Akina Adderley Live at the Driskill @SXSW 2013
Nat Adderley’s granddaughter Akina performs with her band the Vintage Playboys at the lounge in the Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin during SXSW, 3/16/13
Discovering Akina Adderley at The Driskill Hotel @SXSW 2013
Akina Adderley is a neo-soul singer, and her Vintage Playboy band is a truly large ensemble with a large brass section. Her selections feature jazzy horn parts, and the overall sound of her group is one that would please jazz fans and soul fans alike.
Hi Rhythm & Percy Wiggins-Id’ Rather Be Blind, Crippled & Crazy @SXSW 2013
Percy Wiggins and Hi Rhythm perform one of the lat O. V. Wright’s biggest hits at The Stages on Sixth in Austin on the last night of South By Southwest, 3/16/13
Hi Rhythm- Can’t Stand the Rain @SXSW 2013
Hi Rhythm performs Ann Peebles’ hit “I Can’t Stand The Rain” with a female singer at the Stages on Sixth in Austin on the last night of South By Southwest, 3/16/13. Band member Mabon “Teenie” Hodges was the subject of a highly-acclaimed documentary at this year’s SXSW.
Hi Rhythm Featuring Percy Wiggins Performs at the Stages on Sixth @SXSW 2013
By any rights, this year’s appearance of Hi Rhythm should have been one of the high points of SXSW, so although I was happy to have an easy time getting into the Stages on Sixth to see it, I was disappointed that the crowd was smaller than I had expected. Nevertheless, musically, the appearance of these Memphis legends with another living Memphis legend, soul singer Percy Wiggins was definitely the high point of MY South By Southwest, and the kind of serendipitous experience that makes me proud to be a Memphian. Percy Wiggins’ voice was in fine form, and it perfectly suited the sound and groove of Hi Rhythm, and Teenie Hodges, who was the subject of a documentary film at this year’s SXSW, was also on stage despite being on oxygen. Two fans were kept on him at all times to keep him cool during the performance. Altogether, it was a triumphant night for Memphis, and a tribute to the lasting vision and spirit of the late Willie Mitchell.