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Posts Tagged “sxsw2008”

day by day party

No Bathroom Line For Old Men

Adding to the "I'm missing everything" feeling provided by the fact that during SXSW every bar with 10 square feet of space turns itself into a temporary music venue is the ever-growing number of day parties, which are hosted by PR companies, blogs, hair products, and anyone else who wants to promote themselves along with the music they love. In the photos below, Andy Beta takes us through his final days at the festival, where he navigates long bathroom lines, celebrity spottings, and the strangely muffling racks of spangly cotton at American Apparel.

9:00 AM on Tue Mar 18 2008
By Andy Beta
240 views, Comment

idolator at sxsw

The Last Day: When The Questions Posed Six Months Ago Still Linger

Judging by some of my RSS mainstays, SXSW backlash coverage is the new SXSW coverage, and part of me can see why; the sameness of the posts, the "OMG WISH YOU WERE HERE"-ness that permeates the live-blogging of each margarita downed, the fact that most of the really interesting stuff that's going on is stuff that is either a surprise or much more interesting in the moment than it is hours after the fact. I thought about this a lot during my last 48 hours in Austin, because while I think going to SXSW is a pretty worthwhile endeavor, the obsessive coverage can be, frankly, boring if it isn't done right; Ben Sisario's four-word reviews for the NYT were a refreshing counterexample. I'm navigating between the gaping maw that is Idolator's content hole and the fact that going to Austin every year is useful from a (shock!) reporting standpoint, if only to sorta-gauge the industry's current mood; it's something that I hope to figure out better for next year, because while the whole feeling of missing 99.9% of everything going on was rip-the-hair-out stressful at times, the sunshine overall did wonders for the seasonally affected blues.) More »

12:00 PM on Mon Mar 17 2008
By Maura Johnston
1,598 views, 19 comments

Latest by the rich girls are weeping: @MTS: I admit, I have not read your recap yet. My bad! I shall do so now. @Lucas Jensen: Dude, we need sit down and compare SXSW war stories sometime. There's always a lady getting decked on 6th Street, it seems. @Maura more »

day by day party

Seeing The {{{Sunset}}} From The East Side

Adding to the "I'm missing everything" feeling provided by the fact that during SXSW every bar with 10 square feet of space turns itself into a temporary music venue is the ever-growing number of day parties, which are hosted by PR companies, blogs, hair products, and anyone else who wants to promote themselves along with the music they love. In this installment, we follow former Austin resident Andy Beta to a Daytrotter session and a visit from the Ice Cream Man. More »

11:15 AM on Sat Mar 15 2008
By Andy Beta
417 views, 4 comments

Latest by betablog: {{{Sunset}}} is here: [www.myspace.com] Doug Sahm EMP paper is here: [andybetablog.blogspot.com] While I never went to Red's, I do miss that cultural juxtapose. And I guess a hundred years ago, you could've danced with injuns over there. Similarly, every time I pass Plush more »

idolator at sxsw

Day Three: In Which It Is Safe To Enter The Convention Center Once Again

The 2008 installment of the South By Southwest Music conference passed the halfway mark, and yesterday's torrid temperatures and ever-growing lines—thanks in part to the descending spring-break hordes—were only escapable in one place: the Austin Convention Center, which seems to have solved its rabies problem for now. (At least, I hope it did.) A rundown of the day after the jump. More »

11:15 AM on Sat Mar 15 2008
By Maura Johnston
516 views, 2 comments

day by day party

No Age's Balancing Act

Adding to the "I'm missing everything" feeling provided by the fact that during SXSW every bar with 10 square feet of space turns itself into a temporary music venue is the ever-growing number of day parties, which are hosted by PR companies, blogs, hair products, and anyone else who wants to promote themselves along with the music they love. We gave a schedule to former Austin resident Andy Beta and let him go to town; here he watches as No Age plays one of its many scheduled sets around Austin. More »

10:15 AM on Sat Mar 15 2008
By Andy Beta
470 views, 2 comments

Latest by SuperUnison: Agreed, one of the best things about seeing No Age live is the realization that they're a great punk band at heart. more »

