By Jodi Root

Before I started drafting this post, I was thinking I kind of skipped out on a lot yesterday due to the crowded lines and heat. . . but according to my scribbled notepad and digicam, I guess I did hit up a lot. Thursday morning started off with the “limited supply” at the Filter party with bbq and miller lites (which literally ran out within 15 minutes). Instead of making it into the Paste lines to check Daniel Johnston which I had hoped on, we skipped to Team Clermont’s showcase at Flamingo Cantina for an upbeat, rockin set by Telekinesis. I’ve heard a lot about this group, and I wasn’t disappointed. Flamingo Cantina, however, was scorching hot inside so after this 30-40 minute set I had to break out stat for some fresh air.

Next up was the Fader Fort where I caught the last half of Brazil’s Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head. I’ve heard a lot about this group but must admit was pretty skeptic for a while, yes based on the name alone–color me shallow–but I was actually pretty surprised by how kick ass they were. A lot of colorful costumes, jumping about and fun electro dance pop echoed through the bash. I was really happy to make this set–think of a younger, male version of CSS. Following NPSH was another highlight, the Handsome Furs. The setlist was pretty much a slightly shortened, identical version to the one they rocked in Chicago on Sunday night–but this time I was upfront and center, able to get several good pics instead of being crammed in the back of the crowded Empty Bottle. The sound was sharp, Boeckner’s guitars were blazing and Perry was still jumping like a frog. This time they kissed two times. Awww.

As my compadre and I were about to bounce from Fader, having our fill of complimentary Budweiser tallboys, we were completely caught off guard with the super smooth and fly beats of Janelle Monae. Miss Monae rocked the top of the tent off with her party beats–her gorgeous vocal work was simply mind blowing, and her alternative soul blend of hip hop and funk was just insane. She also wins the cutest artist award easy. Janelle Monae is definitely my Santogold for 2009–my new artist that will very soon be very huge. Check her out.

Some more skipping about next, back to Flamingo for a song or two by Loney Dear and then back to meet friends at the Fader Fort where I caught buzz band Late of the Pier–fun, upbeat electro rock–at this point dehydration and fatigue was starting to get the better of me so my attention wasn’t solely fixated on the music–but I did like what I heard. Later on included a failed attempt of entry to the Grizzly Bear show so we skipped over to the Beauty Bar to check out Chicago MC Hollywood Holt and Million Dollar Mano. These guys are hilarious. I learned that Hollywood Holt is A) Single, B) Has a “Shiny, shiny, 24 karat dick,” and C) “Doesn’t give a shit about what anyone thinks about him–the bartenders, waitstaff, any of ya’ll”. Way to keep an avid fanbase, Holt. Way to go. But still, even with an ego like that, Holt’s abundance of throwing himself in the crowd and hyping up the crowd was a pretty good time. No matter where I go, I can’t avoid this dude. He is EVERYWHERE. After the redbull infused Holt party, I swung by the Lose Control party where I was going to wait it out for the Hood Internet, but was going to pass out on the leather couches. People watching on 6th street filled the gap in time until I finally trekked it over for the night’s closer–Habana Calle 6′s Rhymesayers showcase.

P.O.S. rocked that shit HARD. Set list was very comparable to his Chi set at Reggie’s Live last month, but I was super stoked to catch him again. Joining him on stage were Doomtree collabs Dessa and Sims. Shit was crazy. The portapotty selection was minimal, so I had to rock it out in line to the side of the stage for the setclosing “Optimist (We are not for Them),” but Stef caught my hands in the air and smiled, throwing his arms at me, giving props to the crowd for “bringing it all together and getting everyone participating.” I probably looked super cool, waving about in line for the bathroom. Whatever, shit was bananas. Following P.O.S. was the insane Brother Ali–I’ve heard several recorded work, but this was my first time catching him live. Man. Words can’t even describe. The crowd went crazy and it was another rad night of music, thanks to the people at Rhymesayers.

This concluded Day 2 of Beats for Jodi, and I headed back to my ghetto hotel with some freaks on the SXSW shuttle. Good times. Can hardly wait for Day 3–hoping to catch The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, We Have Band and Peter, Bjorn and John. Oh, and make sure you head to Fader tonight for the debut of Tinted Windows—HA!!! (James Iha, Taylor Hanson, dudes from Fountains of Wayne and Cheap Trick–what a trainwreck.)