Carolyn Wonderland @ Rattle Inn (Ray's Backstage)

"The reigning queen of Austin blues, Carolyn Wonderland sparks fire on guitar and soulful fury in the force of her vocal grit. Since 2011's Peace Meal, reveling in Wonderland's rough and raw Janis Joplin-esque howl and burn-down blues, she's lent her impeccable riffs to a number of albums, including the upcoming LP from the Stooges' James Williamson, Re-licked."  – Doug Freeman, Austin Chronicle
Thanks to Blue Rose Records head honcho Edgar Heckmann for letting me know about this party just a block from our hotel. I jumped at the chance to start of my 18th SXSW at this invite-only event and to re-acquaint myself with Carolyn Wonderland, who I had first seen at SXSW in 1997. Back then I was impressed by her voice and guitar playing, but her band left a lot to be desired. I closed my report entry about the show with the comment "Carolyn, why don't you move to Austin and find yourself a decent band?". A couple of years later she contacted me by email saying that she had actually moved to Austin and had a new band and that I should come and see her and the new band. I did at a couple of shows in 2002, but had not seen her since. Good opportunity to catch in 2014 and she did not disappoint, and James Williamson joining her on stage was an amazing and unexpected bonus.
   

Loren & Mark @ Rattle Inn (Rooftop Deck)

"Influenced by Americana, Jazz, Country Western and Classical music, Loren and Marks unique style of guitar playing is largely built upon the thumb-picking techniques pioneered by guitar greats Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, and their songs feature Lorens superb vocals with some beautiful harmonies from Mark." - Band Info
Unique? Probably. Adept at what they are doing? No doubt at all. But not really my kind of thing musically, although fun to watch on the well-filled rooftop deck.

Asleep At The Wheel @ Rattle Inn (Ray's Backstage)

"Since the early '70s, Asleep at the Wheel have been the most important force in keeping the sound of Western swing alive. [...]  Typically featuring eight to 11 musicians, the group has gone through myriad personnel changes (at last count, over 80 members had passed through their ranks), but 6'7" frontman Ray Benson has held it together for four decades, keeping Asleep at the Wheel a viable recording and touring concern and maintaining their devotion to classic-style Western swing." - Steve Huey, allmusic.com
In all my trips to Austin I had never seen Asleep At The Wheel, and this party offered an excellent opportunity to change that. I wasn't a Western Swing fan before the show and I didn't miraculously become one during the set, but the performance of band (and their fans) made for an entertaining end of the afternoon.