Brangelina makes its perhaps-inevitable SXSW appearance, and yet even the combined starpower of its two members can't get an entourage into Wednesday night's R.E.M. show at Stubb's. That sound you hear is the wailing of a bunch of "lifestyle marketers" who are crushed, crushed that they couldn't book R.E.M. for their own fake-VIP lounges, because could you imagine what the Google hits would look like if Brad was photographed holding an Eastport backpack? [Hollywood Insider / Photo: AP]

6 comments

listening station

Mussels Make Us Happy As A Clam

Yesterday's travels around Austin took me to the back patio of a pizza parlor that was putting on a three-day popfest, and I stuck around long enough to hear a set by the Brooklyn band Mussels, whose chiming, revved-up rock and roll bounced off the baking concrete and made the slowly-heating-up afternoon all the more pleasant. It probably says something about New York's music "scene" that I had to go all the way down to Austin to find a band that wasn't hyped to the gills by the city's blog-equipped cognoscenti that also happened to be actually pretty decent, but I'll save all that cranky thinkpiece-styled stuff for my return to the drizzly early-spring weather of the East Coast. [MySpace]

9:45 AM on Fri Mar 14 2008
By Maura Johnston
151 views, Comment

idolator at sxsw

Day Two: Straying Far From Sixth Street

Since I knew I wasn't getting into the big car-sponsored Motorhead gig after being tipped off by a friend that the line had stretched around the block two hours prior to the show, my experience yesterday at SXSW was all about finding some day parties that were off the way-too-beaten path downtown—travels which took me first to a patio-rich pizza party in South Austin, then to a beer-and-pool bar east of the Sixth Street strip that's become the Austin home of promoter Todd P, and finally to a carousel-themed bar northeast of downtown where I instantly felt at home, and where I'd probably spend the rest of the week were I not beholden to things like trying to see more bands than I did last year. I spent about 50 bucks on cabs, but given that I crashed out immediately upon my return to my hotel room, I'm going to think of that cash as an investment against eating too many late-night tacos further on in the evening. More »

9:15 AM on Fri Mar 14 2008
By Maura Johnston
469 views, 9 comments

Latest by n/a: Stubb's is so huge, it almost doesn't matter how long the line is; you'll definitely get in for any show if you have a badge or a wristband. And people here don't seem to rush right up to the stage more »

While looking for blog posts for people who actually got into yesterday's Scion-sponsored Motorhead show—which proved once and for all that those RSVP forms you fill out in a submit-button-pushing frenzy before SXSW don't mean diddly—I found this post, which shows that the New York Times' policy of not spelling out bands' names if they have swear words in them, and then getting all huffily explanatory about it, extends to its blogs. Any way to hang on to that vestigial prestige, I guess. [ArtsBeat]

1 comment

idolator at sxsw

Day One: Bad Flags And Even Worse Pick-Up Lines

Wednesday was the first official day of South By Southwest's music conference, and overall, it seemed pretty low-key, with the day's biggest names coming from rock's various old guards (R.E.M., Van Morrison, Naked Raygun) and the day's biggest sounds coming, as one might expect, from the pedaled-to-the-metal Raveonettes. After the jump, I break down the day, from tacos to temperatures. More »

7:15 AM on Thu Mar 13 2008
By Maura Johnston
831 views, 13 comments

day by day party

Gorilla Vs. Bear Vs. Booze Vs. The Urge To Dance Vs. Photographers

Adding to the "I'm missing everything" feeling provided by the fact that during SXSW every bar with 10 square feet of space turns itself into a temporary music venue is the ever-growing number of day parties, which are hosted by PR companies, blogs, hair products, and anyone else who wants to promote themselves along with the music they love. We gave a schedule to former Austin resident Andy Beta and let him go to town, and his first dispatch—from Gorilla Vs. Bear's imaginatively named Gorilla Vs. Booze party—follows. More »

6:43 AM on Thu Mar 13 2008
By Andy Beta
604 views, 1 comment

Latest by blackmailismylife: I think I saw White Williams. Don't think you missed much. more »

Dubious SXSW branding opportunities, part one of an unfortunately ongoing series: "Göt2b, the hair product company, will have a barbershop on site. Fake ads of [Perez] Hilton will be throughout the space and stylists will give attendees that essential rock-'n'-roll look and a Polaroid snap of the new 'do." The regret that you feel the next morning, when you realize that your hair's been dyed fake-raspberry-blue because you decided to get your hair did at a freakin' Perez Hilton party, is complimentary. [Austin American-Statesman / Photo: AP]

