got to hear Chilton songs performed by a cast of guest musicians sitting in on the regularly scheduled Big Star showcase, held down by the remaining members of the band’s current incarnation, Jon Auer, Ken Stringfellow and Jody Stephens. But first a letter from Chilton’s widow, Laura, who the 59-year-old musician had only recently married, was read by publicist Heather West. The note highlighted some aspects of Chilton’s inner world: He was a person who did what he wanted; he was a preservationist; he was a good listener; he was compassionate, always willing to give change to a homeless person; his relationship with music was all about analysis, wherein he gave each separate element of a song its rightful due; and he was really proud of the Cramps records he produced. “He valued spontaneity,” the letter read, “and while that seemed to contradict his analytical nature, that was why he was a mystery.” Quite obviously this was a celebration of a man’s character — unconventional, humane, inspirational — but the music had to go on. Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets lumbered through “In the Street,” otherwise known as the theme song for That 70’s Show . M. Ward of She & Him croaked an elegant “Big Black Car.” Mike Mills of R.E.M. found his religion with “Jesus Christ.” John Doe of X dispatched a crystal clear “I’m in Love with a Girl.” And in what was the night’s biggest surprise, Sondre Lerche provided an intense, harmonic “The Ballad of El Goodo.” And that’s how it went for the entire hour and a half, with guest musicians including Chris Stamey, Chuck Prophet, Evan Dando, Amy Speace, the Watson Twins, Susan Cowsill, and original Big Star member Andy Hummel (who came in from Lithuania for the show) all getting a chance to pay tribute to Chilton. A rendition of the classic “Thirteen” was one of the final songs of the night, the lyrics of which encapsulated not only the special moment that was taking place in the storied Antone’s blues club, but the entire SXSW Music Festival: “Rock & roll is here to stay/ Come inside where it’s okay.” More SXSW 2010: • RS’ SXSW Twitter Marathon: Catch the Tweets Here! • Spoon, Broken Bells Grab the Spotlight as SXSW 2010 Launches • Stone Temple Pilots Debut Songs, Rock With Robby Krieger at SXSW • Broken Social Scene, Band of Horses, Drive-By Truckers Bring Big Guitar Rock to SXSW • Hole Cover the Rolling Stones, And Courtney Love Isn’t Satisfied at SXSW

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SXSW 2010 Day Four Twitter Marathon: 23 Reports, From Scissor Sisters to Free Energy

