What better way to spend an early overcast afternoon in Austin than by eating BBQ with a bunch of Brits? The annual British BBQ at Brush Square Park was only slightly marred by clouds and a cold breeze. A last minute performance by Riz MC woke up the crowd with his hyper-smart “voice of a generation” set that is equal parts brawn and brains. We just caught Riz MC at another British function in NYC last week and it’s obvious why this Oxford-educated boy’s already a star in his native UK, both on the giant screen and in the international hip hop music scene.

(Joe Lean)

At first glance, Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong could be taken as all swagger, skinny, swiveling hips and gaunt cheek bones when they come on with their golden nugget instrumental, “Tough Terrible,” that seems a page ripped from The Horrors’ book of retro ghoul pop. However, all it takes is one more song to see that this band of smokin’ mod lads has the tunes that more than stand up to their style. Frontman Joe Lean, who moonlights as an actor on British TV, is no stranger to the art of rock and roll performance. And who can resist a boy who knows his best angle? This Fader tent set got our vote for the most exciting act of the day.

We stopped by the sunny Cedar courtyard of the Filter party to catch Be Your Own Pet again in the afternoon blaze, then made our way back to the hotel for a well-deserved hot tub soak.

(The Dykeenies)

Later that night… NME’s showcase on the Wave Rooftop. The Dykeenies proved a fun bunch of Glaswegian sass, and singer Brian Fire (what a name!) is a pure pop star with pipes to please and a silly banter that doesn’t quit. “This is one of our slower numbers called “Pick It Up”, so feel free to grab a lady by the bum and have a dance,” he says with a straight face. The band didn ‘t play our favorite tune “The Panic”, but they promised they’d pull it out for us tomorrow at the Scottish party, which will be a treat.

(Working For a Nuclear Free City)

Beauty Bar had a rave atmosphere, with ice cream parked out front selling all our favorite summer treats, beckoning like a welcome mat.  In the front room, the adventurous duo known as Heartsrevolution played an electric set, doused in pink lights (with singer Lo sporting her trademark strip of pink eye-paint).  All the well-turned out kids were sweating to their happy, magical tech-punk tunes and drinking canned beer. Working For a Nuclear Free City, who we discovered last year at the Liverpool Sound Party, brought the outdoor, packed tent crowd alive with their baggy Manchester love-in vibe. Dekko, their singer/knob twiddler got his Johnny Greenwood on and the band transported us with their psychedelic wall of sound.

(Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit)

Latitude 30, known this week as the British Music Embassy, was host to rising troubadour star Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit. Their centuries-old romantic spirit (made modern) and gift of Shakespearian lyricism belie their mere twenty-something years. The band’s songs radiate the mysteries of the best eccentric English poets through a fresh wash of guitar, drums, bass, mandolin, fiddle and, ah yes, cello. Lovely stuff.

(Son of Dave)

Son of Dave, quite a generation apart from the rest of the acts tonight since he’s at least thirty years their elder, first came across as a fey Quentin Crisp type in silk robe, fedora and pants with holy knees. As soon as he took the stage, however, his demon delta blues angst and pure fire stripped the room of any inhibitions and we all danced down and dirty. It’s hard to imagine this American, who now lives in London, dealing with the banalities of life, such as grocery aisles and taxi cabs. It’s eccentrics like these who make the world an exciting place.

(The Wombats)

The Wombats rounded off the night with a packed and swaying rooftop party at Maggie Mae’s and crowd favorite single “Moving to New York” couldn’t have sounded bigger or better. Singer Murph, hyped up on margaritas, summed up the evening best, saying, “there’s quite a good vibe up here. I love the dancing too, it’s a shit-faced Granddad at a dance kind of a dance…” Indeed. --MVW/Photos by Eileen Murphy