It’s Friday, it’s time to party. From celebrating Austin photographers to rocking out on 6th street with one of the festival’s beloved punk bands, SXSW 2024 continues to be in full swing with no signs of slowing down.
Pooneh Presents: Freaky Friday at Radio East
Attending Pooneh’s Freaky Friday at Radio East during SXSW was an electrifying experience despite the cold, windy day, as the showcase was packed with concertgoers. The event was organized by Austin photographer Pooneh Ghana and was a testament to her eclectic taste and vibrant energy. We were able to catch performances from Faux Real, Bodega, Hinds, and Dry Cleaning during the showcase. Faux Real mesmerized the audience with their choreographed routines and also encouraged people to dance along with them in the crowd. This was our second time seeing Hinds this week, and we truly could not get enough! The event also included a local tattoo artist who was tattooing adjacent to the stage. It was the perfect way to spend our Friday at SXSW! – Jacqueline Fierro
Photos by Jacqueline Fierro for Off Record Blog.
Lip Critic at Cheer up Charlies
The New York band wasted no time in unleashing a whirlwind of energy that was promptly soaked up by the audience. Operating at breakneck speed, members of Lip Critic poured every ounce of themselves into the performance, generating enough force to create an earthquake. With a surprising double partnership of two drummers and two samplers, the power was enough to rattle reality and incite a frenzy of movement and emotion from the front to the back of the packed venue. Their energy was truly genuine and created an atmosphere where the audience could embrace their own freedom of expression. – Emily Martinez
Photos by Keylee Paz for Off Record Blog.
Snooper at The 13th Floor Patio
The world needs more early-evening punk shows. Taking the stage (read: the corner of a fenced-in patio) just before 6PM, while the sun was still high in the sky (thanks daylight savings!), Nashville based punk band Snooper brought the energy and the fun to the streets of Austin. With the crowd sprawling out across the thankfully-closed street, the band played a 40-minute long set full of fast and upbeat music, engaging with the crowd constantly throughout. At one point a mosh pit began to form on the patio, with one of the band’s two guitarists joining in. Towards the end of their set, Snooper’s bassist took it upon himself to climb up into an adjacent tree and continued to play, before he and the aforementioned guitarist crowdsurfed their way out into the street. – Morgan Rosenbaum
Photos by Morgan Rosenbaum for Off Record Blog.
Winona Fighter at The Iron Bear
Playing their 7th (!) show of the week, Winona Fighter took the stage just after 10PM at the Big Picture Media Showcase. Though the stage small and the crowd somewhat modest, the band put on a show worthy of a much larger venue. Full of energy, the pop-punk quartet captivated the crowd for the duration of their set, playing mostly originals alongside a cover of The Offspring’s classic “Self Esteem”. Playing a neat 30-minutes, the band kept the energy inside the venue high and proved why they are a bright light in the resurgent punk scene. – Morgan Rosenbaum
Photos by Morgan Rosenbaum for Off Record Blog.
Janelle Monae at The Funk Factory at Speakeasy Ballroom
The house was packed to the brim and the energy high in the sweaty, humid Speakeasy Ballroom when just after midnight, Janelle Monae (appearing as DJ Johnny Jane) took the stage. Known for her eclectic style, Monae appeared donned in a long white coat, with matching hat, sunglasses, and industrial-looking black rubber gloves, an outfit that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Wonkavision room within the fictional chocolate factory. Kicking off her set with the intro to Prince’s classic “Let’s Go Crazy,” Monae had the whole room moving with the music. Accompanied by a trio of brass musicians, DJ Johnny Jane provided a great way to cap off the penultimate day of the festival. – Morgan Rosenbaum
Photos by Morgan Rosenbaum for Off Record Blog.
The Noise Company at Mohawk
Attending The Noise Company’s showcase at Mohawk during SXSW was the perfect end to our Friday night, filled with dynamic performances spanning various genres. The lineup featured exciting acts including Modern Love Child, with his indie melodies, Bite Me Bambi, bringing their energetic ska vibes, Me N Adam with their alt-country flair, and Brenden Benson delivering soulful acoustic melodies. The founder of The Noise Company himself, Ben Kweller, showcased his indie charm, weaving through a diverse setlist. Kweller’s set featured tracks like “No Reason,” “American Cigarettes,” and “Wasted and Ready,” which captivated the packed crowd. Adding to the excitement, Ben Kweller was joined on stage by actor and ongoing touring bassist Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It was a memorable night that celebrated the essence of SXSW and the spirit of the talent in Kweller’s collective of artists in The Noise Company. – Jacqueline Fierro
Photos by Jacqueline Fierro for Off Record Blog.
Easy Eye Sound at Stubb’s
Los Hermanos Gutierrez delivered a soothing set, opening their ambient song “Sonido Cósmico” off their new album by the same name. Fans were treated to a special premiere of the soon-to-be released song “Until We Meet Again” which fans will have to wait to hear on repeat when the album is released June 14th. The performance concluded with “El Desierto” from their 2019 album “Hoy Como Ayer.”
Shannon and the Clams were charismatic towards the crowd. They played songs off their new album The Moon is in the Wrong Place. Their cover of “War Pigs” showcased the versatile vocals of lead singer, Shannon Shaw, who was complemented by guitarist Cody Blanchard’s harmonious vocals which added depth and richness to the performance.
The Black Keys were the main event, they drew a crowd who was comfortable, snuggling like sardines towards the front to catch a glimpse. They played classics and kept the audience happy and hungry for more. As a complement to the performance, excited fans could be heard yelling “f*ck yeah!” after each song. The duo from Akron Ohio debuted two new tracks from their upcoming album Ohio Players, along with performing hits such as “Your Touch,” “Fever” and “Lo-hi.” The atmosphere was vibrant and the diverse crowd seized each opportunity to release their energy, which ended in a grand finale with the rendition of “Little Black Submarines.” – Emily Martinez
Photos by Keylee Paz for Off Record Blog.
Keylee is a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, Texas. She has received a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as an M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston. As an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, she aspires to create her own path as a content creator by bonding with others over the power of local music and media. If she isn’t listening to her favorite band Paramore, you’ll catch her hanging out with her brothers or playing with her husky Luna.
Emily is a southern bred writer and devoted bike-rider from Mission, Texas. She is known for crafting the finest assortment of playlists for every occasion. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin. Emily enjoys dabbling in a variety of hobbies and is always out to learn something new. She is an ISFJ (Defender Personality) according to 16 Personalities, do what you will with that information.
I am an Austin-based photographer and social media manager. My love for photography started in high school which lead me to study communications at Texas Tech University and The University of the Incarnate Word. Aside from my love for photography and live music, I enjoy spinning vinyl, kayaking, biking, and chilling with my cat, Petrie.
I'm a Houston-based concert and automotive photographer. I've been a music fan my whole life, and previously was the director for Coog Radio, the University of Houston's student radio station. I listen to a bit of everything, from blues to rock to EDM, but predominantly metal. Some favorites include Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. When I'm not behind the camera, you can catch me skating, going to car events, and buying too many coffee table books.
