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SXSW: Day Two. Afternoon Delight

Print | Comments () Posted by Sarah Rodman March 13, 2008 07:36 PM

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Overcast morning skies give way to a sunshine-y and bright blue afternoon as the music-hungry hordes return to the streets. (8 a.m. in Austin during SXSW is eerily quiet).

Daytime showcases have bass and beats spilling out of every doorway, tent flap and open window. Plus the sidewalks are teeming with buskers - from the obligatory acoustic troubadours to one lone, disheveled trumpeter. The jeans are skinny, the hair artfully sculpted and the prevailing look is bleary-eyed but determined.

In our travels to interview gifted NZ/Aussie singer-songwriter Liam Finn and Boston power trio TAB the Band, we also manage to catch some of Moby's new rock band Little Death NYC.

Singer Laura Dawn has got some big pipes and Moby switches it up between rhythm guitar and thumping bass. The folks originally lured in by free quesadillas crowd the stage, most unaware that Moby was going to be playing, and seem to approve of the heavy-ish blues-bent rock and roll.

Sightings: Dinosaur Jr. guitarist J. Mascis in the hotel lobby. He's in town playing with his band Witch. Goofy-but-gifted soul man Har Mar Superstar strolling in front of the Convention Center.