The Lemonheads
(performing the album "It's A Shame About Ray" and more...)
2022-03-17
Stubb's BBQ
SXSW 2022
Austin, TX

SOURCE:
SP-CMC-8 (w/Mods) > Sony PCM-M10 > Sandisk Mini-SD Card (32gb - Class 10)

TRANSFER:
.WAV (24 Bit) > Adobe Audition 2022 CC (normalize/amplify/tracking/downsampling/dithering) > .WAV (16 Bit) > Trader's Little Helper > FLAC (Level 8)

SETLIST:

01. Intro
02. Rockin Stroll
03. Confetti
04. It's A Shame About Ray
05. Rudderless
06. My Drug Buddy
07. The Turnpike Down
08. Bit Part
09. Alison's Starting to Happen
10. (interlude/tuning)
11. Hannah & Gabi
12. Kitchen
13. Ceiling Fan In My Spoon
14. Frank Mills
15. Break Me
16. Hospital
17. The Great Big No
18. If I Could Talk I'd Tell You
19. Different Drum
20. Stove
21. Down About It

NOTES:

If there was one set that I was eagerly anticipating to see at my first SXSW festival, it was definitely the Lemonhead's set at Stubb's, which was also billed as the band performing their 1993 album "It's A Shame About Ray" in its entirety. I love that album (it really just reminds me of early 90's nostalgia), so there was no way I was going to miss this. This was actually an "official" SXSW event, meaning I could finally put my Platinum badge to use and get in without having to deal with standard GA crap (not that I mind doing that, in fact I must admit, I sort of felt "snobbish" walking around those 2 weeks with my silver platinum badge hanging from my neck. I strangely felt a little uncomfortable with it. Weird I know). I also had never gotten to see The Lemonheads live yet. My only previous chance would have been Sunday night at Coachella 2007, when they were scheduled to play against Rage Against the Machine (who were reuniting for their first show in almost 7 years that night), and back then, there was no way I was going to miss that Rage show, so sadly the Lemonheads had to be skipped. I've always wondered how small of a crowd actually showed up to that set, given it felt like EVERY person was at that Rage set (though looking back, I wouldn't doubt the Lemonheads had the better set? Who knows...).

Anyway, enough about that. Onto this night. This set capped off what was an extremely busy and crowded Thursday for me, which had started at noon, and involved 14+ miles of walking around, and catching sets at 4 different venues, including a couple at the giant park across the bridge. As soon as those sets ended, I had to hike back over into downtown and eventually over to the famous Stubb's BBQ venue, which I was excited to finally check out and see a show at (definitely a bucket list thing). Of course, I had read earlier that Stubb's was moving to a clear bag only policy, and I had my backpack with me, and there was no way I was taking the bus back to the house to drop off my stuff. I had a clear bag that I had meant to pack for cases just like this, but naturally I forgot it back in Los Angeles. My housemate was running around downtown too and I was attempted to meet up to drop my bag off in her car, so I could easily get into Stubbs, but that never worked out, so I was left a choice of running home and dropping stuff off (which would take about an hour or so - and as mentioned earlier, something I didn't want to do) or "wing it" and try to talk my way into the venue with my backpack.

Well when I got to the venue, I talked to the security manning the line, and they told me the clear bag policy didn't start until AFTER SXSW! Woohoo! So I happily got in line, showed my badge, and walked right in. No headaches, no sweat, just how I like it. I must say, Stubb's quite impressed me, as far as the stage went at least. I could definitely see this being one of the cooler "outside" venues to catch shows at in Austin, but what do I know? Maybe that's a touristy thing to say? I admit it very well could be.

There were other bands on the bill (some of which I recorded) including Dead Tooth, Pom Pom Squad and Bass Drum of Death (who I really liked and saw again the next day), but The Lemonheads were the #1 reason I was there (as far as music went). Strangely enough, before they took the stage, I got a random text from an old co-worker who said he happened to be in Austin too, and I asked him what venue/show he was, and he told me "Stubb's", which was quite surprising, so I met up with him and talked shit for a while. But he knew I was recording, so he kindly let me be before the band came on, as to not interfere in the recording process (not that I mind if a friend sticks around or not, just know to use hand signals or texting to talk!).

I gotta admit, the show was much heavier than I was expecting. The album performed live was definitely far heavier than listening back on Spotify and such. Maybe that's how all their live shows are? It was pretty fucking loud, that's all I can say. And to my surprise, they played all the original tracks off the album in order (most of the time these "performs such and such album" shows never seem to pan out quite like you expect them) plus more. Overall, it was quite the endcap to a long, exhausting and awesome day full of music. It was worth staying out late and having to pay bullshit surge prices for an Uber ride home (I thought the buses would have had their schedules extended further into the early morning, but I guess not).

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