Doc Martens. Swingin’ Utters t-shirts. Plaid pants. Hole and Stone Temple Pilots. The ’90s are back, dude, and the genre eclipsed new bands at SXSW.
Former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur was all over SXSW promoting her new multi-disciplinary Out of Our Minds, a solo record, comic and concept film. We sat down with the talented Canadian long before SXSW, who told us all about the new album, along with some smart thoughts on artistic grants, sustainable farming and the American political system.
Melissa opened for Motörhead, hosted a pre-release album/absinthe party, signed autographs and more at SXSW. Read more about her experience in Time Out New York.
Hole–arguably (and we know you want to argue) one of SXSW’s biggest attractions–played a most publicized SPIN day party at Stubb’s. The band, sporting Courtney Love with an all-new lineup, played songs as early as “Pretty on the Inside” from their 1991 debut. “Miss World” and “Malibu” also made the cut.
Of course everyone was really there to see whether the singer would melt or explode into a pool of self-destruction right in front of everyone’s eyes, but she stuck to the script while delivering her famous onstage banter (Bret Michaels and Trent Reznor were reportedly sore subjects). Hole will be playing in New York and Los Angeles next month in support of the upcoming album, Nobody’s Daughter.
And let’s not forget shows from Stone Temple Pilots and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore. Beyond SXSW, the 90s still have a strong foothold in today’s music, though the landscape is drastically different from what it was a decade ago. Peep inspiration from some of our current favorites.
Project Jenny Project Jan declare the return of the 90s, as evidenced by the almighty crowd surf.
Frightened Rabbit are really feeling Destiny’s Child. Can you pay their bills?
Miniature Tigers give and receive a pretty cool gift–the Kurt Cobain-designed Jag-Stang.
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