St Deluxe at SXSW: Part IV – The Last Day, Way Out West

It's our official showcase tonight at the famous Austin club Antone’s. Big Star were due to be headlining, but due to the sad passing of Alex Chilton it's now a tribute show. This means that there are lots of guest singers performing with the rest of the band. We watch M Ward sing Big Black Car at soundcheck and it's completely heartbreaking.

In need of a feed we go to the nearby Italian restaurant Spaghetti Warehouse. It was recommended by Jim Gellatly and doesn't disappoint. Three of us go for the famous 15 layer lasagne with copious red meat extras. Only Martin manages to finish it, but for once doesn't wrestle us for the leftovers on our plates.

Our show goes really well. The sound onstage is great, we play well and the place starts to fill up during our set. The place gets so busy, it's a mission for me to get out and back in after a post-gig smoke.
We meet a few folk including Jann Werner from Rolling Stone magazine, who still looks exactly the same as his photos from the 70s. Martin chats to him for a bit about the upcoming Big Star tribute and gives him a copy of our album. He seems quite chuffed but that may be because it gives him something to lean on whilst writing.

Three more bands play, then Big Star. Someone reads a message from Alex's wife and the whole room seems to be holding back tears. The show is amazing, sad but also a celebration of Alex's music; so many great, great songs. The band seems determined to give it everything and the many guest singers seem humbled to be paying tribute. They finish with September Gurls, the stage crammed with loads of the guest performers. It's a joyous end to an emotional show, and it's great to witness.

One more day in Austin, then it's back to real life in Scotland. The whole experience has been pretty surreal, but we feel really lucky to have been here. It's a trip we won't forget soon.