SXSW 2012

Who's going? I'll be speaking at Interactive and then sticking around for music. Never been and it seems pretty daunting.

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I briefly went to the Pitchfork closing party for Interactive last night. Terrible. Worst crowd I've ever seen at a show. Just totally lifeless.

Aren't lifeless crowds the norm at such invitation only parties?

maybe these Taiwanese at SxSw events will be more fun:

FIRE EX
3/14 – Headhunters (720 Red River St) – 8pm
3/15 – Taiwan Music Party - Soho Lounge (217 E. 6th St) - 1.10pm
3/16 – Austin City Hall (301 W 2nd) – 3pm

WHITE EYES
3/15 – Taiwan Music Party - Soho Lounge (217 E. 6th St) - 2.20pm
3/17 – The Loft (215 E 6th) – 12am

WONFU
3/14 – The Loft (215 E 6th) – 8pm
3/15 – Taiwan Music Party - Soho Lounge (217 E. 6th St) - 3.40pm

TAIWAN MUSIC PARTY
3/15th - 1PM -5PM at Soho Lounge (217 E. 6th St).
Fire Ex – 1.10PM
White Eyes – 2.20PM
Wonfu: 3.40PM

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2012/03/15/heat-wave-edie-sedgwick-goes-to-sxsw-days-7-and-8/

In Austin, the parking is hellish and so are many of the people. A woman tries to sell me a guitar amplifier hard case that would never fit into a car that my band could afford. The streets smell like marijuana and clove smoke. The word “branding” is whispered behind closed hands by 40-somethings with dyed-black hair and soul patches. People sport iPhones that will be garbage before the end of the next Obama (or the first Romney or Santorum) administration. And a gentleman at our afternoon show walks up to the stage and puts an unwanted whiskey shot on stage.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2012/03/14/148616366/sxsw-late-night-dispatch-thursday

NPR Music loves SxSW

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421252_10150680716513879_611153878_9401438_1140744612_n.jpg

That stage set is amazing.

NPR's live streams, now mostly posted, w some downloadable (some delay on the closer, Magnetic Fields:
Sharon Van Etten mentioned in post-show interview that she and colleagues couldn't hear the music, but decided they were okay w that. To me, there was an undertow of doubt, or at least monotony through most of it--though the first solo acoustic performance, "Give Out"(which dirty ol' me inferred as "put out") worked, ditto closer "Serpent," as monotones slid into doooomtones, cool. Maybe she's just basically monotonous, and the National 'ducer-dude fixed it in the studio mix
Alabama Shakes totally worked, w classic sounds meeting personal expression,: "Hold On" is about little boy and girl, a friendship forcibly broken up by "grown-ups." Very disturbing, as it rolls along, no big drama of tension and release, but no depression/inspiration either. By "classic sounds" also get extended through the moment's re-focus etc, not just good ol stage moves. Brittany's a bit like young Etta James, that mix of sucker punches and nuance.
Polica should be seen while heard (think the vid's posted too, but mute it while listening to the audio stream, if still possible, to avoid glitches). Dig Channy's Tinkerbell moves amidst the windowbox of beats, vs. her somewhat outsized, rough-edged lush slurs--John Martyn meets the xx. Some npr chatsters hated it: "where's the words? Enunciate!" Others said the lyrics are on the band site, and pretty harrowing, so maybe she wants protection. Anyway, it's a form of livetronica, with programmed elements constantly tweaked, ditto her vocal filters.
Another female writer now in a band, still dominating: Jana Hunter in Lower Dens. Sorta Pink Floyd meet New Order? Kinda slow for me, but I'll check 'em out some more. Mag Fields started out tediously, slowed by Merritt's apparently diagnosed hearing problems (a chatster gave the medical name, but blanking). He asked audience to restrain applause, no prob far as I was concern. Then, bless him, he rose above--not a very Merrit-like phrase, but he did, and I also enjoyed Claudia Gonson's vocals (support, duet and solo). Oh yeah, La Vida Boheme: just heard the last couple songs live, but good Clash meets Rock En Espanol, momentum sweeping eclectic urges right along, have to check podcast. Meh on Sugar Tongue Slim: "Women Weed and What To Wear" seemed far too much about what to wear, if anything at all.

xpost It would be so awesome if you could put a giant dollar into that machine, and giant bag of chips would fall on the band. Beats a gong!

That stage set is amazing.

It even smells like a Dorito.

Oh, and Dan Deacon: Alvin and the Chipmunks on LCD, enabling a Jonestown dance-off of the very white people (would've incl me, if physically present)