sxsw's CMJ recap

Okay, last SXSW post, I think.

I wrote a recap of the CMJ party for well, CMJ.com. I got to see Apples and Stereo and Les Savy fav for the first time, so that was pretty super. Plus, they even let me work the door! Ah, the power.

Read the post here.

(P.S. those aren't my pictures, my camera was broken so I have no visual recap of the festival for you. Probably better that way)

SXSW '07 : A Hazy Recap

Last year I ventured down to Austin for the very first time. I had no idea what to expect. There I was schedule in hand, and determination in my eyes. I saw 90% of the bands I came down to see, and yet found the experience chaotic, yet fun. This year I hadn't the time or the energy to figure out a schedule beforehand. I rsvp'd to every email I received and went down with one intention: have fun. Any band I want to see will come to New York. I just wanted to relax, see some cool shows, check out some new bands, and catch up with some friends. And luckily, I did it all.

It was exhausting alright, but I wouldn't have changed a thing. I always get flak for seeing bands I've seen a million times already, but that's just how I roll. But most of who I saw was new, and I was glad to get an opportunity to check them out in one place. And thanks to Wes, I got up early and checked out some panels. Had it not been for him, I probably would have slept right through them or started drinking much earlier, but I was happy I didn't.

So as follows, my recap/awards/notes about this year's SXSW.

Best Show By Someone I've Never Seen: I think I have to go with Mika for this one. I know, you all probably hate him or thing he's a flash in the pan or whatever, but seeing this charming little guy up on stage singing with that incredible falsetto brought a smile to my face. He's a born star, in every sense of the word and although he claimed everything to have gone with the show I saw, I thought it was spectacular. I was ready to go home right there and then after that and be completely satisfied. Ah, Mika. What a guy.

Best Show By Someone I've Seen: The Rapture. Hands down the best band and the best performers out there today. It's always remarkable to me that they haven't received more attention, but perhaps its better this way. The longevity this band will have is so apparent; they just keep getting better and better. The crowd loved every minute of this show and I bounced and sang my little heart out. A great start to a fantastic week.

Best Panel: Tie between the A&R one and the Music Supervision for TV & Film. First, I have loved Perry Watts-Russell ever since DIG! and hearing his thoughts on bands out today was incredibly interesting. In fact, although the panel consisted of 6 white dudes, they were all very smart (minus one, I wont name names) and pretty funny too. A lot of talk centered around Arcade Fire and their next moves, which makes sense. The Music Supervision one made me so giddy because Gary Calamar was the moderator. You may remember if you read this blog regularly, I interviewed him two years ago when he was music supervisor for Six Feet Under. Such a cool guy, and since my secret profession of choice is to become a music supervisor for a cool show, I loved every minute of it.

Best Party: Fader Fort. Contrary to what Nora will think it wasn't just for the free So-Co juice mix, although that was so delicious, I could drink it all day. It hosted a great lineup throughout the festival, and I will forgive them for not letting me into The Good Bad And The Queen. Every time I texted anyone I had to use capitals: THE FORT. It was huge, and had great sound and an incredible step up from last year. Kudos Fader. You had me at free So-Co.

Best Venue: Maggie Mae's. It was my favorite last year, so good to know they are keeping things up. Its beautiful inside, they make a slamming margarita and although each band takes forever to set up, it always sounds top-notch.

Worst Venue: Eternal. Was there for the Mika/Amy Winehouse show and felt like I was going to pass out the entire time. Too many people, not enough air, and gross drinks. Plus, for Amy Winehouse I couldn't see a gosh darn thing. Time to make the stage a little higher or slant the floor for goodness sake.

Best Celebrity Sighting: Toss up. Seeing Peter from I'm From Rolling Stone made me totally giddy because I'm one of the 5 people who are in love with the show. He was very nice in person and although he told me he couldn't tell me if he won, I have it on high authority that he did indeed. Other than that? Seeing Michael Pitt on the sidewalk was kinda cool too. Nora and I screeched. It was awesome.