By Cheap Tickets at 21 March, 2010, 10:32 am

On the last major day of SXSW, the biggest story was the weather — a cold front moved in and badgeholders moved out. With only a few big shows to hold people’s attention (a Big Star tribute, Scissor Sisters, unofficial appearances by Andrew WK and Gwar), the streets that once held an impenetrable mass of people were now light trickles, with everyone moving to warmer places or heading home early. Still, there were no shortage of amazing young and emerging bands to check out, and we clearly caught our share. Christopher R. Weingarten of @1000TimesYes wrapped up his Twitter odyssey yesterday — yes, he hit 100 tweets! — tweeting about 23 bands in 14 hours for @RollingStone . Relive his epic quest in our TwitterCam (clips range from the head-banging thrash of Voivoid to garagey punk of Titus Andronicus) and catch up on his 140-character reports here: Check out our day one , day two and day three Twitter marathon recaps . 78) GAROTAS SUECAS: Tropicalia meets post-punk meets the comforting smell of free pancakes flipped by mom and dad! 79) JASON COLLETT: Broken Social Scenester provides throbbing, mildly rocking alt-country soundtrack to morning beer and vegan tacos. 80) KATIE STELMANIS: Pastoral indie songstress battles freezing cold, obnoxious audience creep, some asshole’s car alarm. 81) DÂM-FUNK: Stage banter is so much better through a vocoder. 82) DOMINIQUE YOUNG UNIQUE: Indescribable, unignorable mix of Miami bass, Neptunes, French house, dub-punk and a bratty 18-year-old MC. 83) MARIACHI EL BRONX: Maybe the world’s only punk mariachi band is completely slaying at 2:45, despite clearly having just woken up. 84) EXENE CERVENKA: The ex-X punk icon follows her country-folk muse on an out-of-the-way bar patio full of mellow vibes, playing kids. 85) VOIVOD: SXSW’s second most famous metal band treats gear problems to a disgusting fuzz bass “Louie Louie” and a smashed beer bottle 86) PLANTS AND ANIMALS: Montrealites pack medium-sized room with anthemic indie (and perfect way to stay warm waiting for Andrew WK). 87) THEE OH SEES: Psychedelic avant-garage crew set up on floor for caffinated madness, light jabs at show sponsor, actual drum solo 88) THE MIDDLE EAST: Australian, banjo-weilding, seven-piece chamber-indie crew evokes rolling hills, rollicking times, maybe Montreal. 89) BUCKSHOT: Black Moon MC is as workmanlike and reliable as his records; will rock a crowd of any size. 90) THE GATES OF SLUMBER: Sludgy Midwest metal where each double-kick bursts though the freezing crowd like cannonfire 91) TONE (DC): Three-guitar post-rock army fills every available space with sound, makes an outdoor show sound like an indoor show. 92) CARSICK CARS: Hypnotic, dissonant, enveloping Beijing rock for people who think Sonic Youth got soft. Sounds full and then some. 93) FREE ENERGY: An alternate ’70s where power-pop ruled the world. Possibly the best tribute to Big Star we’ll get all night. 94) SOLE AND THE SKYRIDER BAND: Veteran indie MC spits intricate, spidery rants at random passersby on 6th St., next to the gyro stand. 95) TOTAL ABUSE: Disgusting, skin-scraping, feedback-drenched Austin hardcore gets an A+ for effort. 96) MICKEY FACTZ: Rapper brings club energy, Swedish MC Adam Tensta brings great rhymes, But Catchdubs has crowd in a froth next door. 97) MOON DUO: Wooden Shjips guitarist and galpal turning hypnotic chug into a stoner-friendly Suicide as part of Woodsist showcase. 98) TITUS ANDRONICUS: Riotous, massive cheers for the triumphant, 14-minute, acid-damaged-Big-Country anthem “Battle Of Hampton Road.” 99) YELAWOLF: Motormouth Alabama MC won’t stop rapping when de-jacketing girls or bouncing with boys. Somebody get this man a moshpit. 100) SCISSOR SISTERS: In 38 degree weather, “We are Scissor Sisters and we came to raise your body temperature.” Assuredly did. More SXSW 2010: • RS’ SXSW Twitter Marathon: Catch the Tweets Here! • Spoon, Broken Bells Grab the Spotlight as SXSW 2010 Launches • Stone Temple Pilots Debut Songs, Rock With Robby Krieger at SXSW • Broken Social Scene, Band of Horses, Drive-By Truckers Bring Big Guitar Rock to SXSW • Hole Cover the Rolling Stones, And Courtney Love Isn’t Satisfied at SXSW • Big Star’s SXSW Show Turns Into Powerful Tribute to Alex Chilton

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Union College Hockey Loses To Cornell

By Cheap Tickets at 21 March, 2010, 9:58 am

Albany-Union College’s hockey season came to an end on Satuday nite. The Big Red shut down Nate Leaman’s Dutchmen at the Times Union Center. The Dutch had the best year in school history. The kids should be proud of their accomplishments and how they put us on the map. Cornell proved to [...]

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Joe Nathan’s elbow tells him it’s time for Tommy John surgery

By Cheap Tickets at 21 March, 2010, 9:29 am

To test his ailing right elbow, Joe Nathan (notes) played an undercover game of catch on Sunday morning. The elbow’s grade: “F,” as in “Frack, this hurts.” Because he felt pain, which wasn’t unexpected, Nathan will proceed with Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. (It won’t be done by Dr. James Andrews , who removed bone chips from Nathan’s elbow this past offseason.) Estimated recovery time for Tommy John: 12 months. From Kelly Thesier’s blog at MLB.com: “It didn’t go like we hoped,” Nathan said. “We knew it was a long shot, but what this did do is clear my head. There was definitely no gray area.” Nathan was diagnosed with what the Twins called a “significant” tear in his ulnar collateral ligament on March 8, two days after he left a spring exhibition game against the Red Sox with stiffness in the elbow. Nathan held out hope that he could rehab the injury but said after the game of catch that it was not possible. What will the Twins do, not simply for a closer, but for the 75-80 quality innings Nathan provided every season? Yahoo! Sports’ own Tim Brown ruminates on this. Left-hander Francisco Liriano (notes) might be an option, but he’s being told to continue preparing as a starter . Manager Ron Gardenhire hasn’t decided between Liriano and Brian Duensing (notes) , who pitched well for the Twinkies last year, for the fifth starter’s spot. I assumed that Matt Guerrier (notes) , who has turned into a solid reliever, would get the first crack at the closer’s job. Jon Rauch (notes) has experience as a closer, but it’s not always been the best experience. Sidewinder Pat Neshek (notes) would be another guy, but it’s been a while since he pitched. Jose Mijares (notes) and Jesse Crain (notes) round out the bullpen. The Twins need to add a reliever. The AL Central has gone down to the 163rd game the past two seasons. We’re not talking about much of a margin for error. Heath Bell (notes) would be great, but if they try to act right now, they might look desperate. And maybe they are. They just don’t want to look desperate.