SXSW Panic

So I woke up this morning with the feeling that there was some nugget of SXSW info out in the interwebs that I was missing. Some elusive R.S.V.P. that I might miss, "Oh no!". Fear not dear reader, this is just how you're supposed to feel 22 days before SXSW. You know why? Because I was right, there is an R.S.V.P. out there that I just won't get, there are actually a lot of them. This is because it is not possible for you, I, nor anyone else, to see all the shows you want to see during SXSW week. So get over it, and plan ahead! Use the bus when you're in town, it sucks but it doesn't suck as bad as traffic and parking. Besides using the bus is a great way for you to plan to be drunk, which you should. There is free booze everywhere during SXSW, so just assume you're going to be drunk and plan accordingly. I'm thinking disposable cell phone maybe?

Here's some old, free Grizzly Bear tracks to mull over in the mean time. Courtesy of GrizzlyBear.net. Thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Grizzly Bear - Deep Sea Diver

Free Mp3 ---> Grizzly Bear - On a Neck, On a Spit

Free Mp3 ---> Grizzly Bear - Don't Ask [Final Fantasy Remix]

Free Mp3 ---> Grizzly Bear - He Hit Me

Free Mp3 ---> Grizzly Bear - Knife [Girl Talk Remix]

Find some videos from bands to look for after the jump, along with a review of some helpful websites to scour.

Rather than just regurgitate some links I've already posted, I'm just going to point you here. Oh, and I also wanted to mention another site that I'm adding to my sidebar. It's local, and it's informative and I always forget about it until this time of year rolls around. So you should also check out --->Ultra 8201 <--- .

I should also extrapolate on all the shhhh you can do and get done over at Do512 they sent me a follow up e-mail the last time I posted about them and it had a lot of info. Here's their little press-release type thing they sent me:

Do512.com is the Ultimate Guide to All Official and Unofficial SXSW Events.
Whether you're a veteran sporting a Platinum Badge, or a local looking for the best FREE parties, Do512 makes it easy to navigate SXSW: SXSW2009.Do512.com/bands

* No Badge or Wristband? No Fear, free music and beer still awaits you! Do512 has the biggest list of free parties on the web, including exclusive RSVP-only events.


* Got a Badge or Wristband? Pick your official showcases, screenings, and panels listed by hour, so you don't miss a thing.


* Browse through the most comprehensive list of Official and Unofficial SXSW events on the web. Over 4500 showcases, films, panels, and parties, all ranked by popularity.


* Discover new bands. Browse recommendations from other media and bloggers, or by type of music. Check out audio, video, and reviews for over 2500 bands.


* Build a personal schedule by simply clicking on the artists you like or navigating events by hour.


* Share your schedule with friends by embedding your schedule widget on your blog or Myspace/Facebook page.


* Access your schedule anywhere--on your mobile phone or with our print-friendly version (coming soon).


* Who's hot this year? Check out recommendations and reviews from over 30 top bloggers and music media.


* Promote your SXSW event on Do512! It's FREE to list events, and FREE to use Do512's RSVP feature.


* Register to receive Do512's Top 10 Parties of the Day emails during SXSW week.


* Follow Do512 on Twitter (Twitter.com/Do512) for up-to-the-minute festival updates.

Here's some vids from bands to catch and SXSW 2009:

It's probably going to be harder to NOT see the Vivian Girls they are playing approximately a billion shows in four days.


Vivian Girls - Tell the World video via YouTube

Harlem LOVES to play house parties, book them now before it's too late.


Harlem - Beautiful and Very Smart video via YouTube

SOOOO much hype for WaVVes right now.


WaVVes - So Bored video via YouTube

White Lies are the new NME IT band.


White Lies - Death video via YouTube

Jason Lytle is the come-back hype. He used to be in Grandaddy.


Jason Lytle - Birds Encouraged Him video via YouTube

Big band to try to catch for free, I'm going to vote for The Hold Steady cause I bet they're fun live and their playing the Rachel Ray Party.


The Hold Steady - Stay Positive video via YouTube

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Did You Say Fujiya & Miyagi?

To be honest, I don't really know much about Fujiya & Miyagi but I can tell you they are playing at Emo's inside on Friday night. I can also tell you that they share a label with Austin's own White Denim, at least in the U.K. they do.

Fujiya & Miyagi, who, are actually not a duo, and not Japanese, hail from England. They play Krautrock, which sounds racist but isn't, I swear. If that's not interesting enough for you already (jeez) did I mention that tickets are only $15 and that gets you Fujiya & Miyagi AND Project Jenny, Project Jan plus LOADS of scene points.

Warning, scene points may require skinny jeans, scarves, sunglasses at night, etc.