Most Nostalgic Moment: Seeing Birdmonster perform on the same stage that I saw them for the very first time, this time last year. And hearing their new songs and how amazing they are almost brought tears to my eyes. Almost.

Best Food: Iron Cactus. No competition. We ate there with Tally Hall on Saturday night and the fajitas were top-notch. Okay, so I was there every other day as well, but that night stuck out in my head as a favorite. I love those Tally boys. They stayed in their colored (newly skinny!) ties all weekend. What troopers.

Best Cab Driver: I forget his name, but the one we took from the Diesel U Party back to the Pure Volume Loft. Nora decided she wanted to marry him, but he needed to know a few more things. Sampling of questions: Do you like people who major in economics? How do you feel about dishonesty? Don't you think Justin Timberlake's Dick In A Box made a pretty dweeby guy cool? Amazing.

Most Heard Complaint: "My feet are killing." I don't know how those girls in heels lasted more than a minute. Even in sneakers, I was hurting. All that standing around all day really does a number. We all need foot massages, I imagine.

Band I Wanted To See And Didn't:  Peter Bjorn And John. It wasn't gonna happen. Sigh.

Best Afterhours: PureVolume loft. Vodka and Redbull at 1 AM is necessary. So is Nintendo Wii.

Best Band I Didn't Expect To Like: Matt & Kim. All the blog buzz in NYC really turned me off, but they turned out to be a totally fun and awesome band. Matt cracked me up with his in between banter, and the crowd there was having a pretty good time. So sometimes hipsters are right. Who knew?

Best In-Between Banter: Although Matt was funny, nothing will top Malajube. This band put on one of the best shows of the week, and I had never laughed so hard at a show before in my life. First they called everyone "Irish Vegans" (it was St. Patrick’s Day and we were at the Brooklyn Vegan Showcase) and then they called out two kids for smoking pot. "This one is for you slackers." Maybe it was their French accents, but I loved them that much more.

Scariest Moment: Checking out Amy Winehouse's cool tattoos and then realizing she had intense scratches all up and down her arms. It looked like a cat attacked her, but I'm sure that's not the case. For such a talent, she really needs to get some things sorted out. It'd be a shame if she doesn't.

Band I Saw But Shouldn't Have: Badly Drawn Boy. Zzzzzzz.

Best Dressed: Datarock. I want a red jumpsuit. Like now. (Oh and "I Had The Time Of My Life" to close out their set? Genius)

Weirdest Moment: Seeing Golum wish everyone a Mazel-Tov and watching a hora ensue. I felt as though I walked into some hipster bar miztvah. Crazy.

Best Cover: White Rabbits covering The Pogues' "The Old Main Drag" on St. Paddy's day. The frat boys loved it, and I was too. Success!

Band I Didn't Expect To See But Did Twice: The Fratellis. Although both were acoustic sets, they were great. Shows just how good these boys are at songwriting. Wish I could have seen them perform with Pete Townsend, but oh well.

Cutest Girl Band: The Pipettes. Seriously, every boy I was with swooned. I wanted their outfits. A win-win.

Cutest Boy Band: Kristoffer. Mmmm. Swedish Boy with sunglasses and a guitar. Really can't get any better than that.

Thoughts for Next Year: Get a hotel closer. Save more money.

The end.

sxsw 2007

Holy crap! That was fun. I'm still in Austin for another night, but I don't have the stamina or the cash to make it back downtown for any more shows. I always say I need a vacation after this "vacation" and it is once again a very true statement. I had a blast, though. A full recap will be coming up, but here's a list of bands that I saw this year in Austin.

