Chimiera Music and Yoko Ono

Sure there was a tough decision to be made on Saturday's SXSW, Kanye West along with Mos Def, Kid Cudi and Jay-Z were performing at a secret show somewhere in downtown Austin! But at the same time there was Yoko Ono. This was Yoko Ono, the queen of avantgarderock, the wife of John Lennon, and the activist for peace, love, and woman's rights! This probably has been one of the toughest decisions I have had to make.

The show was put together by Chimera Music, a micro-label that musician Sean Lennon runs from his kitchen of his New York City apartment with his girlfriend and band-mate Charlotte Kemp and former Cibo Matto band-mate, Yuka Honda. Chimera Music has released seven records since 2009, focusing on the collective's own groups as well as Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band, which in 1969 included members such as, John Lennon (The Beatles), George Harrison (The Beatles), Ringo Starr (The Beatles), Billy Preston, Phil Spector, Nicky Hopkins, Keith Moon (The Who), Alan Whitee (Yes), Bobby Keys, Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds & Cream).

The bands at the show produce striking and diverse music with fine packaging, recording at home studios, and designing, photography and illustration, all accompanied with the rhythm of music.

The Chimera Music night at the Elysium featured various groups with Sean Lennon, Muhl and Honda, as well as musicians Petra Haden, Eden Rice, Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Nels Cline (Wilco), Yuko Araki and  the amazing female drummer Shimmy Shimizu (Mi-Gu), plus guests Tune-Yards, Trevor Dunn, Michael Leonhart, Marc Capelle, Courtney Kaiser and a rare performance by very special guest Yoko Ono.