Based on the strength of their Friday performance, Saturday sees Jibbies & Loond point their metal towards Red 7 in hopes of catching a full set from Cancer Bats. It seems, however, that they were not alone in this pursuit, the Alternative Press showcase they’re part of proving even more popular than Shirts For A Cure had the prior day. The line stretches ¾ of a block from Red 7’s door to the corner, and then another half block up Red River. Given the amount of time J had spent in a smaller line at the same venue trying (vainly) to get into Coliseum the day before, the plug is quickly pulled on hopes of a repeat.
Jibbies and K-McK drift past Lovejoy’s and on their way to 6th St and a right turn to The Jackalope spot J’s current muse, Valient Himself. J holds up a minute to intercept and offers an understated ‘Party time!’ ‘You got that right brother, heading there now.’ A fist bump later, the die has been cast.
The Jackalope line is a pretty good length as well. But Torche is onstage and there’s at least some hope they’ll let people in once they wrap up. Sure enough, folks start leaving, other folks start entering, and the party begins! Volcom Entertainment has for years hosted a free beer bash on the Saturday of SXSW. This is it. Riverboat Gamblers are first up and damn do they bring it. There’s never an actual moment of doubt as to whether Valient Thorr will be up to the task of following, but if someone could set the bar higher, they’d definitely be a sight to behold. Add Riverboat Gamblers to your list of bands to check out.
Valient Thorr is simply one of the finest bands of any genre touring at this moment in rock history. Their energy, their sincerity, their senses of both purpose and fun, cannot be overstated and are not excelled. But above all, this is heavy metal rock n’ roll. Metal. Rock. Both in equal measures. If you like either and haven’t caught this band yet….well, it’s never too late! PARTY!
Move a little closer and PARTY! even more.
It’s Saturday at 6 pm and the performance just seen will not be topped. But some sort of sonic chill pill would be nice before calling it a conference. The Cult. Free. Outdoors. Perfect. Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy once embraced the hard rock world with their album ‘Electric.’ Now, some 25 years later, the Cult is still a full-on rock band. They sound good, simultaneously tight and loose. And for extra metal? John Tempesta on drums.