Best Performances at SXSW 2022
Live music is back!
SXSW 2022 attracted something like 3,000 bands from all over the world, playing in over 50 different venues for the week. So. Many. Great. Bands.
It’s impossible to see them all, but over a week’s time, I saw plenty. Here are my favorites:
Los Bitchos
This five-piece, all-female band was incredible. They have a latin style of music, almost all of it instrumental. They drink a LOT of tequila, so they’re having a pretty good time doing it. They band comes from London, but really from all over the world, with origins in Uruguay, Sweden, Australia, and England.
Their energy is incredible. They love what they do, and it’s infectious. Their concert is a Latin party, with way better music than any Mardi Gras parade. Every show they play, the crowd is energized, dancing, and in love with the music.
They were by far the most exciting performance at SXSW 2022. My Los Bitchos t-shirt is on its way from the Land of Merch, and I hope to be wearing it at the Williamsburg House of Music in New York, where they’ll be in June.
Nova Twins
When I previewed the SXSW 2022 Official Playlist, THE song that got my attention was “Antagonist” by Nova Twins. I put them on my must-see list for SXSW.
I bumped into them as they were leaving the Courtyard by Marriott in Austin, all glammed up for some kind of appearance or photo shoot. They were tiny, like 4’6” pixies, cute as buttons. I asked them if they were the Nova Twins, and told them I’d be at that night’s show. They asked if I’d be in the mosh pit.
On stage at the British Embassy venue, they were larger than life. They were fucking awesome. The two of them absolutely CRANKED on two guitars, backed by a drummer. They were rough. They were nasty. They were in your face. They had incredible energy, emotion, passion. Their set was SMOKING FUCKING HOT. They took ALL the air out of the venue. They hit it hard, every song, for an hour. It was exhausting and exhilarating to experience. Damn.
Yard Act
Another UK band with a distinctive style. Front man James Smith lays down some rap-like staccato lyrics, while the band behind him just cranks. It’s easy to get tied-up with the lyrics, which eloquently address first-class problems like being rich, owning a fixer-upper second home, getting paid, and other successful capitalist pursuits. But then you’d miss out on a very talented set of band mates. Lead guitarist Sam Shjipstone attacks his piece with gusto, and the rest of the band keeps it tight. The overall effect is fresh, different, gutsy, and captivating. Check them out.
Wet Leg
Wet Leg was probably the buzziest band at SXSW. It seemed like everybody was talking them up, was excited to see them. Wet Leg had gotten some decent airplay on Sirius, and already had a strong following.
They absolutely PACKED the British Embassy venue. I mean packed. So packed, you couldn’t reach into your pocket to pull out your cellphone packed.
But Wet Leg delivered. Their set was terrific. Their style is poppy, with serious backing guitar hooks, and kinda goofy lyrics. They put on a great show, cranking out one punchy hit after another. The crowd went nuts.
Van Wilks
Van Wilks first played SXSW in 1987, its inaugural year. In 2022, he played a set at 11pm at Saxon Pub, a classic Austin drinking establishment a couple miles south of the River and the madness of 6th Street. Saxon Pub must have gotten most of its decor from Medieval Times, what with all the knights metal and battle axes. Hey, I guess that’s why they call it Saxon Pub.
Wilks noted the 11 o’clock start, letting us know he generally plays his sets at about 6pm most nights. He’s a little older than most of the kids performant at SXSW this year. Maybe a lot older. Maybe as old as me, even.
I think Van Wilks is the most talented guitarist I’ve ever seen. I first met and listened to his band during SXSW 2019, at another off-the-beaten-path gin joint on the west side of town. He was amazing, and his band was tight, heavy on blues and BB King-like guitar riffs. I spoke to several old-timer locals at the bar, who revered him as a genuine Austin hero. He’s played alongside such greats as ZZTop and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and you can hear it in his musical style.