Hot Club de Paris
The Pipettes
The Rapture
Tally Hall
Birdmonster
Apples In Stereo
Les Savy Fav
The Fratellis (x2)
Ra Ra Riot
Mika
Amy Winehouse (x2)
Eisley
Cold War Kids
Jamie T
Badly Drawn Boy
Kings Of Leon
Buzzcocks
Office
Datarock
Illinois
Matt and Kim
Tokyo Police Club
Foreign Islands
Jim Boggio
Kristoffer Regnstam
WinterKids
Thunderbirds Are Now
The Good, The Bad, And The Queen (ok, so I was standing outside, couldn't get in)
Malajube
Trainwreck Riders
Cameron McGill
Cloud Cult
White Rabbits
Golem
The Changes

35 bands, 37 shows, and 3 panels in 4 days = Rachael exhausted.

last day

Wow. No beter way to start off then seeing Kristoffer Raegnstam perform while sipping on a mimosa. He's battling Mika for my favorite first time seeing performer. Although I have to say Matt & Kim is a surprising second. I finally get what all you hipsters are talking about. But back to Kristoffer. He's so dreamy. More later.

an update

Yeah, I suck. Internet access has been iffy and my sidekick reset back to december 31 last night and was giving me very questionable notices. Perhaps I've dropped it one too many times, perhaps. Austin has been crazy and yet not too ridiculous this time around. Its been nice to catch up with bands and friends, eat free food, and drink too much SoCo. Ill give a proper update hopefully soon, but for now know this: Birdmonster's new songs are awesome, The Rapture still is the best band out today, and Mika is fabulous. Seriously, all about Mika. Oh and Amy Winehouse and The Pipettes are so fun.

Don't worry Mom, I'm still standing.

SXSW: Day One

Status: So frickin pumped
In actuality: Exhausted, it's 4 AM and I slept for maybe an hour
Most excited for: Austin, in general, including (but not limited to) margaritas, tacos, sixth street, cowboy hats, bands, bands, and a couple more bands.

It dawned on me, at about 2 AM when I couldn't sleep that I quite enjoyed my daily CMJ ramblings that perhaps I should bring that back out for SXSW. If only to chuckle at later, it will at least provide more blogging than I have in the last month. We'll see how long this lasts. Sidekick sometimes gets tired of me always pushing its buttons. Ha.

So I'm currently en route to the airport and its still dark outside and I'm pretty sure my cab driver is singing louder than I ever will admit to that Ne-yo song. Ah, the fun is just getting started. I spent most of last night going through a checklist of things I knew I'd forget, while Pat looked at me like a crazy person, and I continued repeating "sunglasses, toothbrush, cell phone charger" out loud. I just want to make sure I'm ready for this craziness. In all actuality I just need a pair of jeans, a couple tees, and a prepared liver. Oh, and it would help if I didn't still have tonsillitis, but beggars can't be choosers.

I've got Jack Bauer and a lot of work to do for the ride over. Ill be in touch from my second favorite city in the US later today. Wish me, and my liver, luck.

SXSW Preview: Austin, Here I Come

photo via Kathryn's flickr

Well here's the gods honest truth: nothing, no nothing, will stop me from heading down south for this year's SXSW. My deliciously disgusting tonsillitis has reappeared which means I'm probably going to have to get those suckers out, but not until after I've had my indie rock and taco fill. There are priorities at hand, I'll tell the doc. And roaming up and down Sixth Street for five days is one of them.

I'm going to admit that I'm totally not ready for this festival. The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind both personally and professionally, and while I've RSVP'd to every invite I've gotten, I have no idea where those invites, or parties, truly are. But that's okay. Last year I had an organized schedule that I followed diligently, and probably missed out on half the fun. This year I'm going to just wing it. Like Nora, there's a lists of bands/artists that I want to see, and as long as I end up seeing at least half of them, I'll be set. And plus, this is all about discovering your new favorite band, so if I happen to drunkenly wander into a show and confess my love -- all the better.

I'll do my best to update you throughout the week, but it may be tricky. I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to balance getting news up on CMJ every day, while nursing the daily hangover with a Bloody Mary and a breakfast taco at the same time. This is going to be fun.

Bands/artists I'd like to see at this year's SXSW:

1. Amy Winehouse
I know, I know, she's canceled her shows, which means I want to see her all that much more. Never have I been in such awe over an artist, because frankly she doesn't give a shit about any one else and yet she still pulls it off. That's talent, people. I was really looking forward to seeing her train wreck of a live show and then maybe meeting up with her for a margarita, or 10. Sigh. Maybe next year.

