sxsw2012 Sun Mar 18 2012

SXSW 2012 Tour Diary: JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Day 5

Our Saturday morning update comes from the keyboardist (and Clip Art mastermind) Andy Rosenstein of JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound. This came in early Saturday, so my apologies for not getting it posted sooner — totally editor error, these guys have been amazing with their daily recaps. Photos and video are courtesy of the band.
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Day 5

by JCBUS keyboardist (and Clip Art mastermind) Andy Rosenstein

With only one show to play, yesterday felt like a day off. Billy and I went over to Barton Springs in the morning for a run along the water. It was excellent to be able to escape from pavement and crowds, if only for 40 minutes or so. It was dangerously rocky for running, but if you're visiting Austin for the first time, I can't suggest it highly enough as an easy hike.

After cleaning ourselves up, we headed down the Bloodshot day party. Technically it was located at the Yard Dog Gallery, but in practice was just a whole lot of people energetically hanging out in an alley. The food was great, the Lagunitas beer flowed freely, and it was my first chance to watch the many many members of the Bloodshot family play on one stage. I got to see Lydia Loveless for first time. She killed. Rosie Flores and her band blew my mind. Then it was our turn.

We opened with a new song called "River," and then knocked out our favorite 25 minutes from the JCBUS songbook. It was excellent to see so many familiar faces at a gig. If our manic stop at Hotel Vegas on Tuesday was my favorite set I've played so far this week, Bloodshot might've been the friendliest audience.

After we finished, Waco Brothers took the stage, and I mean they took it. Love those guys, but I'm not looking forward to follow them at tonight's Bloodshot showcase. I did finally get to shoot the shit with Jon Langford. As much as I like his music, I like his artwork even better. Fantastically friendly guy as well.

After the party broke up, I headed over to the C3 house. I had seen and/or schoozed with a tragically low number of celebrities this week, so I thought that might be an amusing place to stop. And who should be there, but Tommy Lee.

He's taller than I expected, older and tattooier than I'd imagined, and pretty friendly. He did, however, neg me in my efforts to take a photo with him. Perhaps he could smell that my Crue fanhood was not all I professed; after all, it did begin to wane back in '89. Still, my desire to take a shot with shit-eatingest-grin of all-time was sincere. Next time, Lee! Next time.

- Andy

See JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound's full SXSW schedule below:

Monday 3/12/12
8pm
Flamingo Cantina
515 E. 6th St, Austin, TX

Wednesday 3/14/12
4pm
Presented by: Dog Fish Head & Blurt Magazine
Gingerman Pub
301 Lavaca St. (at 4th), Austin, TX

5pm
Presented by: Brooklyn Vegan
Hotel Vegas
1500 E. 6th St., Austin, TX

Thursday 3/15/12
1:30pm
Presented by: Paste Magazine
Stage on Sixth
508 East 6th St., Austin, TX

4:30pm
Presented by: Let's Get Messy
The 512
408 E. 6th St., Austin, TX

5:10pm
Presented by: YouTube/Google
Live At The Lot
Parking lot at 9th & Trinity St., Austin, TX

Friday 3/16/12
Noon-7pm (band plays around 5pm)
Presented by: Bloodshot Records
Yard Dog Gallery
1510 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX

3pm
Presented by: Bloodshot Records
Jovita's
1619 S. 1st St., Austin, TX

Saturday 3/17/12
TBA (around 1pm)
Presented by: Ryan's Smashing Life
Rusty's
405 East 7th., Austin, TX

[Just added!]
3:00pm KDHX party @ Jovita's

[Just added!]
4:30 pm Knuckle Rumbler party @ Beauty Bar

7pm-2am (band to play at 1am)
Presented by: Bloodshot Records
Red Eyed Fly
715 Red River, Austin, TX