Mp3 courtesy of Full Time Hobby records. Thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Fujiya & Miyagi - Dishwasher

Video after the jump...

This video is so bad-ass:


Fujya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries video via YouTube


Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone video via YouTube

Just for the record Project Jenny, Project Jan are actually a duo, HOWEVER they are neither Jenny nor Jan, nor...Japanese. They're from Brooklyn, of course (scene points), and here they are:


Project Jenny, Project Jan - 320 video via YouTube

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Explosions in the Sky to Play Town Lake

That's right kids, as you'll read again and again on this blog, the best thing about SXSW is all the free stuff going on. I just heard on KGSR that Explosions in the Sky will be headlining a show at Auditorium Shores on the last Saturday of SXSW.

I have seen these guys before at FunFunFun Fest volume 2, and I highly reccomend you take the time to see them. That is, of course, unless there is a better party with MORE free stuff happening at the same time and me thinks there probably is.

Just in case you have never heard Explosions in the Sky, you'll find mp3's below and video after the jump. You can also hear their music on Friday Night Lights, both the TV show and the movie versions...the book too if you read it while playing these mp3's

Mp3's courtesy of Temporary Residence Limited

Free Mp3 ---> Explosions in the Sky - Welcome, Ghosts

Free Mp3 ---> Explosions in the Sky - Look Into The Air

Free Mp3 ---> Explosions in the Sky - Memorial

Free Mp3 ---> Explosions in the Sky - A Poor Man's Memory


Explosions in the Sky - The Birth and Death of the Day video via YouTube


Explosions in the Sky - You Hand in Mine video via YouTube

And in case you STILL can't get enough EITS there's always the good ole archive right?

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Yeah Frightened Rabbit!

Frightened Rabbit - Modern Leper video via YouTube

Like it or not, Pitchfork is a taste-maker. I always try to collect their top 100 tracks every year because there is so much music to be discovered that way. That's how I stumbled upon Frightened Rabbit. I did attend a SXSW party or two that Frightened Rabbit played but I just never caught their set. Then they got lost in the deluge of SX hype and music. In any case Pitchfork called these guys out a while ago and I'm going to repost their mp3 of the song.

Free mp3 ---> Frightened Rabbit - Modern Leper

More videos after the jump...


Frightened Rabbit - Head Rolls Off video via YouTube


Frightened Rabbit - The Greys video via YouTube

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Warehouse Party, Eastside, Tonight

Initial part of the post

That's right you can party at an east-warehouse till 3am tonight for $15 tonight, courtesy of Do512 and Vinyl Entertainment. What Made Milwaukee Famous will be headlining, along with The Story Of. You will also hear sets from some of Austin's finer DJ's including a set by Austin's own Octopus Project.

Speaking of the Octopus Project they are doing a "Visual Music" show at the Alamo Drafthouse this week, which should be a pretty cool show. I suspect if you're interested in that you better get your tickets like yesterday.

Free Mp3 ---> Octopus Project - I.O.I.O.
Free Mp3 ---> What Made Milwaukee Famous - Resistance Street

Video after the jump...

Before we get to the video may I direct you to some more free mp3s from the Octopus Project?

I'm pretty sure I posted this video like a year ago...actually I wasn't writing this a year ago, but in any case here's a video courtesy of Barsuk Records from What Made Milwaukee Famous:


What Made Milwaukee Famous - Sultan video via YouTube


Octopus Project - I Saw the Bright Shinies video via YouTube

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Charity Rock Rocks!

So there has been a lot of pre-release hype for a new compilation called, Dark Was the Night. It's a Red Hot compilation, which means all the proceeds benefit AIDS relief. If that's not reason enough for you to check it out, I should mention it's 2 discs, the music is over 2 hours long, almost every track is previously unreleased and it only cost me $12 at Waterloo. It's only $10 if you buy it online.

If you're still not convinced check out the artists featured on the comp:

Andrew Bird,
Antony,
Arcade Fire,
Beach House (iTunes Version Only(?)),
Beirut,
Blonde Redhead,
Bon Iver,
David Byrne,
Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues,
The Decemberists,
Dirty Projectors,
Kevin Drew,
Feist,
Ben Gibbard,
Grizzly Bear,
Iron & Wine,
Jose Gonzalez,
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings,
Stuart Murdoch,
My Brightest Diamond,
My Morning Jacket,
The National,
The New Pornographers,
Conor Oberst,
Spoon,
Sufjan Stevens,
Gillian Welch,
Yeasayer,
Yo La Tengo

Check out a sample after the jump...



