SXSW 2009: Margaret Cho brings the laughs; Melissa Auf der Maur brings the rock

March 20, 2009, in Austin

By Melissa Bobbitt
Published: March 21st, 2009 | 1:35pm

If you suffer from the pains of being pure at heart, day three of SXSW was not for you. Phallic jokes abounded, thanks to Margaret Cho’s appearance at the Velveeta Room; the monstrous metal gods of Metallica beat the Stubb’s audience over the head with their sheer volume; and Dinosaur Jr. terrorized the Cedar Street Courtyard.

But if you love the New York–based dream-pop quartet the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, you were in for a treat. The group’s performance at the ramshackle Emo Jr.’s was delectable. Kip Berman is among the humblest lead vocalists one might encounter during this music festival. All his banter was dotted with exorbitant “thank you’s” and “awesomes.” The only derivation from his joy was when drummer Kurt Feldman’s kit toppled upon itself. “Uh-oh,” stammered Berman. “That is totally not awesome.” Thankfully, the rest of their set sure was. These Gotham do-gooders deserve a heap of praise.

Across town, things were getting dirty and it wasn’t just because the port-a-potties were festering. Comedian Margaret Cho headlined a comedy showcase at the Velveeta Room, and that could only signify edgy hilarity. Cho fancies herself a singer now, too — and good on her, though she might want to expand her repertoire a little; three acoustic songs about male anatomy and telling an ex to “eat shit and die” probably won’t have the same replay value as, say, something from Flight of the Conchords. Nothing beats her spot-on impression of her own Korean mother, though. Also hitting the tiny stage were Matt Ruby, an MTV-approved jokester who had some amusing pondering about porn Web sites and romantic comedies, and Michelle Biloon, a raunchy and self-effacing comic from Hollywood.

Afterward, I needed something sweet to temper such audacity. Onto Pangaea to see NeverShoutNever!, a lovelorn group of shaggy-haired teens perhaps better suited for Bamboozle. (Oh, wait, according to MySpace, the band is playing Bamboozle!) Leader Christofer Drew is a romantic with a mullet and ukulele. Oddly enough, this combo functions quite well. Drew’s bashfulness was endearing, and his perky tunes carry the emo torch Chris Carrabba dropped long ago.

Hunger pangs got the best of me, so I unfortunately missed the Ettes at Mohawk. But Canadian rock goddess Melissa Auf der Maur proved the ultimate dessert. El Sol y La Luna was hosting the M for Montreal showcase, which showered concertgoers with the Canuck treat poutine, an artery-clogging amalgam of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. There was nothing cheesy about Auf der Maur, though. As the former bassist for Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins, the fiery redhead knows her way around a heavy riff. Such pulsating ferocity is usually reserved for stadiums, but she treated the cozy club as if it were the Gorge in Washington. Swarthy tracks from her concept album, Out of Our Minds, melded with the bombast of her previous solo efforts, as she waxed on the spiritual world beyond our own.

Also reviving the ’90s sound was Third Eye Blind at the Lone Star Lounge. It was everything one might expect from these mainstream rockers: a smattering of old hits (“Jumper,” “Losing a Whole Year”) and a laughable garnish of new material. Singer Steven Jenkins revealed that one was about his girlfriend’s first love, “(her) multi-speed water shower head.” Well, 3EB was never exactly known for its highbrow lyrics. Still, it was a bit astonishing to see just how many dedicated fans were present. There was a drunken middle-aged mother next to me, partying like it was 1999 … and her tween son. I think the kid, and possibly I, might be scarred for life.

For more photos from day three of SXSW 2009 visit Venus Zine's Flickr page.

Want more SXSW coverage? Check out our other articles here:

SXSW 2009, Day 1, March 18, 2009: Fans go to church for St. Vincent; the Decemberists create Hazards on stage

SXSW 2009, Day 2, March 19, 2009: Tori Amos entrances at La Zona Rosa; Ebony Bones channel Tina Turner and M.I.A.

SXSW 2009, Day 4, March 21, 2009: Down by the river with Beach House; Shiny Toy Guns brighten the night