I went to SXSW for the last and (embarrassingly and inexcusably) first time back in 2007. Ever since, I’ve been meaning to do a write-up for NAP, but the procrastination machine has arrested my initiation of, let alone progress on, the matter. It would be nice if I did it soon, though, to avoid mixing up impressions if I go again this year, as I’m planning to. This time, I didn’t procure a wristband, so would be mostly hitting the free parties. At least this time I know I need to get on RSVP’ing, whereas last time it was bluff after bluff.
I finally got around to printing out a list of free parties last night, but I have to admit it bummed me out a little bit, cuz I’ve hardly heard of any of the bands! Am I just getting old and out of touch? I went through and underlined the ones I’d heard of (though not necessarily heard) and might be interested in seeing. And of those, I’ve already seen a bunch of them (asterisked):
She & Him
Rogue Wave*
Besnard Lakes
Annie Rossi*
Freedy Johnston
Das Racist
Roky Erickson*
Sleepy Sun
A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Neon Indian
Stars of Track and Field
Black Angels*
Fucked Up
Japandroids
Nice Nice
Ume*
MNDR*
Kid Sister
Miles Kurosky
Death Sentence: Panda*
High on Fire
Joan of Arc
Shearwater
Lou Barlow
Still Flyin’
Thee Oh Sees
Carletta Sue Kay
Odawas*
Titus Andronicus
Cool Kids
Crystal Method
Bowerbirds
The Dutchess and the Duke
Vivian Girls*
Mother Hips
Sharon Van Etten
Dengue Fever*
Weird Weeds*
High Castle
Abe Vigoda
Christina Carter*
No Age*
Dum Dum Girls
Califone
Zola Jesus
Watson Twins*
Rusted Shut*
Drive-By Truckers
Trail of Dead
Sixteen Deluxe
Exene Cervenka
David Vandervelde
Matt Pond PA
Juiceboxxx
Thurston Moore*
Superchunk*
Acid Mothers Temple
Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Quasi*
Rebecca Gates*
Andrew WK
Constellations
Holy Fuck
Voivod
Gruff Rhys
Black Keys
Cave Singers
Tobacco
Hmm, okay I guess that list is longer than I thought it would be. And while many of them are fine bands, I guess what I’m missing is the “holy shit, I get to see X, Y & Z?!” factor from 2007 (or bands I saw listed in 2008/2009 when I didn’t go). Of course, it could be those bands have restricted themselves to playing actual showcases, which I haven’t looked at yet. I’m thinking I’ll do the free party hopping during the day, then pick one showcase per night to try to pay to get into (I assume this is still possible without a wristband?).
Anyway, let me know if you’re going, and what I might’ve missed, or thoughts on going sans wristband.
Where’s this list of free parties you printed out. Link please?
Austinist is a good place to check for all the various shows.
I’m going to be there on the 19th and part of the 20th.
New York Night Train’s got a free thing. Looks like fun
NYNT SXSW 10
We should’ve done a NAP showcase! Oh well, next year…
I printed out this:
http://www.austin360.com/music/sxsw-on-the-side-official-and-unofficial-sxsw-165920.html?viewAsSinglePage=true
They keep updating it though, so I guess I’ll have to reprint it, then transfer my notations, ugh. Also, it doesn’t have set times, which is irritating. I used this one last time, will print it out again too:
http://newmusictipsheet.com/thefreelist2010.pdf