I was a couple blocks away from the deadly car crash last night in which a police chase ended with a drunk driver killing two people (a Dutch cyclist and an Austin moped rider) and injuring 23 others on a closed-to-traffic block on Austin outside the Mohawk last night. I'm relieved that I happened to head in the opposite direction a few minutes beforehand, but my thoughts are with the victims of this absurdly awful tragedy.

-

Earlier, faced with the overwhelming slate of options, I retreated to old habits and started my SXSW in the big backyard at Stubb's for the NPR showcase. I arrived in the open air BBQ beer garden (that just happens to have a giant stage and great sound), Kelis sent more than a few boys in the yard to their smartphones to confirm that the captivating woman on stage with an 11-piece backing band (playing from iPad sheet music) and an extensive R&B career was the same woman who made the Neptunes-produced radio hit "Milkshake."

I vaguely remember a sense of twee reserve from Annie Clark in her early career as St. Vincent, but last night's show was unapologetically powerful and unreserved. A set that opened with an intro from the Radiohead "Fitter Happier" computer built to a rendition of "Cheerleader" performed atop a white pyramid that felt like a searing indictment from a conquering hero and closed with "Krokodil" and onstage writhing. It also included what feels like the next level beyond moonwalking — mindbendingly smooth and jittery mechanical movements, a malfunctioning robot turning in Roomba circles — like the show, it was weird and wonderful. I hope someone GIFFed it.

My evening closed with a Sixth Street browse, searching through four bars with the same name to catch a couple sweet songs from the Pains of Being Pure at Heart and a glimpse at the recently reunited Spandau Ballet. The British group played a lively set to a full house at the Vulcan Gas Company, and it felt like a substantial proportion of the audience had been around when the original footage for their documentary (which premiered earlier in the day) was filmed and had been waiting decades for this joyful return.

Photos from these sets after the jump.

Kelis

St. Vincent



Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Spandau Ballet