2002-03-28 - 3:37 p.m.
Been pretty busy today. Read the first seven chapters of the new Bill Hicks biography called American Scream. Of course, it's fascinating. (ED. Only because I didn't know that much about his childhood. More on how the book is written later.) Now I'm listening to The Who's Tommy and reliving the past while I check email. I had so much email that I'm already on side four as I write this, "I'm free and freedom tastes of reality…" I only wrote about the first night of SXSW and so much happened, I can barely recall anything. But one band I remember like a red hot poker burning in my brain is
Ok, close your eyes and picture this. Twenty-five or so kids in choir robes taking up every inch of stage space at the Scottish Right Theater, (the Spankers have done numerous shows there) guitar, bass, drums, percussion - with timpani, keys, flute, french horn, trombone, (maybe it was a trumpet - I was of course, a little buzzed) theremin and a ten piece choir, all fronted by the ex-front man of Tripping Daisy. The incredible thing was, they played this 1967-68 Beatles, Beach Boys, Donavon, Bowie, up with people, hands across America, psychedelic pop that dripped with good vibes. Now, most of you know that I'm pretty damn jaded and cynical and the last thing that would impress me is a band that resembles that 70's coke commercial with the choir in the form of a Christmas tree, holding candles and singing "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" but these guys held that positive trip and SOLD IT, BABY! They never let up and never broke character. It was like taking acid for the first time. I'm telling you it was overwhelming. You just gotta see it to believe it. If you're in the D/FW area, you must experience this. It's literally too much. I mean waaaay to much.
