photos by Dawn Thorfinnson
by Steven Ashford
All systems are a go for the biggest musical smorgasbord in the country, South By Southwest in Austin, Texas. Acts on the soundboard buffet range from international, big names — i.e. your uncle's praised summer rump roast — to more undiscovered, underground acts — sauce-filled petri dishes of the spread. Nebraska music will provide a hearty offering of musical aroma that suits even the most stubborn palate looking to gain a seat at the sound spectrum table.
As newbies to SXSW this year, the festival will also mark Icky Blossoms' first gig outside of Nebraska. I spoke with Icky Blossoms' guitarist Nik Fackler on the band's anticipation to head out of the state and make their SXSW debut and how the dynamic of the live performance has evolved since going into the studio back in January.
“It was our first time playing the new versions of the songs,” says Fackler, commenting on last Saturday's SXSW send-off party at Slowdown. “Some of the tracks and different beats, different arrangements, different ideas, so going to play this time around we were like, 'Man, how will people react to it?' But it went great, a bunch of people showed up and the feedback has been positive.”
Icky Blossoms feels, as a band, that they have learned a lot since the start. The band is still trying to find the key components that transcend into staple points.
“Every show is a different experiment,” says Fackler, as he walks his dog, Maggie. “But I feel like we're really starting to figure it out now.
“Our show that we played over the weekend involved taking all these beautifully produced, high-quality samples that we've been using, and we're doing our shows differently in the fact that our performances will have a lot more clarity.”
Having never toured with Icky Blossoms prior to this week's trip down south, Fackler feels pretty comfortable about playing in a new territory surrounded by unfamiliar people for the first time and conveying a positive, carefree mentality.
“With me personally as an artist, I just always have fun,” Fackler says. “I know I can make that happen for myself and hopefully that is a good attitude to have when you play for new people. I hope we can create that good energy and get people dancin' and movin'.”
To truly be a part of the SXSW community, artists typically will schedule multiple shows during their duration at the festival, with some acts playing eight shows in five days. For Icky Blossoms' part, they will play three shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday that range from the evening Saddle Creek Showcase to the all-day Mad Decent blowout party.
Although Icky Blossoms are scheduled to play only three shows, that doesn't necessarily rule them out of additional show stops, if the right opportunity arises.
“We decided to go to SXSW while we were out in L.A. doing our record, so we were pretty late in the game to get onboard, and I feel pretty lucky to have lined up three shows,” Fackler says. “I would be opposed to nothing if new opportunities came up to play shows. You shouldn't want to limit yourself when new opportunities come your way.”
For Fackler, his biggest anticipation about his trip to Austin is the uncertainty of what is to come.
“What I'm really excited about is all the stuff that I'm not ready for and dealing with it when it comes, because I'm always down for a good adventure,” Fackler says. “I know we're going to go down there and work hard, and we'll see what manifestations lie ahead.”
Hear Nebraska's crew of industrious reporters is descending upon Austin on Wednesday afternoon. We will be tweeting, recording interviews with musicians and festivalgoers on SoundCloud throughout the day, as well as taking photos for Flickr for daily photo essays and writing reports for daily posts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A list of Nebraska or Nebraska-related bands at SXSW:
Saddle Creek/Western Vinyl SXSW Showcase with Big Harp, Icky Blossoms, The Mynabirds
Friday, March 16, Lamberts (Saddle Creek bands play first. Starts at 7:30 p.m.)
Big Harp
Thursday, March 15, Mean-Eyed Cat (DMX Showcase at 2:30 p.m.)
Friday, March 16, Lamberts (Saddle Creek/Western Vinyl SXSW Showcase at 8:35 p.m.)
Eli Mardock
Thursday, March 15, Uncorked (Paper Garden/My Old Kentucky Blog party at 9 p.m.)
Saturday, March 17, Crow Bar (Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Showcase at 5:45 p.m.)
Harouki Zombi
Saturday, March 17, Elysium (following Depressed Buttons at 10 p.m.)
Icky Blossoms
Thursday, March 15, Waterloo Records (2 p.m.)
Friday, March 16, Lamberts (Saddle Creek/Western Vinyl SXSW Showcase at 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 17, Emo's East (Mad Decent Party at 12 p.m.)
Midwest Dilemma
Wednesday, March 14, Uncorked (Paper Garden Records at 5:15 to 5:45 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15, Crow Bar (Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie at 2:35 to 3 p.m.)
The Mynabirds
Thursday, March 16, The Jackalope (Waynestock II Party at 3 p.m.)
Friday, March 16, Lamberts (Saddle Creek/Western Vinyl SXSW Showcase at 9:30 p.m.)
Orion Walsh
Wednesday, March 15, The Carousel Lounge (9 to 9:25 p.m.)
PUJOL
Wednesday, March 14, Hotel Vegas/Volstead Lounge (Brooklyn Vegan party at 1:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 14, Beauty Bar (Panache Booking SXSW showcase at 11:30 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15, Spiderhouse (Austin Psych Fest at 1 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15, The ND 501 Studios (Live 4 Ever UK at 3:15 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15, Longbranch (Impose Party at 8:45 p.m.)
Friday, March 16, The Stage on Sixth (Third Man showcase at 10 p.m.)
Saturday, March 17, Austin Symphony Square (Rollo & Grady Showcase at 1:45 p.m.)
Sunday, March 18, Beerland (Panache Hangover Party at 3 p.m.)
Two Gallants
Thursday, March 15, MWTX Lot (Mess With Texas at 2 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15, The Parish (VICE/Noisey.com showcase at 10 p.m.)
Friday, March 16, 9th and Trinity (Google/YouTube Rooftop Party at 2:30 p.m.)
Whispertown
Saturday, March 17, St. David's Historic Sanctuary (Hotel Cafe at 11:30 p.m.)
FILM: Electrick Children with music from Conduits
Wednesday, March 15, Violet Crown 1 (10 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15, Violet Crown 2 (5:30 p.m.)
Steven is a Hear Nebraska Contributor. Man, that Mad Decent party looks like such a blast. Reach him at stevena@hearnebraska.org.