Tuesday, March 23, 2010

SXSW 2010 in Brief...s

What just happened y'all? The last thing I remember was some girl pulling my weave out for cutting her in line at the Swagg presents One Night in Perez Hilton's ass, party. Did I get in? How was Snoop? Yes indeed folks SXSW 2010 has come and gone and now we have a full year to plan for next Spring unless of course Bill Murray sees his shadow at Shangri-La.

So, my first day I was all ambitious, I rocked out in our fair city for roughly 14 hours, mostly in the upright position. I shot like a billion videos and uploaded them hours after they recorded. You probably saw my post on Thursday, well then everything went pear-shaped. My brain got fuzzy, the parties started to run together, I wanted to punch people in the face who told me about surprise guest appearances, basically it was the 2nd day of SXSW. It is my favorite time of year, but damn if it isn't exhausting? Oh, the problems we face in Austin, "Golly, there are just too many awesome things happening at once, I'm tired now." Isn't it brutal?

Long story short, rather than inundate you with EVERY video I shot, I'll just put a little highlighter on a few of them. I'll direct you to the Bloggy YouTube Channel if you'd like to check out all 40 videos from SXSW 2010. Oh, and if you're representing a band or law firm and you'd rather these videos weren't online, let me know, I'm really good at acting like I care.


Royal Bangs - The Windish Showcase SXSW 2010 video via YouTube


The whole Windish Showcase was pretty much awesome. I ended up there on a whim because I knew that the Very Best were showcasing at Emo's on Friday night so I figured I'd try to get in. I paid a $15 cover at the door but only had to stand in line for about 4 minutes. Once inside when the entire line-up was revealed I was psyched. I had wanted to see the Royal Bangs and they didn't disappoint in the least. It was a really high-energy set with great melodies with the musicians locked into tight grooves the whole time, hence the above video.

Sometimes, the short set times during SXSW can work for a band sometimes it can work against them. When Delorean was through with their set it was somewhat startling. They played for 30-40 minutes but I was going wherever they were taking me and the ride ended to quickly. I play to see them again on their next journey through Austin, but in the meantime I have this video to tide me over.


Delorean - Eastbound & Found Party SXSW 2010 video via YouTube

The third and final video I am going to feature comes from a Canadian group who have some crazy, cult following or something. When Born Ruffians took the stage all this 20 somethings appeared out of nowhere crashing through the crowd with looks of extreme glee on their faces. Almost every song the band played had about 2 dozen people singing along, hitting all of their call and response cues and, of course, pogo-ing like mad men. Kudos to you Born Ruffians you had crown involvement during SXSW, there's something to be said for that. I've been to shows during South by when the audience doesn't even clap when the band is through.


Born Ruffians - Windish Agency Showcase SXSW 2010 video via YouTube

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

SXSW 2010 Day 1 in 18 Videos

So, yesterday was the first official day of SXSW. I started my day trying to see Broken Bells inside a parking structure but alas I was stuck in line while they were performing. I did get to hear them from the outside though. Up next was Emo's for the Brooklyn Vegan party. After that I went to Beauty Bar followed by the evening at Malverde. All in all I was downtown from 1pm until 2:40am, needless to say I'm tired but it was worth it.

Now, I tried to capture a song on video from all of the artists I saw yesterday. Pre-apologies for the varying visual and sound quality of these videos. I did my best to stay steady and get a clear shot. For a lot of these artists I am not familiar enough with their music to know the song titles, so if you know them feel free to include them in the comments section. Also, I tried to keep this in the order I saw the artists.


Morning Benders - Excuses video via YouTube



Japandroids - (Song Clip) video via YouTube


Yes Giantess - Live at Beauty Bar video via YouTube


Bad Rabbit - Live at Beauty Bar video via YouTube


Ninjasonik - Live at Beauty Bar video via YouTube


Yelawolf - Live at Beauty Bar video via YouTube


Kid Sister - Live at Beauty Bar video via YouTube


Kid Sister - Live at Beauty Bar video via YouTube


We Are the World - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


We Are the World - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


Suckers - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


Suckers - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


Fools Gold - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


Men - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


JJ - My Life video via YouTube


jj - 2 songs Live at Malverde video via YouTube


Sleigh Bells - Live at Malverde video via YouTube


Sleigh Bells - Live at Malverde video via YouTube

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

SXSW 2010 Preview (Locals Only): The White White Lights

From the first time I saw The White White Lights to the most recent they have graduated from kids exploring the idea of stage presence to borderline rock stars. Alright, maybe that's a bit of an exageration but any other Austin blog-freak can attest to how quickly the White White Lights have developed they seem to churn out passionate tunes at the drop of a hat. This year they don't have any official showcases for me to promote but I still wanted all of you out of towners who are reading this site for this week only to be aware of one of Austin's up-and-coming acts. Don't take my word for it, ask my brethren of the blog over at Ultra8201. It was a show they hosted where I was first introduced to the White White Lights. In fact the video you're about to digest is courtesy of the kind lads of Ultra8201, thanks y'all!


the White White Lights - Live at the Parish video via YouTube

Find out where you can catch the White White Lights at un-official events during SXSW after the jump...

