First things first, I highly recommend just going to the SXSW show schedule site and listening to random bands. It's the definitive (although too long) list of indie bands out there right now.
I might Twitter during SXSW if I feel I have anything to say. The right side of the blog will have my last three entries. I don't like Twitter.
How SXSW Works
Not too complicated, but the sheer magnitude of events happening is what makes it complicated. Parties during the day throughout downtown Austin (parties meaning free shows and free booze). They typically start at around noon and go into the early evening. The best, although incomplete, list of these are at Sched's SXSW site. Also during the day for badge holders are panels at the Austin Convention Center (and a day stage). At night there's showcases everywhere in downtown Austin. For the showcases you really need a badge or wristband. There's also parties at night, although not as many as during the day.
Many parties require RSVPs, or at least recommend them so you can avoid the lines and/or be on the list for the open bar.
Now, down to my plans.
Bands I Must See Or I Won't Be Happy
Kittens Ablaze ("Ra Ra Riot meets Cursive") (showcase only)
Harlem Shakes
Matt & Kim (showcase only). This isn't looking likely.
Oh No Oh My (no showcase?)
Hold Steady
The Morning Benders
Great Lakes Myth Society
Local Natives
Local LA Bands I Want to See at SXSW
Local Natives - obvious pick, I want to see how they're received outside of their home state. And if there's going to be a breakout LA band at SXSW they're it. It doesn't hurt that they're playing 8 times during SXSW. Here's their SXSW flyer (and they've just posted a new song on their myspace):
Afternoons: They don't play enough in LA, and they're amazingly better live than recorded; the three-part vocal harmonies don't put chills down your spine when you listen on Myspace.
Henry Clay People: Because they're great, even though they have the April Spaceland residency.
Others: Great Northern, Earlimart, Airborne Toxic Event, Castledoor
Daytime Parties
For other suggestions, see Austin Town Hall Music Guide
Wednesday:
Throwdown at Maggie Mae's (323 E 6th Street) sponsored by Spaceland and MySpace Records. Three stages, quality bands. RSVP link (to skip the line). I'm probably just going to park myself here for the afternoon.
Future of the Left (1:25), Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (2), We Were Promised Jet Packs (2:30), Harlem Shakes (3:20), Titus Andronicus (4:10), Nico Vega (4:45), Wavves (5:30)
Hype Machine Radio Launch Party Party at The Lounge @ Peckerheads (402 E. 6th Street) . This one leans more towards bands with dance/electronic elements. Hockey (3), Casiokids (4), and The Golden Filter (7) play. RSVP link
Austinist Presents Gonna Get Down party at Mohawk (912 Red River). Akron/Family (5), The Mae Shi (4:40), Elvis Perkins (4), Kevin Devine (12:15), Telekinesis (11:45 am). No RSVP.
Thursday:
Quack Media Party at Red 7 (611 E 7th Street) with The Hold Steady, No Age, and Lucero. Great Lakes Myth Society also play. RSVP link
Paste Party at Radio Room (507 E. 6th Street). Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Cursive, Bishop Allen, Au Rivoir Simone, Cursive, The Wrens, etc. Link and RSVP
Vaya Con Tacos party at Peckerheads (402 E 6th Street). Link and RSVP Henry Clay (5pm), Le Switch (6pm), J. Tillman (6:30)
Friday
Buzzbands LA Party at Cheers (414 E 6th Street). Harlem Shakes headline at 6, and Red Cortez and Local Natives play right before. Apparently no RSVP needed.
Hot Freaks Party, Friday edition, at Club Deville (900 Red River) and The Mohawk (912 Red River). Start at The Mohawk and then go next door to Club Deville. Then go 0.2 miles to the Buzzbands show. RSVP
The Mohawk Patio features has The Wrens (12:00), Bishop Allen (1:00), and the Henry Clay People (2:00)
Club Deville features American Analog Set (2:30), The Thermals (3:30), and The Hold Steady (4:30).
There's also The Onion AV Club Party at The Radio Room (507 E. 6th) with The Thermals, Trail of Dead, and Ra Ra Riot. No RSVP needed.
And there's the Fader Fort party with Solid Gold (3); The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (3:45), Women (5:15), and Peter Bjorn & John (7:45). Link and RSVP
Saturday
Lots of options, but nothing definitive.
- The strongest party is probably at Maggie Mae's, with New York Dolls, Ra Ra Riot, Airborne Toxic Event, and Edwin Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. It's partially sponsored by Rachel Ray. Don't know why. Link Noon - 5pm
- 40 Watt Athens Day Party at Sidebar (602 E. 7th). You can rarely go wrong with music from Athens, GA, but the only band I'm familiar with is Maserati. Instrumental, but rocking.