The quality on this video kind of sucks, but I wanted you to hear at least a version of one of the Grizzly Bear songs from the compilation:


Grizzly Bear - Deep Blue Sea video via YouTube

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Lykke Li Does Kings of Leon *Updated*

So, I just got back from Waterloo Records, where I saw a 20 minute acoustic set from Lykke Li. Someone in the audience shouted, "Knocked Up!", to which Lykke responded, "That's not my song, but I'll play it if you buy my album.". I didn't recognize the reference until the band started playing the Kings of Leon song.


Lykke Li - Knocked Up video via YouTube


The audio isn't the same as what I just heard, because the set at Waterloo was much more stripped down and acoustic. I expect you'll be able to see the performance I just saw in the near future though. Waterloo has their own YouTube channel that they post their in-stores on.

In fact here's two shows from this week:


...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Fields of Coal video via YouTube


Andrew Bird - Natural Disaster video via YouTube

***Follow-Up Video Added Later***


Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone live at Waterloo Records video via YouTube

PS.
My friend Tessa, who was also at this show, thought Lykke Li looked like an Olsen Twin (hehe)

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I Heart SubPop/Blitzen Trapper

I'm sure I've mentioned this in the past, but I love blogging about bands on the SubPop roster. They have such a blogging-friendly website. There are almost always mp3 samples to download, and video too. Not to mention easy to embed press photos. Pay attention UMG, this is how you promote your roster in an internet age.


Blitzen Trapper - Furr video via YouTube

Free mp3 ---> Blitzen Trapper - Furr <--- Thanks SubPop

I highly recommend you head on over to their list of artists. Any of the names in bold are current and you will most likely find free samples to check out. You can also peep their YouTube channel to stream 134 vids.

Here's a couple of highlights from the aforementioned channel:


Fleet Foxes - Mykonos video via YouTube

This CSS jam is the most viewed video on the channel. Go Brazil!!


CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above video via YouTube

I always love the chaos, noise-pop of the Go! Team, even if this isn't my favorite track of theirs:


the Go! Team - Doin' it Right video via YouTube

This track has been played to death by now, but it's still a great tune that stayed our little secret for the first year or so it was out:


The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight video via YouTube

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RSVP Quick and Dirty

I want to preface this video, for those of you who have never been to SXSW, by saying that the audience at a typical SXSW gig is a bunch of Meta-Hipsters who can't be bothered to look like they care about whatever band is on stage. I mean, if you think about it, SX is for industry types more than it is for fans. Who else could afford those damn badges? I'm straying here, back to the video...

This takes place at the Levis/Fader Fort, it was at roughly 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The place wasn't very full, it's broad daylight and everyone is sort of casually standing around with their free drinks and cameras. Well Gallows didn't really like that...If you look real close you may spot me, I was to the camera man's right.


Gallows UK - Live @ SXSW '07 video via YouTube

You should click the word YouTube above and read the comments, it's hillarious.

Ok, so there is a quick and dirty list of RSVP links is after the jump.


My friend, Bonnie has been scouring the internets and compiled a handful of parties to RSVP.

Dandy ID

Pure Volume

SXSeattle

Talking House Records

Space Out Party

The Bay Area Take-Over

Are we getting excited yet?

Of course we are still looking/waiting for the Levi's/Fader Fort party. Last year I RSVP'd before the line-up was announce, which was good because I think the list was open for less than a week. These folks know how to book a party! Free booze (obvs it's SX), places to sit and watch a performance in a parking lot, free shiz (last year I won some Ray-Bans, Levis and Pumas(thanks)). As far as the music, well, check out last year's Line-Up.


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No Mo Vo Co...Der

Blame Kanyeezy, but as I was listening to the latest release from Bon Iver, Blood Bank, I reached the closing track and decided the moment for the Auto-Tune is officially over. That's my opinion, I welcome yours.


Bon Iver - Woods video via YouTube

Sample mp3 goes here ---> Bon Iver - Blood Bank mp3 via JagJaguwar


Somehow, I didn't mind the Auto-tune as much on Wolves (Act I & II) but it was used much more sparingly...


Bon Iver - Wolves (Act I & II) video via YouTube

Other great moments in Auto-Tuning:


Imogen Heap - Hide & Seek Marissa shoots Trey courtesy of YouTube


The Church of Cher - Believe video via YouTube

Kanye West's - Heartless was supposed to go here. But his label/imprint/music is part of the evil Universal Music Group umbrella (Insert Boo) so no embedding aloud. I could put a link...but I won't. Sorry Yeezy, you don't need the exposure anyway...not that the Church of Cher does either. Same to you T-Pain.

Check it out, even the New Yorker is weighing in on this issue (Insert Eye-Roll).


Slightly Related Randomness goes here (ish) --->
Los Simpsons - Homerpalooza episode video via YouTube

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