These unofficial listings are courtesy of the blog-brigaders at Do512, ahoy!

Tue 03/16 @ Art Disaster Party *Free RSVP*
Sat 03/20 @ East Meets Fest at Uchi *Free*

That's it folks, you only get two chances to see the White White Lights but remember the name because I'm sure this won't be the last time it crosses your path. Those of us who live here will see the gang again real soon though, jealous? You should be.

This video is from another great local blog, Nites. Notice how none of us seem to know the names of the songs but we love them anyway. #AustinBlogMafia


the White White Lights - Live at Emo's video via YouTube



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SXSW 2010 Preview (Locals Only): Quiet Company

If you're looking for clever, indie-pop diddies whose melodies will get tattooed on brain, then Quiet Company is the Austin band for you. They have 2 albums kicking around their merch table but it's their latest one, Everyone You Love Will Be Happy Soon that has seen the band hone its sound, focusing more on piano and a little less on guitar. These tunes are radio-ready and with the help of a really talented producer I could see this band getting better with age. Did I mention they are the most social-media savvy band in town, I dare you to NOT find them on Twitter, Facebook, etc.


Quiet Company - It's Better to Spend Money Like There's No Tomorrow Than Spend Tonight Like There's No Money video via YouTube

Find when and where you can and should see Quiet Company at SXSW after the jump...

Party/show info has been re-posted from information I read over at Do512, thanks Do512.

Thu 03/18 @ Wave *Official Showcase*
Sat 03/20 @ East Side Yoga (no, seriously) *Free RSVP*
Sun 03/21 @ Six Stages Over Texas *$Charity Benefit$*


Quiet Company - On Modern Men video via YouTube

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Third Man Records Pop-Up Store

Alright y'all, this post is totally uncharacteristic since I don't usually pimp merchandise and I try to keep things local(ish) 'round here. However, being a fan of Third Man Records and also being a fan of exclusive shhh I wanted to post a press release that was sent to me about the Third Man Records Pop-Up Store. For the sake of visual consistency I'm going to hide the press release after the jump. Here's a little teaser of the sort of thing you might encounter down at Frank tomorrow.


Under Great White Northen Lights - Trailer video via YouTube

Press-Release with full details after the jump...

Third Man Records Announces SXSW Pop-Up Shop

Third Man Records at SXSW is located at:

Frank Restaurant and Grocery

407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Over the past year Third Man Records have brought their pop-up retail shops to New York, Los Angeles and London - completely transforming temporary spaces into seemingly permanent locations that are not so much about commerce as they are about a collision of artistic expression, design and a personal one-of-a-kind experience for customers.

Up next, Third Man Records is excited to announce their most ambitious temporary store yet, set to pop-up at the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas from March 17th through March 20th. Located at Frank Restaurant on 4th and Colorado, Third Man Records at SXSW will feature exclusive Third Man vinyl only available at TMR SXSW, debut releases, screenings of The White Stripes’ film Under Great White Northern Lights, food, drinks and much more.

Here are just some of the features of Third Man Records SXSW:

  • Limited Edition ‘Texas-Sized Vinyl TM’ releases of every Third Man Records 45 and select LPs. Only at TMR SXSW will fans be able to purchase 8” versions of all of our 45s and 13” versions of The White Stripes ‘De Stijl,’ ‘White Blood Cells’ and The Raconteurs ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’.

  • In addition to the individual singles on sale, they are also making available 150 limited edition handmade wooden 45 boxes containing the complete Texas Sized Vinyl set of 45s.

  • First chance to purchase the debut of their re-issue series, Jon Wayne ‘Texas Funeral.’ This lost American classic has long been out of print and now available again on LP and iTunes via Third Man Records. The first opportunity to buy this will be at this SXSW shop, so pick it up there on limited edition pink and black split color vinyl.

  • Third Man Branding Station - You bring it down and they’ll brand it with the Third Man logo. Also, friends from The Busy Beaver Button company will be on hand to brand never before available wood buttons with the Third Man Logo.

  • Complete Box Sets of The White Stripes ‘Under Great White Northern Lights’ as well as the stand-alone components of the box set for sale: LPs, DVDs, Blu-Ray, and CDs of The White Stripes first-ever live album.

