Continuing with our adventures at SXSW 09 – see what team Fused got up to whilst out in Texas.

Friday: Once again we headed out to the convention centre to catch up with two other West Midland Delegates Clare Edwards of Gigbeth and Vijay Kishore’s very busy manager Rob McKenzie to find out what they had been up to.

As it was Clare’s first day in Austin we took her hostage and went to the Fused and Dance Your Face Off ‘Backyard Blowout’ which was housed in a Austin native’s back garden – of course.

We stuck around as the guests arrived, the beer flowed out of a handy little pump and the DJ’s got busy in the sun but at SXSW there is no time to stop for long so it was off to hail a cab and back to 6th street.

West Midlands band The Culprit were playing their second gig at the event and having picked up second hand guitars at the local thrift stores they set about making a big noise on the rock stage.

Dinnertime soon swings round so the North-by-North East BBQ was where we went to eat. Taking at the same beautiful house as last year Bedouin Soundclash were the main act and as the sun set and the temperature dropped it was time to leave and head down to Mohawks to see Nashville band The Ettes. Playing to a packed crowd the band managed to squeeze in an extra song at the end of the set – much to the crowds delight.

Funny thing about SXSW is the amount of sponsors that are everywhere willing to give you free stuff so when non-smoking Fused headed to the ‘Smokin Lounge’ to see rock ‘n’ roll old timers the New York Dolls we ended coming out with 4 packets of fags a new 10 a day habit!

Finally last band for us on Friday night was the much anticipated viewing of King Khan and The Shrines at EMO’s. King Khan had been very busy doing the rounds over the event playing several times a day however he was in no way lacking in energy. Jumping around the stage in his crown and hailing his staff he kept the crowd truly entertained – especially when he stripped off to reveal his sizeable belly. What a nice man.