Austin, Tx – There’s SXSW, the annual music biz spring break that’s been attracting talent from all over the world since 1987.
Then, there’s the underground festival, not publicized as such, but the one where bands that didn’t achieve one of the chosen slots appear.
This is the more interesting of the two.
Merit certainly has nothing to do with who gets to appear at the more traditional festival.
L.P., a NYC rocker with Marc Bolanesque curls and an amazing set of pipes is a glaring example of this.
L.P.’s crafty manager Andrew Krents hustled a 3-night stand at the Coyote Ugly club. A movie about the club starring Julia Roberts brought to light the honky tonk scene where Texas hotties serve shots and dance on the bar and inspire debauched behaviour from their female clientele.
Not gaining entry into the classic festival did nothing but inspire L.P.
Instead of one overhyped disappointing 40-minute slot, L.P. has been performing 2 sweaty sets a night, attracting legions of fans, real ones that buy records.
The outstanding thing about L.P.’s appearance apart from her amazing vocal chops and her tight as nails band are the musicians who come pay homage.
Sitting in with L.P. at Thursday’s show was David Lowery of Cracker / Camper Van Beetheoveen fame and also the producer of L.P.’s debut album. The Friday night SRO midnight set found Grammy award winning producer Linda Perry (Pink, Christine Aquilaria) shaking her blue Mohawk to the rock.
Johnny Hickman also of Cracker, helped close out the Friday night with his raucous guitarwork.
L.P. has chalked up over 300 shows since the released of her album “Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol” last summer.
When the festival winds down, L.P. and her boys will jump in the van and continue their attack of America.
300 shows down, 200 to go.