  • 4 very limited Rob Jones Under Great White Northern Lights screen prints, available only at the TMR SXSW shop. An event poster by Decoder Ring will also be available.

  • Special screenings of The White Stripes ‘Under Great White Northern Lights film at the TMR SXSW shop at Frank. Be one of the first to see this landmark documentary and concert film, have a hot dog, drinks some drinks.

  • Third Man hot dogs, Third Man cocktails and Pinball!

The Third Man Records SXSW shop will be open to the public from 12 - 8PM daily from Wednesday March 17th to Saturday March 20th, and you don’t need a SXSW pass to get in.

More surprises and features to be announced soon! Follow Third Man’s road trip from Nashville to Austin via www.thirdmanrecords.com/texas, http://modlife.com/thirdmanrecord, http://twitter.com/ThirdManVault, http://www.facebook.com/ThirdManRecords.

Third Man Records at SXSW is located at:

Frank Restaurant and Grocery

407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701


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Monday, March 15, 2010

SXSW 2010 Preview (Locals Only): Sunset

For those of you, who read this site with any frequency you already know I'm a big fan of Sunset but if you're from out of town and you've never read this site before you should close your computer and head to the Mohawk right now! That's right, you can catch Sunset at the ATX Emerge show tonight. They'll be hitting the inside stage after midnight. Bill Baird the man behind the name Sunset is like a living Smithsonian of music. He wears his influences proudly on his sleave, enticing you to dig deeper into all of the genres and sub-genres he references through his music. What this means to you, as a listener, is that with each album you could be getting a sound that is vastly different from the sound of the last album. I'm a fan of melodies however they come and Bill Baird's got those by the fistful check out their latest LP Gold Dissolves to Gray if you buy the 180 gram LP pressing it comes with a CD, the future is now.


Sunset - Fishtown video via YouTube
Find out when and where you can and will see Sunset during SXSW after the jump...


Here's the listings for when and where you can and should see Sunset thanks to Do512 for gathering all of this information that I simply re-post.

Tue 03/16 @ Ghost Room *official SXSWi*
Tue 03/16 @ Beauty Bar *Free RSVP*
Wed 03/17 @ 3714 Werner Ave *House Party*
Thu 03/18 @ Side Bar *Free*
Sat 03/20 @ Baby Blue Recording Studio *Free*

By the way, I bought my copy of Gold Dissolves to Gray over at End of an Ear and I'd encourage you to do the same. Remember neighborhood record shops? Yeah, we still have those in Austin. Jealous? You should be.


Sunset - I'm Not a Perfect Person (Looks Like I F*cked Up Again) video via YouTube

You might want to check out this YouTube channel cause Bill Baird makes almost as many videos as he makes songs. Not really, he makes TONS of songs and lots of videos. Here's just one more song to wet your appetites.


Sunset - Zombie video via YouTube

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SXSW 2010 Preview (Locals Only): Brazos

To be honest, I don't understand why Brazos isn't nationally successful yet. They've been churning out perfect indie-pop all over Austin for years and their album Phosphorescent Blues rules. It's for these reasons that I would like to call your attention to Austin's poorly-kept-secret, Brazos. You can actually catch them, along with many other great Austin bands, tonight! The Mohawk is hosting the ATX Emerge show, which is basically a showcase of the best Austin has to offer this year for all of our out of town guests. You can catch me down there but I'll probably have to leave in the middle of Sunset's set as I work at 6:30am tomorrow. Sorry, Sunset I <3 you but you know how it is when that alarm goes off round 5am.

Are we excited about SXSW now or what?!?!


Brazos - Day Glo video via YouTube

Find out when and where you may or may not see Brazos during SXSW this year after the jump...

Once again, I've pulled this show information from those independent bloginators over at Do512, thanks y'all!

Tue 03/16 @ Club de Ville *Free RSVP Daytime*
Thu 03/18 @ Music By the Slice *Free Daytime*
Thu 03/18 @ Emo's "annex" *Official Showcase*
Fri 03/19 @ Mess With Texas 4 *Free*
Sat 03/20 @ E. 6th St. Day Party *Free*

So, don't forget if none of the above shows fit into you're schedule but you are reading this in Austin in this moment, then you can actually see Brazos tonight! Hopefully, I'll get some good video of them performing tonight, the selection on YouTube leaves a lot to be desired at the moment. Although this is a pretty nice video.


Brazos - Tell video via YouTube



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SXSW 2010 Preview (Locals Only): Ume

The remainder of the SXSW 2010 Preview posts will be all about Austin bands that you out-of-towners should catch while you're here. The first band I want you to take note of already built some buzz at last year's festival but I think this will be their big break-out year. Ume has been touring in support of their Sunshowers EP all year and they've begun to road-test lots of new tunes live. I expect even the Austinites will get to hear new things from Ume at this year's fest. I'm a big fan of the Sunshowers EP but in all honesty it's not nearly as captivating as seeing the band locked into a groove in person.


