David Ingham

My SXSW 2012

2012, my 8th year and the best yet!

Tues: Fly Golden Eagle / Bear Hands / Strange Boys / White Denim / Alejandro Escovedo and The Sensitive Boys / Big Sam's Funky Nation // Wed: Michael Kiwanuka / Alabama Shakes / Steve Poltz / Joe "King" Carrasco and The Crowns / Sixteen Deluxe / Carolyn Wonderland / Ruthie Foster / Christopher Cross / Patti Griffin / Alejandro Escovedo and The Sensitive Boys (with Joe Ely / Garland Jeffreys and Bruce Springsteen) / The Drums // Thu: Bruce Springsteen (Keynote) / Wild Moccasins / Max Gomez / The Mastersons / Buxton / Ponderosa / Tom Morello (with Shooter Jennings) / Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (with Tom Morello, Eric Burdon, Jimmy Cliff, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo and Win and Regine from Arcade Fire) / Sharon Van Etten // Fri: Fanfarlo / Ben Kweller / Heartless Bastards / The War On Drugs / The Magnetic Fields / Flagship / English Teeth (with Otis Gibbs and Elijah Ford) / Wayne Kramer (with Jesse Malin, Billy Duffy) / Tom Morello (with Wayne Kramer) // Sat: The Big Pink / Justin Townes Earle / Garland Jeffreys / Chuck Prophet / Tender Mercies / Jon Langford / Ian McLagan & The Bump Band / Delicate Steve / The Black Belles / Mikal Cronin / White Fence / Diamond Rugs.

My SXSW 2011

Thinking about SXSW 2012, here's my list from last year. A little late I know...

3/15: Masterson / Future Clouds and Radar / Madison Square Gardeners / Andy Friedman / The Savage Trip / The Chapin Sisters / Psychic TV. 3/16: Darryl Lee Rush / Randy Weeks / Maxim Ludwig & the Santa Fe Seven / Slaid Cleaves / Freedy Johnston / Ólöf Arnalds / Ted Leo / Luger / The Baseball Project / Charlotte Church! 3/17: Bob Geldof (keynote) / Emmylou Harris / Josh Ritter / Ólöf Arnalds / Cass McCombs / Sharon Van Etten / Low / Ted Leo / Bob Geldof / Fences / Jessica Lee Mayfield / Dave Alvin / Maggie Walters / Ron Sexsmith. 3/18: The Black Angels / Bob Ludwig (panel) / Fitz and the Tantrums / The Felice Brothers / J. Mascis / North Mississippi Allstars / Alejandro Escovedo & Orchestra / Lucinda Williams / The Baseball Project / Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3. 3/19: Sharon Van Etten / Edwyn Collins / The Minus 5 / Jon Langford & Skull Orchard / The Baseball Project / Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 / The Autumn Defense / Eli “Paperboy” Reed / Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion / Shannon McNally / Jesse Malin & The St Marks Social / Deervana (Deer Tick).

My SXSW 2010

3/16: Boxcar Preachers, Ha Ha Tonka, The Silos, The Savage Trip, Tom Freund. 3/17: Drive-By Truckers / The Beauties / Justin Rutledge / Hollerado / Honeyhoney / Cocktail Slippers / Gin Wigmore / Billy Bragg. 3/18: Codeine Velvet Club / Dr Dog / Gin Wigmore / The Blue Aeroplanes / Joe Purdy / Titus Andronicus / The Mother Hips / Street Sweeper Social Club / Deer Tick. 3/19: The Broderick / Bear Hands / Jakob Dylan and Three Legs (Featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan) / Band of Skulls / Harper Simon & friends / Murder By Death / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Chuck Prophet & Mission Express. 3/20: Frightened Rabbit / Ten Bears / John Smith / Lovely Eggs / The Wave Machines / Ben Weaver / Exene Cervenka, Jon Allen / Big Star – Alex Chilton Tribute with Curt Kirkwood, Mike Mills, John Doe, M Ward, Sondre Lerche, Chris Stamey, Chuck Prophet, Evan Dando, Amy Speace, The Watson Twins, Susan Cowsill, Andy Hummel.