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

2. Kristoffer Ragnstam
Basically? I wanna have his babies. He's Swedish and oh so dreamy, and plus his electropop has won over my heart almost instantly. You know me, I'm never one to turn away a boy who can manage his own beats while still looking good. So let's see if this guy can actually pull it off. Because right now, this is all in my dreams.

Kristoffer Ragnstam - Breakfast By The Mattress

3. Peter Bjorn and John
I got shut out of their New York shows, so I'm going to use my handy-dandy badge to its full advantage and chase these boys around until I can see them play. Plus, I need to sing "Young Folks" out at its most loudest drunkest volume just once. Please don't let that wish come true. Please.

Peter Bjorn and John - Paris 2004

4. Birdmonster
I know. I've seen these guys a bazillion times, and they'll be in New York a week later. I'm aware of all of these things, but never will I pass up a chance to see this band live. And a little bird told me they have been working on some new songs, so come on. I gotta be the first New Yorker to experience those, right?

Birdmonster - Spaceman

5. The Fratellis
As an Apple connoisseur, I can't get that frickin song out of my head. Good thing that the rest of the album is pretty quintessential Brit pop, just my cup of tea. I bet they are pretty fun live too, and well, I got shut out of this show too. Go figure.

The Fratellis - Henrietta

6. Fujiya & Miyagi
From what I've listened to, I dig, and from what I keep hearing about, I should dig them a lot. This is what SXSW is all about. The make or break. And since I don't have to pay for each show separately, I'll give anyone a fair shot.

Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries

7. Office
I've still yet to see this Chicago band live, and it's killing me. Their album Q&A was a favorite last year, and I need to see them live. Please, someone make sure I do this. Because it didn't happen during CMJ, and I have only the alcohol to blame. Thank you.

Office - Wound Up

8. Malajube
Again, I got shut out of this show in New York, so here I go. Nora is so excited to hear me sing French to all these songs. I've been practicing and I've almost gotten all the pronunciation down. Actually, not even close. But it's going to be a hoot to hear me try.

Malajube - Ton Plat Favori

9. Lily Allen
I'm a huge huge Lily Allen fan, but I fear that all of her showcases are going to be so gosh darned packed that I'll never get in. Maybe if I explain to someone how often I listen to that album, so often so that I've got all of her songs memorized like the back of my hands, even to the point of mimicking her British cockney accent they'll understand. Maybe if I tell them I'm also British, and I could rock sneakers and a dress just as good as our girl. I need to get a British flag. So much to do.

Lily Allen - Knock 'Em Out

10. Tally Hall
I might just throw out the entire list above and follow these tie-wearing boys around Austin the whole week. I'd be totally content with that.

Tally Hall - The Whole World And You

If you are going to be down in Texas, let me know. I'm going to need all the help (and alcoholic medicine) I can get.

Tally Hall to play SXSW

Oh baby. According to Tally Hall's myspace, the band will be down in Austin for this years SXSW. Horray! And even though I haven't booked lodging, or transportation, or can afford a badge....I'll be there. With bells on.

Yesterday Austinist posted an (un)official list of who will appear at this year's festival. According to them, there's a 98% chance you'll see all these acts.

Amy Millan
Architecture In Helsinki
Badly Drawn Boy
Bloc Party
Cold War Kids
Emmylou Harris
Every Move a Picture
George Byrne
Ghostland Observatory
Girl Talk
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Interpol
Les Savy Fav
Lily Allen
Malajube
Margot and the Nuclear So And Sos
Mates Of State
Matt & Kim
Menomena
Morrissey
Okkervil River
Pete Townshend
Peter & the Wolf
RJD2
Rahim
Rocky Votolato
Say Hi To Your Mom
Scissor Sisters
Snowden
Tall Firs
Tally Hall
The Big Sleep
The Frames
The Fratellis
The Walkmen
The Young Knives
Thunderbirds Are Now!
Thurston Moore
Voxtrot
Yip-Yip
Youth Group

The whole un(official) list is here. Who's pumped? Who's going? And who has a couch for me to stay on?