Ume - East of Hercules video via YouTube

Find out all of the places you can catch Ume during this year's SXSW after the jump.


Party and showcase information culled from the glorious resources of Do512, thanks y'all. XOXO -Bloggy

Wed 03/17 @ Music Gym *Free Day Show*
Wed 03/17 @ Submergered *Official Showcase*
Thu 03/18 @ Eastbound & Found *Free Day Show*
Fri 03/19 @ South By South Mess *Free Day Show*
Sat 03/20 @ Encore *Free Day Show*

Basically if you're looking for music that's not cute or ironic but just downright rocks then Ume is the band for you. I expect after this festival we may even seem them at some of the bigger, summer festivals that occur throughout the country. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, but I can see Lauren flailing her hair for a festival audience.


Ume - Conductor video via YouTube

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Friday, March 12, 2010

SXSW 2010 Preview: Avi Buffalo

The moment I heard Avi Buffalo's song What's In It For? I knew I had to see them at SXSW. Whenever a casual music-listener asks me what kind of music I listen to, I tell them I'm looking for anything that sounds instantly classic. Avi Buffalo sounds classic the moment the needle hits the record. They hail from Los Angeles, but they sound like they enjoy Nuggets-era, psychedelia mixed with their L.A. canyon-folk. There full-length LP, due out in April, is already garnering lots of critical buzz as well as endorsements from fellow musicians. Did I mention they were all born in the 90's? *Blech* I'm getting so old! Maybe they'll give me an exclusive if I buy them some beer?

I used to enjoy "deep-linking" free Mp3's from Sub Pop but that's poor blogging-etiquette so now I'll just point you to where you can get this free Mp3, courtesy of Sub-Pop, thanks.


Avi Buffalo - What's In It For (Solo Performance) video via YouTube

Find out when and where you might see Avi Buffalo whilst at SXSW (Mere days away y'all) after the jump.

You'll have several chances to catch Avi Buffalo while they're here in Austin but they're also touring with Rogue Wave right now, so catch 'em wherever you are, if you wish.

This show info is courtesy of those tireless readers of promotional materials over at Do512. Thanks for reading all those e-mails from press agents and combing through all of those party listings so I don't have to. <3 Bloggy.

Thu 03/18 @ the Mohawk *Free Day Show*
Thu 03/18 @ the Galaxy Room *Official Showcase*
Fri 03/19 @ the Galaxy Room *Free Day Show*
Fri 03/19 @ Mess With Texas 4 *Free*
Sat 03/20 @ Red Eyed Fly *Free Day Show*
Sat 03/20 @ Klub Krucial *Free Day Show


Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time video via YouTube

Also, if you'd like to hear more from Avi Buffalo they recorded a session with Daytrotter and look for a WOXY session after SXSW.

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Thursday, March 11, 2010

SXSW 2010 Preview: Sleigh Bells

Twitter has already been a flurry about Sleigh Bells coming to SXSW and now I have a _____ Bells theme going. Like Broken Bells, Sleigh Bells is a duo but that's pretty much where the similarities end. Well, I suppose both bands are American and they probably enjoy lots of the same things but I digress. Sleigh Bells makes in your face dance music out of over the top noise matched up with basic dance-floor boom-bap. It makes me feel woozy, disoriented, excited and entranced, all the while dancing I might add. This is the soundtrack for the modern disaffected youth of the world.


Sleigh Bells - A/B Machines video via YouTube

While I was listening to the above track, I was reminded to remind YOU to protect your ears at SXSW. You obviously love music, you'll want to hear it when you're older too. On that note, find out where you, and your protected ears, can experience Sleigh Bells in person, after the break.


Once again the Cyrano to my Christian for this scheduling information comes from Do512, merci. With a little padding from the bands MySpace, linked above the break.

Wed 03/17 @ the Parish *Free Day Show*
Wed 03/17 @ Malverde *Free Night Show*
Thu 03/18 @ Mexican American Cultural Center *Free Day Show*
Sat 03/20 @ the Scoot Inn *Official Showcase*

That Wednesday show at the Parish is the one Do512 was missing, that's the NPR showcase, which is usually stellar. No need to worry if you don't get into the small space though, they record and broadcast/podcast etc. Also, some of the above mentioned free parties require RSVP so click the Do512 link if you need that sort of info. The party at the Mexican American Cultural Center is going to be absolutely bonkers!


Sleigh Bells - Infinite Guitars video via YouTube

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