SXSW – Music events I suggest – Wed & Thurs

I recieved a seriously useful list from a friend – 36+ pages of events which are happening (showcases and parties) at SXSW Music 2009 here in Austin.

It is a private document which I can’t forward or share – but reading over it I have seen a number of showcases which I will try to attend – showcases full of bands I love, or bands I know people who’s taste I trust love (and yes, these often are “buzzed” highly – so get there early and/or RSVP in advance.

I will only be in Austin until Thursday evening this year, but plan on getting as much great music in as I can possibly get to in the short time I have.

But here they are, hope these are helpful (and please leave comments with other showcases I should try to attend!)

Wednesday Mar 18th

My notes are in italics

11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Spaceland SXSW Party at Maggie Mae’s, 323 E/ 6^th St., Austin, free.

STAGE ONE: (Gibson stage)

11:30 – 12:00 Black Gold
12:20 – 12:50 The Boxing Lesson
1:10 – 1:40 tbd
2:00 – 2:30 Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
2:50 – 3:20 Yelle
3:40 – 4:10 Cut Off Your Hands
4:30 – 5:00 The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
5:20 – 5:50 Other Lives

STAGE TWO: (Deck)
11:45 – 12:15 Lovvers
12:35 – 1:05 The Mae Shi
1:25 – 1:55 Future of the Left
2:15 – 2:45 Marnie Stern
3:05 – 3:35 Vivian Girls
3:55 – 4:25 Mapei
4:45 – 5:15 Nico Vega
5:30 – 6:00 Wavves

STAGE THREE: (Les Paul stage)
12:00 – 12:30 Local Natives
12:50 – 1:20 Gavin Castleton with Meiko
1:40 – 2:10 Bad Veins
2:30 – 3:00 We Were Promised Jet Packs
3:20 – 3:50 Harlem Shakes
4:10 – 4:40 Titus Andronicus
5:00 – 5:45 Garotas Suecas

This is an amazing lineup. Every other band is one which has been getting a ton of buzz and in most cases make some great music. I’ve heard great things about Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head; Vivian Girls (extremely great things about them); and Titus Andronicus

12 noon – 6 p.m. – Paste Magazine Day Party at Radio Room (formerly Bourbon Rocks), 507 E. 6^th St., RSVP: http://www.pastemagazine.com/app/rsvp/new/17

Indoor: 12 Greg Laswell, 2 Port O’Brien, 3 Loney Dear, 4 Wild Light, 5 M. Ward; Outdoor: 12:30 Anathello, 1:30, Amanda Palmer, 2:30 Heartless Bastards, 3:30 Black Joe Lewis, 4:30 Superdrag

Most people know M. Ward (and indeed he’s quite good) but it is Amanda Palmer whom I am particular interested in getting in and hearing (Neil Gaiman is a big fan)

12 noon – 6 p.m. – Force Field PR and Terrorbird Media Party, Red 7, Red River & 7^th Sts., Austin, free, all ages, open to the public.

In particular note The Vivian Girls playing at 5:20pm

STAGE A – RED 7

12:15 – 12:45- LAKE
1:00 – 1:30 – WAVVES
1:45 – 2:15 – LONEY DEAR
2:30 – 3:00 – THE THERMALS
3:15 – 3:35- YONI WOLF OF WHY?
3:50 – 4:20 – FOL CHEN
4:35 – 5:05- THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
5:20 – 5:55 – VIVIAN GIRLS

STAGE B – RED 7
12:30 – 1:00 – LARYTTA
1:15-1:45 – SHOUT OUT OUT OUT OUT
2:00 – 2:30 – MAX TUNDRA
2:45- 3:15 – DMG$
3:35 – 4:05 – THEMSELVES
4:20 – 4:50 – RAINBOW ARABIA

5:05 – 5:35 – BEACH HOUSE

12:30 – 6 p.m. – Little Radio 3 Day Event, Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River St., Austin, bloody marys and beer, free.

In particular note Amanda Palmer performing at 2:50

12:40-01:00 The Upside Down


01:20-02:00 Whispertown2000


01:50-02:20 Youngmond Grand


02:20-03:00 Evangelicals


02:50-03:20 Amanda Palmer


03:20-04:00 The Von Bondies

03:50-04:20 Dawes


04:20-05:00 Megafaun


04:50-05:20 Tallest Man on Earth


5 – 6:30 p.m. – A Tribute to Leonard Cohen at Waterloo Records, 600A N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, free/open:

I am a fan of Lenoard Cohen, so may try to stop by this as it could be a lot of fun

5PM: David Garza

5:05: Southeast Engine
5:10: Laura Gibson
5:15: Kevin Devine
5:20: Buck 65
5:30: Loney Dear

Thursday March 19th 2009

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Taping of KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic at Buffalo Billiards, Austin.

Possibly the best music radio show now running and quite seriously an argument for living in LA (and if in LA for where to live based on if the reception is good)***** CORRECTION ******** this is NOT at Buffalo Billards but at a local Austin studio.KCRW Has a showcase WED night at Buffalo Billards (which I am at)

12 noon – 6 p.m. – Discover The Wine, Discover The Music Wine Bus, will hit the day parties. Backed by Wente Vineyards with pourings by fifth generation winemaker Karl Wente.Leaves from the Whole Foods Parking Lot at 525 N. Lamar (across from Waterloo Records) at noon, ME Television at 12 noon – 6 p.m. –Discover The Wine, Discover http://www.DiscovertheWineDiscovertheMusic.ning.com

This is organized by a friend of a friend and I will probably hop on it for a bit

reapandsow, Remix Magazine, Electronic Musician Magazine, Batter Blaster & DataPipe present a day of music, sun, and drinks at SXSW 2009

This is organized in part by my good friend Corey Denis, I will probably spend a lot of time here
Free. 2 Stages of music! You do not need a wristband or badge to attend.

