Ex-Cult - Volstead, SXSW, Austin TX - March 18, 2015

[Memphis] My attempts to see this band during SXSW last year were thwarted five different times – and it was finally happening. I liked them for their sound before realizing they were on Goner Records but I’m pretty sure they’re the band that made me realize that Goner Records and I should get married. I already knew Goner Records were responsible for Lost Sounds, Jay Reatard, some of Alijca Trout’s bands, Digital Leather, No Bunny, Ty Segall, etc etc etc!! But hearing this band made me realize I love everything Goner Records release – they reliably release nihilistic garage punk / post-punk bands who often dabble in perversion. Although this band had the Goner sound down perfectly – tight dark post-punk - I really disliked the lead singer. He was a muscle bound agro guy (think Henry Rollins) who shouted instead of sang. Still glad I saw them and still not dissuaded from my dream of some day attending Goner Fest. The last thing my little friend said to me was “This is punk” with a grimace – I nodded happily – and when I left for a second, he had split. It was for the best. Then I found my busstop & some kid, clearly a local, responded sarcastically to my question about where the bus goes with “Ummm, there’s an app – it’s called Cap Metro.” Maybe it was an ignorant question … but geez. And there was the kid earlier in the day who sneered about his line being only for wristbands and badges. And it was about this time I decided I hated the whole Eastside, maybe SXSW, and possibly Austin on the whole as well – maybe I’ve gotten country soft – maybe the Eastside isn’t part of my Austin - maybe I was conflating SXSW attitude with Austin attitude. Maybe I was just tired.  Or maybe hipster = punk-ass assholes.