The Tontons @ Empire Garage

"Houston's most promising musical export has been "crushing on" as fronted by 24-year-old frontwoman Asli Omar, a fierce rock & roller with Billie Holiday's jazzy whisper. The indie quartet's 2011 EP Golden is over all too quick, but it's otherwise a sublime blend of blues, psych, soul, and atmospheric rock" - Thomas Fawcett & Dan Oko, Austin Chronicle
The Tontons had been on my list of bands to see during my last visit to SXSW 2 years ago. I didn't get to see them back then,  but this year their Tuesday showcase was in a convenient timeslot. At least on paper. In reality the first official showcase of SXSW 2014 was a complete "deja-vu" moment: the venue was the same where I had started SXSW 2012, and chaos & confusion reigned supreme back them. I had hoped things would be different this time around, but I shouldn't have been so optimistic. Again, show-goers got little help in finding out which line to join for the 2 venues hosted on the complex, and as the clock was approaching show time workers were still busy installing "Fire-Exit" signs. At 7:50pm, 20 minutes past the scheduled showtime they finally opened the gate. My badge got me inside pretty quickly, which was great given that the band started playing pretty much immediately and I had another showcase I really wanted to be at ten minutes later. So I stuck around just for a couple of songs, enough to get frustrated by the all-green stage lights, but also to like the show enough to try and see the band again later in the week.
Audio: The Tontons - Golden

Blue Eyed Blacks @ Valhalla

"A sprightly piece of neatly crafted power pop, fuzzed up by some 21st-century effects. Front man Jason Moon Wilkins has an amiably droopy sort of voice and a keen knack for hooks." - FingerTips
Any band that makes references to The Vulgar Boatmen and also lists Neilson Hubbard as a producer and band member piques my interest. The song posted on the SXSW website sounded great, so I made an effort to see this 30-minute showcase. The old Room 710 had changed its name since I had been here last, but the light was as crappy (blue and purple) as before. The Blue Eyed Blacks played a great set that was over way too quickly.
Audio: Blue Eyed Blacks - Shake The Blues

Girl Pilot (Sahara Smith) @ The Main I

More confusion - I had only noted "The Main" (the old Emo's) as the venue for the showcase by Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, and was a bit surprised to find another band on stage. It turned out I happened to be at The Main _I_, next door to the The Main _II_ where the Robison/Willis show would take place. Luckily it was easy to go back and forth, and as they were still getting ready at Main II, I got a chance to check out Girl Talk for a bit, the latest project by Sahara Smith. Not bad, certainly a lot more energetic than some of her previous solo material.  The color of the stage lights at this particular venue were set to a static and very bright red, so you'll get to see a couple of rare b/w shots from this set.

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis @ The Main II

"The longstanding marital duo of honey-voiced alt.country chanteuse Willis and ace tunesmith Robison struck gold last year with their first collaborative album, Cheater's Game. Onstage, the pair channels the same unpretentious charm and easygoing rapport that makes the album such a gem." – Scott Schinde, Austin Chronicle
Sweet. It had been a while since I had last seen either one of the two, and I had not seen them together on stage at all. A full house, good songs, good band, good sound and (finally) good lights - a perfect way to really settle into SXSW 2014.