My SXSW 2009

3/17: Andy Friedman, Romantica, Freedy Johnston (w/Jon Dee Graham), The Savage Trip (w/Michael Hall), Grant Hart (from Husker Du), The Silos (w/Jon Dee Graham), Amy Cook, The Blue Aeroplanes, 3/18: Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, Ronnie Elliott, Hoots & Hellmouth, Jon Dee Graham, James McMurtry, Randy Weeks, Ladyhawke, The Heartless Bastards, The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists, 3/19: The Magic, Human Highway, The Hard Lessons, Lucero, The Hold Steady, Dead Confederate, Phosphorescent, The Black Lips, Primal Scream, 3/20: Little Steven (keynote), The Mighty Stef, The Brothers Movement, The Thermals, The Hold Steady, Howard Elliot Payne, Hamell On Trial, Ed Harcourt, The Whispertown 2000, The Felice Brothers, The Hold Steady, The Shys, The Chesterfield Kings, 3/21: The Hold Steady (interview), Delta Spirit, Fanfarlo, Wallis Bird, Echo and The Bunnymen, James Harries, Moriarty, Silversun Pickups, News on the March.

Sequestered In Memphis

For those who doubt the redemptive power of rock'n'roll, I invite you to check out the new tune by The Hold Steady. It's called Sequestered In Memphis, the first single from their upcoming album, Stay Positive. You can listen to it over at their myspace page. It's got everything, great riffs, horns, Springsteenesque piano, great lyrics and a shout-out-loud chorus. Ben Nichols from Lucero on backing vocals too. Makes you want to turn it up to 11 and jump around. I just can't wait to see this live.

Sequestered In Memphis

It started when we were dancing
It got heavy when we got to the bathroom
We didn't go back to her place
We went to some place where she cat sits
She said "I know I look tired,
But everything's fried here in Memphis"

Now they wanna know exactly which bathroom
Dude it doesn't make any difference, it can't be important
Yeah sure tell my story again

In barlight, she looked alright
In daylight, she looked desperate.
That's alright I was desperate too,
I'm gettin' pretty sick of this interview.
Subpoenaed in Texas
Sequestered in Memphis

I think she drove a new mustang
I guess it might be a rental
And I remember she had satellite radio
I guess she seemed a bit nervous
Do you think I'm that stupid
Well what the hell, tell the story again

In barlight, she looked alright
In daylight, she looked desperate.
That's alright I was desperate too,
I'm gettin' pretty sick of this interview.
Subpoenaed in Texas
Sequestered in Memphis

I went there on business

The album is out on July 14 and they're touring in the UK and the US - details on their myspace page.

Stay Positive!

Bruce ServicePack and the Vista Street Band

I don't know whether to laugh or cry...

[Thanks Robert]

Bruuuce!

U23D

You’ve got to see this. It’s a U2 concert movie filmed over several shows on their recent tour of Latin America…and it’s filmed in 3D! We saw it on the huge screen at the IMAX in Seattle and it is just jaw dropping. One minute you’re on the stage, next you’re in the mosh pit, next you’re flying over the stadium. You’re all sat there with your oversized glasses on, looking a little like Bono himself, grinning from ear-to-ear as Edge plays his guitar solo right in your face or Adam’s bass lines thump your chest. It’s just an amazing experience.

The Hold Steady are the saviours of rock and roll

If you read The Guardian you’re probably well aware that they love The Hold Steady. A couple of weeks ago they proclaimed their Glastonbury appearance to be “The gig of the festival.” Earlier they gave rave reviews to their records, Separation Sunday and Boys and Girls in America.

For me, The Hold Steady is just the most exciting band around. A month or so ago, Helen and I went down to Portland to see them play at the Crystal Ballroom. They played the Monday of the Memorial Day long weekend. We’d spent the weekend over in Hood River hiking and relaxing and when it came to the evening of the show I’d almost forgotten we were going to see a band. They weren’t playing til late and we sat in the downstairs bar having a few drinks til around 10 or so. We made our way upstairs and jostled for position, still pretty relaxed. When they finally came on stage and started playing, I was overcome by this complete sense of energy, excitement and joy. I was leaping around like an idiot (along with many other idiots!). The show was everything I expected and more; I was 18 again, feeling how I felt when I first heard bootlegs of Bruce’s live shows from the 70s.

Craig Finn, singer with The Hold Steady, understands this feeling too - check him out at the Springsteen tribute show from back in April.

In The Guardian’s latest piece on the band (from where the title to this post comes), Michael Hann shares his experiences:

But in the end, I guess, I love the Hold Steady because they make me feel like I did when I was 18. I don't mean girlfriendless, uncertain about the future, and prone to adolescent moodiness. I mean excited about the possibilities that music can offer, that someone you've never met can sing to your soul.

Don’t miss them if you get the chance.

The Hold Steady

From this week's edition of Seattle's The Stranger.

Couldn't agree more ;-)