1 comment

listening station

Kirsten Ketsjer Is A Rock Band, Not A Person In A Rock Band


The Danish trio Kirsten Ketsjer The Rock Band—named, I was told, after a friend of the band who was in no way affiliated with its music—play nervy indie rock that a friend compared to their sorta-countrymen 18th Dye*. Which is music to my ears—and a very apt analogy, although Kirsten Ketsjer's music gets a little more frenzied and experimental at times, with singer/drummer Anja Jacobsen caterwauling so hard during one epic song's freakout that I thought she was going to propel herself off her drum kit's stool and out into the club's side lot, leaving broken glass and gorgeous guitar arpeggios trailing behind her. [MySpace / Yoyooyoy] More »

6:29 AM on Thu Mar 13 2008
By Maura Johnston
129 views, 3 comments

Latest by Penny Royalty: Their album that came out last year, "Fffooo K Tsssch" (note: I may be spelling it wrong), is just terrific. more »

So yes, I am leaving for Austin and the South By Southwest Music Festival tomorrow, and as I did last year, I'm on the lookout for any tips about secret shows, last-minute shutdowns, Stop Peter Bjorn & John-style shenanigans, and anything else that you think might be worthy of Idolator's coverage. Send any tips to mauraATidolatorDOTcom, and I'll be sure to reward you with a comment invite. It's not as good as an icy margarita, but it can be combined with one to great, hilarious effect. [SXSW]

1 comment

holy yummo

Dear Bloggers: Does Picking On Rachael Ray Make You Feel Proud?

I've discovered I like (at least) two things about Rachael Ray. One: the knife set my mother-in-law purchased for me this Christmas (sharptastic!). Two: That she can drop the classic "I'm way too busy for this jibber-jabber" retort on the blogger types who aren't thrilled with her SXSW day party appearance on March 15. Hey, Brooklyn Vegan! Rachael Ray just gave you the gas face. More »

10:30 AM on Wed Mar 5 2008
By Dan Gibson
1,671 views, 22 comments

not afraid to be servicey

Attending SXSW? A Show For You To Avoid

If you're heading to SXSW next week, color me jealous-ish. Lots of bands, good. Long lines and tons of bloggers, bad. Nonetheless, may I offer a suggestion? Unless you enjoy tedious anti-war preaching from rock stars, avoid Stubbs on the 13th. More »

2:50 PM on Mon Mar 3 2008
By Dan Gibson
1,337 views, 10 comments

The lineup for the South By Southwest showcase hosted by "America's favorite cook and indie music lover" Rachael Ray—yes, it's really happening!—has been finalized: "Join us at this merging of great food and even better music with performances by Autovaughn, The Ravonettes, The Cringe, Scissors For Lefty, The Stills, and Holy *&%$. DJ Efren 'Pedro' Ramirez from Napoleon Dynamite will be DJ-ing inside." Is Efren Ramirez's classification as a "celebrity DJ" the grandest sign yet that said trend has been left out way past its shelf date or what? [SXSW]

11 comments

painful ironies

South By Southwest 2008: Let The Bottle-Service-Fed Jerks Descend!

UPDATE: According to someone purporting to be No Depression's Peter Blackstock, the press release claiming to be from the Austin "ultra lounge" Panagea and saying that people who shelled out $300 or more for bottle service at No Depression's South By Southwest showcase would get "priority admission" was a hoax against the club. Pangaea, which opened in October 2007, referred to itself as an "ultra lounge" and did point out that "bottle service," also known as the practice of reserving a table by overpaying for a bottle of liquor, was available when it opened. The origin of the "hoax" press release is unknown at present; the original post is below. We'd like to take a second to apologize to No Depression for basically being collateral damage in what seems to be one person's effort to, as they say, keep Austin weird in the face of the city's increasing smoothing-out. More »

11:30 AM on Tue Feb 26 2008
By Maura Johnston
910 views, 29 comments

Latest by the rich girls are weeping: @heyzeus: Damn. Well, considering we almost walked a $300 check there the last time we ate there due to the HIDEOUS service, I guess that's not surprising, really. more »