We managed to pop in to see some of PERRY FARRELL’S SATELLITE PARTY, who were just as LA-sleazy as you would imagine – and did not have nearly the appeal that Jane’s Addiction have, or even Porno for Pyros. It almost seems that Satellite Party are nothing more that a vehicle for Farrell when he has no other way to exercise his strutting arrogance and no other excuse to wear silver trousers.

We nipped down to the Flamingo Cantina for the APES – Washington, DC’s quirky synth-punks who were sadly distinctively un-quirky tonight. The last time ROTR saw the Apes was back in 2003, when they were caped, balaclava-ed, boiler-suited mentalists thrusting sweaty socks in our face and crawling around the floor. Now they have a new singer, who whilst a great frontman in his own right, lacks the unpredictability of his predecessor.

We caught Leeds’ the PIGEON DETECTIVES next, who, despite some reservations on our part, were really rather good. They may look like every other British indie band of the moment but their charisma and personality sets them apart from their lesser peers.

By the time 1am came round, we had only one thing on our minds – catching the b again, this time at the Blender Bar. Two MS shows in as many days is pretty good going, and even thought they whipped out all the same lines and all the same tricks, it didn’t make it any less rock and freakin’ roll.

We went to see IGGY AND THE STOOGES being interviewed live by a Rolling Stone journalist, which was a real treat – sitting down in a comfortable dark room watching Iggy recount hilarious and insightful anecdotes and memories – like almost being run over by John Wayne in LA, and taking acid in the Funhouse. Ron Ashton had a lot to say too, and it was good to get another perspective. Scott however spoke around three sentences throughout the entire 90 minutes – a strong silent drummer type.

Next we managed to catch DANIEL JOHNSTON AND THE NIGHTMARES in the Day Stage Cafe. It was packed, and despite the less than atmospheric venue – a conference centre – the whole crowd watched and listened in silence throughout the 20 minute set. Johnston’s wit shines through his nervous exterior, and while some songs are almost painful to hear in their rawness, they stay with you in a way that very few pieces of music ever do.

Hurrah! It was time for SSM! It is hard to articulate how much ROTR loves this band, who were interviewed in issue 3 of the zine. As a general rule we love Detroit. SSM are scuzzy and futuristic keeping the garagey edge. John Szymanski’s synth fiddlings (he knows how to use a screw driver), the crunchy guitars of Marty Morris and playful drumming perfection from David Shettler mean so much more because they are so genuine, with not an ounce of pretense. SSM are not afraid to write pop songs – but they are disguised beneath wonderfully complex layers of punk fuzz and pyschedelic breakdowns. They sold us a beer soaked t-shirt for $5. Best band EVER.

I’m running out of time here as the Buzzcocks are on in an hour, but I do have time to mention the wonderful PAYBACKS, ever popular Detroit old-timers who came on after SSM (Szymanski was once a member). The venue was packed with people wanting to witness a bit of Detroit rock history and that they did. High spirits mixed with trad-garage-punk attitude and new material showcased tonight fitted seamlessly with the old. If you like garage punk, discover the Paybacks.

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The next band worth mentioning were the superb GALLOWS at the Tea For Texas party. They hail from London, they are young, skinny and loud as hell. Think hardcore punk, screamed by a red-haired, heavily tattooed really rather angry young man. The frontman’s charm and wit between songs however, not to mention his amusing anecdotes, added a connection with the audience that made the set all the more enjoyable.

Strolling the street after having taken advantage of the free bar at Tea For Texas, we bumped in to none other than Wayne Coyne. We got to give him a copy of issue 3 of the zine (with him on the cover), and he told us he was filming for the Jay Leno show, as some kind of SXSW correspondent.

THE FILMS were a band we checked out at the Dirty Dog Bar on a tip-off from a friend. Four young things from Charleston, South Carolina, they play highly marketable indie pop in the vein of a southern US Libertines, and they look and sound like every other band you might stumble across in Camden. That said they had an appeal, no doubt because they are from Carolina not Camden, and some catchy songs. Sooner or later NME will get wind of these guys, and they’ll be huge.

MUMM-RA were up next, who looked far to young to have travelled so far from home, to play what was their first ever show in the USA. They may look like they should be being taught chemistry by the Young Knives, but they make great pop music oozing with personality thanks to a charismatic frontman – who disappeared on to the balcony bar of the outdoor arena at the end of the set, only to re-appear some minutes later.

We caught the end of a set by Detroit psyche-blues boys the SIGHTS at Bourbon Rocks at around 6pm, where we bumped in to James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins fame. He was in town with his record label – the Sights are currently on his roster along with upcoming band Office.

We stumbled in and out of a few more venues before heading back to the Red Eyed Fly, where the wonderful LES SAVY FAV were headlining the French Kiss Records showcase. First up though were the FATAL FLYING GUILOTINES, a group ROTR first heard on an Estrus compilation three or four years ago. Then too they were one of those bands you never thought you would get the chance to see live in the UK, so it was good to have the opportunity. That said, while they had all the live presence you would expect from a high-energy garage punk band, by half way through the constant stage diving became nothing but a boring gimmick and the highlight was a track sung by the drummer rather then the two members sharing vocal duties.

Les Savy Fav are regarded fondly by so many and it is obvious why – it’s pop-punk for grown ups and the hilarious on stage antics – not to mention the leotard and leg warmers – of singer Tim Harrington. There wasn’t a person in the room that wasn’t enjoying themselves, barman included. It was the perfect end to the day, as drunkeness had turned to exhaustion and then to delirium, Les Savy Fav has us punching the air to songs about having sex with a horse rider. Harrington did, ROTR noticed, very much resemble Richard from Guess Who.

We headed for the Mohawk on Red River, where a party called ‘Gonna Goona Get Get Down 2′ was the first opportunity to see a band, starting at 11am. That band was THE SHIVERS, a girl-fronted synth-rock group, that never quite went the whole hog. The front woman’s voice was almost too good for this band, which would have benefited greatly from more grit and more rock and roll – sounding as they did like a less catchy Killers with a female pop singer at the helm.

Next up we strolled to the Red Eyed Fly – where we by chance caught BLOODCAT LOVE, the guitarist of whom was a member of the now-defunct D4, ROTR faves back in the heady days of 2003. Bloodcat Love are fronted by Myles Hendrik, a New Zealander who relocated to LA five years ago to make it in rock and roll – like so many do. Luckily for him he has done a good job. Said Hendrik yesterday: “Bloodcat Love is something I’ve been working on for three years.

“But every band member we’ve had had some kind of drug problem of girlfirend issue.” It all seems to have come together, and flying ex-D4 Dion over from NZ to play guitar was a good move. The band play all-out rock and roll, and Hendrik’s presence on stage – skinny, topless, tattooed and masked by his floppy dark hair, is the ultimate addition to the group’s full-pelt musical approach. Musically think Hellacopters and MC5, with Hendrik giving it that little bit of Iggy.

March 2007 sees our DAILY SXSW DIARY take over the blog, with all the news and reviews from Austin, Texas! Myself and the right honourable Sarah Myring will be seeing as many bands as humanly possible and reporting it all right here, so stay tuned. We’re looking forward to checking out SSM, Les Savy Fav and of course the Stooges…