Outside Stage 12:00 - Mean Creek 12:40 - Winter Sounds 1:10 - Still Flyin’ 2:00 - Holy Liars 3:00 - Gentlemen Jesse 4:00 - Modern Skirts 5:00 - A Armada 6:00 - Maserati
Inside Stage 12:20 - Dancer Vs. Politician 1:00 - Venice Is Sinking 1:40 - Quiet Hooves 2:30 - Gift Horse 3:30 - Dead Confederate 4:30 - Twin Tigers 5:30 - Pride Parade 6:30 - The Dumps
- Mess With Texas 3 Show at Waterloo Park (12th and Red River). Saturday. 11:30am-9pm. Two stages, over 20 bands. Link
- Mos Fuk Dupp Day Party (clever, I know). Would be the last chance to see Oh No Oh My if I haven't yet. They're on at 1:30. RSVP
- Coffee! No Pants? Party. Harlem Shakes (2:15), Princeton (3), Lonely Dear, Titus Andronicus. RSVP
- Hot Freaks Party, Saturday edtion.
- The Big One at do512 HQ (2208 S. Lamar). Red Cortez (5), Afternoons (6), and Dead Confederates (7). RSVP.
Night Parties
Wednesday
SXSW Stimulus Party at Paradise (401 E. 6th). Tigercity (8), Morning Benders (9), Harlem Shakes (11). The party starts at 11am, but this is when it gets good. No RSVP apparently needed.
Saturday
Blastro Networks. Link and RSVP. The Von Bondies, Glasvegas, The Knux, and Manchester Orchestra.
Other Parties
Purevolume.com has parties each day and each night. As would be expected with Purevolume it leans heavily emo. RSVP
Showcases
Wednesday: Cut Off Your Hands (8:45), Von Bondies (9:45), Peter Bjorn & John (10:45), and Glasvegas (11:45) at Vice (302 E 6th).
Thursday: There's way too much tonight.
There's an early showcase at Auditorium Shores Stage (which may be a bigger hassle than necessary). It's at Lady Bird Lake--Riverside Drive & S. 1st Street. Elvis Perkins (6), Cold War Kids (7), M Ward (8).
Later showcases: 5 options.
- 1) Music Gym Patio (815 E. 6th) with The New Wine (9), and Lemonade (10).
- 2) Emo's Main Room (603 Red River) with Wild Light (10) and Peter Bjorn & John (1 am)
- 3) Opal Divine's Freehouse (700 W. 6th) with Matt & Kim at 11:15.
- 4) Sup Pop Showcase at Radio Room (508 E 6th)
- 5) Central Presbyterian Church (200 E. 8th St) with Amanda Palmer (11), Elvis Perkins (12), Local Natives (1 am)
I'm leaning towards ending the night at #5 with Local Natives and Elvis, getting to the Church at around 11:30. Before that it's wide open, but I lean towards #1.
Friday: Kittens Ablaze at Wave (408 E. 6th). Kittens is on at midnight. Unfortunately the openers aren't too great. But I need to see Kittens Ablaze.
Start the night at Mohawk Patio (912 Red River) with Bear Hands at 8 and The Blakes at 9.
Saturday: A good amount of options tonight, but not as crazy as Thursday. Start early at Antone's then over to Parish. (If you don't go to the Blastro party).
- LA Bands @ Antone's (213 W 5th). Afternoons (8), Happy Hollows (9), Silversun Pickups (Midnight).
- Barsuk/Merge Show at Parish (214B E 6th). Say Hi (11), Rosebuds (Midnight), Ra Ra Riot (1 am)
Some of the Non-LA Bands I Want to See
Peter Bjorn and John, Post War Years, Hesta Prynn, Ida Maria, M Ward, Bishop Allen, The New Wine, Out From Animals, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Glacier Hiking, Casiokids, Akron/Family, The Golden Filter, Blitzen Trapper and the entire Subpop showcase, Harlem Shakes, Hockey, Bear Hands, Tigercity, Telekinesis, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, Simplifires,
Say Hi, The Knux, . . . Trail of Dead, Dressy Bessy, Titus Andronicus, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Great Lakes Myth Society, Von Bondies, Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains (playing the Knit on March 26), Nico Vega, The Hold Steady, Wild Light, The Thermals, Amanda Palmer
Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Kevin Devine, Kraak & Smaak, Women, Freeway, Camera Obscura, Matt and Kim, Kittens Ablaze, Via Audio, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Beep Beep (playing the Knit on March 26), Maps & Atlases (playing Spaceland on March 24), Okkervil River, The Wrens, Mother Mother (playing at Troubador on March 25), Tigercity, Palomar, Oh No Oh My, Manchester Orchestra, Anni Rossi, Savoir Adore, Willowz, Pomegranates (playing Silverlake Lounge April 30)
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