When Van Wilks plays his guitar, you can literally hear each of the metal strings jump off his instrument. He makes his axe sound like a harp, or like metallic angels singing. It’s beautiful. Like, you want to cry beautiful.
Wilks opened with an incredible cover of Traffic’s “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” that blew me away. It was ten times better and more stunning than the original. A week later, I can still hear it.
The rest of the set was wonderful, rich and bluesy.
After his set, I found him outside unwinding, and thanked him for a great performance. I told him I’d be sure to find him my next trip to Austin, too.
He really is a local treasure.
Bass Drum of Death
This trio had it all going at the Container Bar venue. They are all straight-at-you ROCK, full of passion and energy. They were nothing short of awesome.
Free Spirits
Technically, these three blokes from London weren’t formally on the SXSW program. I heard them Monday night at San Jacinto’s, one of the venues on 6th Street that I think consistently gets some of the best off-program bands to play during the SXSW week (the other is Friends).
Free Spirits played in front of about five of us at San Jac’s. I know Monday is a slow night for SXSW, but Jeez — five people??
Anyway, they rocked it. They had a great set of original material. And they couldn’t have been more proud to share it with us, or happy to be there. They appreciated the applause we gave them, and the three of them had these shit-eating grins that said, “We made it. We’re in fucking Austin, center of the live music universe. We’re playing during South By, and life doesn’t get any better than this.” Seriously. And they meant it. It was a great way to start the week for me.
Honorable Mention
Black Angels
Local favorites, and favorites of mine. They had a great set at Container Bar, in front of a packed house. It’s funny — the locals either love em as perennial SXSW faves, or they get panned as “those old guys”. This old guy loves them. When I proudly wore my Black Angels t-shirt the day after, a middle-aged guy with a wife and two small kids said, “I went to high school with one of those guys.” And all the other old people like my shirt, too. Fuck it.
Crows
Lots of energy during their set at Sellars. Rockers from London, lots of great material. And they played just before Los Bitchos, which means I had a good spot to see them.
White Denim
Another local band, White Denim was super popular with the crowd at Empire Control. Their style is what I would call country rock, and they play it with gusto. Their set was terrific, and they got a ton of vocal support and encouragement from the the crowd.
Annabelle Chairlegs
This group had an awesome set at Hotel Vegas, one of those dirt-floor backyard venues that ain’t Austin City Limits. But they were terrific.
Just Mustard
I saw Just Mustard at Seven Grand, the last band up after a strong night of others. I’m not sure I can do justice to their style. They fucking BLASTED their wall of sound right through you. I remember thinking, “What the fuck just happened here?”
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard
These guys are from Wales, which everybody there describes as “England’s justifiably bitter neighbor”. So, my UK history may not be up to snuff, but Jeez these Welsh guys always so pissed off at the Brits! The Joy Formidable, another great Welsh band, uses the same line. Must be a Welsh thing. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard was a huge crowd favorite at SXSW 2022. Their campy style was a big hit, and fun to listen to.
Horsegirl
This female trio puts out some NOISE. They had it all going — passion, focus, energy, and a great collection of material.
Surfbort
Everybody in Austin was buzzing about this band. They were fucking nuts, in a New York Dolls meets The Plasmatics kind of way. Lead singer Dani Miller had a blast banging out punk vocals backed by the band’s punk riffs. They were a phenomenon, and had the mosh pit banging the shit out of each other. The things we do for love!
Walt Disco
Another fan-favorite in LGBTQ2S+ Austin. All the guys (I think they were guys) all dressed in girly evening wear (I think that’s what you call it), while belting out their stuff. The crowd ate it up, but I kinda felt like I was at the Rocky Horror Picture Show with Tim Curry. Still, you couldn’t help but notice them, and they put on a great show.
Check out my Spotify playlist, JFarin Best of SXSW 2022 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5axNEhu37BNqSPI9mvxARl?si=Cy4pJFKDSDeTpk6TdCpefQ that tries to capture these artists.
But there’s never anything as good as live.