The Billy Reid/K-Swiss SXSW Shindig kicked off the music portion of the festival Wednesday at the Swan Dive, a newly opened venue in Austin that recalls a 1920s speakeasy. It wasn’t long before the venue reached capacity and the room took on the convivial bedlam of the Jazz Age.
Keegan Dewitt, a Nashville singer-songwriter who also scored the film Cold Weather (a SXSW selection in 2010), opened the showcase with an energetic set of tunes from his latest EP and 7 inch releases. Madi Diaz (pictured left) joined him for two tunes.
The Romany Rye, currently in competition to grace the cover of the Rolling Stone, delivered a set of blistering Southern California roots-rock. Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows is apparently a fan, but he showed up too late (sans Mr. Jones) at the Swan Dive to catch their set.
Before launching into her first song, 21-year-old Ohio native, Jessica Lea Mayfield tested her vocals by singing the refrain for Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.” The Swan Dive felt a world away from that wastrel paradise, but no less fun.
Apache Relay, the buzz-worthy Nashville band getting ready to release American Nomad, made it clear why they’ve managed to turn so many heads in such a short time.
When Hayes Carll, an Austin resident and longtime fave of American Songwriter, played “The Letter” and got to the part in the song about meeting “wild people,” the crowd shouted back: “Wild people!”
Caitlin Rose, whose debut album Own Side Now was released just the day before, came as her usual charming, irreverent self.
Jason Isbell played a solo set accompanied by Nashville fiddler Amanda Shires. The North Alabama songwriter played “Codeine” and “We’ve Met” from his forthcoming album Here We Rest, along with the southern anthem “Outfit,” one of the best songs in the Drive-By Trucker canon.
The Civil Wars, who debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Digital Albums chart with Barton Hollow, provided an intimate, poignant set to close the party.
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