Batter Blaster will also be there flipping free flap jacks

Outside Stage
5:15 Red Cortez
4:15 Ian Moore w/ Oranger
3:00 The Mother Hips
2:05 Royal Bangs
1:20 Brothers and Sisters
12:30 Milton

Inside Stage
5:25 Milton
4:50 Beast
4:10 Honey Claws
3:25 Rotary Downs
2:35 Loquat
1:45 Katy Mae
1:00 Pink Nasty
12:15 Kevin Seconds

Event Details:
Event: “Electronic Musician Magazine” Showcase
Date: Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Location: Habana Calle 6, 709 E 6th St, Austin, TX
Time: 12:15pm – 6:00pm
Tickets: Admission is FREE
Event Sponsors: Electronic Musician Magazine, (www.emusician.com), Batter Blaster (www.batterblaster.com), Datapipe (http://datapipe.com/), Cerwin Vega (http://www.cerwinvega.com/), Leighelena (http://www.leighelena.com), and reapandsow (www.reapandsow.com)

Heading to SXSWi – parties, networking and hallway chats

I fly out very, very early tomorrow morning (flight at 6am, leaving house before 4am). Like many of my travels, I have made the arrangements for this trip at the very last minute – I haven’t yet, in fact, registered, I’ll do that onsite when I get there tomorrow.

But then I’m not going to Austin for the SXSWi sessions – sure, I may stop by a few friend’s panels (or may not) and assuming I do get a pass I’ll spend some time in the exhibit halls and at the official parties.

However the reason I am going back to SXSWi is not for the formal conference. Rather I am returning for the chance to spend an intense 4+ days and nights with my peers across the geek/tech world. Friends have described SXSWi as “geek spring break” and there is certainly an element of that. If you want to spend the next four plus days seriously abusing your liver, that is certainly an easy (and popular) option.

For me, however, I am most looking forward to long conversations in hallways, conversations which start with one or two friends and quickly blossom into small groups. Last year powered in part by effective twittering groups of us roved from party to party or, at times, created our own parties when that evenings more official gatherings had ended, were full, or deemed not worth trying to get into. Most evenings (and many afternoons) this year I have parties to attend which friends of mine are organizing and hosting, but I expect to spend some part of most evenins in small group conversation.

My focus all weekend will be on discussing how new forms of advertising could work on the web – how the advertising that I want to deliver via my new company, Nearness Function, should work to offer the best value for individual users and for the developers at our partner companies. I’ll likely also be talking with a few investors over the course of the weekend, with many potential clients, and hopefully with a few potential advertising partners – there certainly will be some people at SXSWi who are at digital agencies.

SXSWi is an intense, jam packed conference. Covering all things interactive and running alongside a film conference and just before one of the biggest and most important music conferences and festivals in the US. In short for this weekend and next week Austin is where much of the creative “class” in the US (and indeed from outside the US) will be found. Friends are flying in from Scotland, Miami and most part of the US and Canada.

This year the weather reports are not entirely pleasant – quite cool and a chance of rain on a few days. So I’ll be packing accordingly, lots of layers and my first purchase after checking into my hotel is likely going to be an umbrella (all my other umbrellas have been destroyed by San Francisco wind gusts this year).

There are countless communities and guides to SXSW, I won’t try to duplicate their advice here but a few reminders – as much as for myself as for you the reader.

1. Have fun. Should go without saying but though a big, long conference is work, don’t forget this should also be fun.
2. Introduce people to each other and don’t be shy about approaching people you don’t know – or people you don’t see often enough. If you get in the habit of introducing people – even people you just recently met, it encourages others to do the same.
3. Try not to eat any meal alone. If you find yourself in danger of doing so, ask some strangers to join you – one plus of a big conference, very likely there are others who likewise don’t yet have dinner or lunch plans (or for that matter breakfast – though you’ll find at SXSW many people sleep in).
4. At the same time if you aren’t an extrovert, give yourself some time alone, some time to regroup and mentally review the activities of the past day. If you are a runner go for a run (though you might do this with fellow attendees as well). I hope that my hotel has a pool and my current plan is to try to get in a short swim each morning – exercise plus a chance to mentally regroup. I also found that at times I might be leaving one party and meeting people at another – instead of taking the fastest path there (a cab) at times walking, even if it is a mile+ away would give me a great chance to refresh and relax.
5. Perhaps it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Get enough to drink (water) and try to eat as healthily as possible. Yes, I plan on eating a lot of BBQ. However I will try to vary my diet, be sure to get some fruits & veggies along with my smoked meats, and I’ll be sure to drink a lot of water. This is especially important if, unlike me, you plan on drinking a great deal of the free/cheap booze that flows freely.
6. Have something to give people to be remembered by – but in turn when you get something from someone whom you want to stay in touch with try to quickly get back to them digitally. At any convention it is far too easy to end up with a large pile of stuff and have little memory of who you need to send what to. My plan is to carve out a part of each day (probably in the mornings) to process my notes and contacts from the past day and at least send people my contact info. Jotting a quick note on the back of someone’s card (and/or in a small notebook you carry with you – I’ll be using my Creative Commons Moleskin) can also be a good starting point.
7. Travel as lightly as possible. I am lucky, the hotel room I’ll be sharing is across from the conference center. As such I plan on dropping off my bags there frequently, as much as possible I hope to carry with me as little as possible (sometimes just pocket planner, notebook, iPhone, may even leave the laptop behind)

And above all keep in mind my first point.

Hope to see many of you in Austin tomorrow!