Still lots of SXSW news hitting the web. I've come across a few good new scoops and discovered a few older ones that I'd overlooked. Today's bullet list, not surprisingly, keeps the focus on music.
This first bullet actually applies to all three branches of the festival. I found a great database on the Austin American Statesman's Austin360.com, the 2011 Side Parties Database. It's a very simple search engine with only a few variables, but the content is very comprehensive. Just do a search for free events on a single day and you can really appreciate the gigantic scope of South by Southwest. How gigantic? There are 48 free parties on Thursday, March 17 alone, including some great ones like the Filter Magazine's Culture Collide and Under the Radar's showcase. Hundreds upon hundreds of bands. Results are also mapped, which is great for out-of-towners or those trying to plot the perfect, efficient concert crawl route. Click on an entry for details, including all-important RSVP links where relevant. This tool is essential. Use it!
Breaking news from Yumm-O-Land. Rachael Ray has added Wanda Jackson to the lineup for her bash. And since Jack White produced Ms. Jackson's recent comeback album, The Party Ain't Over, and has been playing guitar in her band, of course there's speculation that Jack will be joining her. I wouldn't be surprised. If ever there was a time for a music-head to be looking for a convenient excuse to be in Austin, SXSW is it.
Hard to hold a music/media event and not expect Pitchfork to show up. Every year, Pitchfork comes in full force and pumps out some loaded showcases. This year is no exception. Pitchfork is also co-producing a SXSW version of the Offline Festival. For free! If you have a cheap friend and can't find him/her during SouthBy, check the East Side Drive-In -- that's were some of the best free gigs are. Offline will be taking place at the Drive-In on Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18. On the very cool artist list, I am most intrigued by Shabazz Palaces, the hyped new project from former Digable Planet Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, which signed to Sub Pop not long ago. I love what I've heard so far. Others there include Smith Westerns, Dinosaur Jr. front man J. Mascis, Arcade Fire sometimes-contributor Owen Pallett and many more.
Good thing there are so many free shows, because those badges for the official events are not cheap. So when someone's giving a pair away, I'm all ears. CrowdSavings.com is doing that -- if you sign up.
Yet another freebie! Since you'll need a break from the indie rock that dominates SXSW, Red Bull is bringing the beats. According to a recent Austin Music Source post, some of the legendary names who'll be there include the great De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ QBert and Z-Trip. It takes place Saturday, March 19, 8:00 p.m. at 4th and Colorado. Expect a throng.
I mentioned in a prior post that AOL (really) is doing a good job blogging SXSW and that I was particularly fond of the Top 100 Acts posts. The latest band profiled is the Fresh and Onlys, who compare South by Southwest to summer camp: "The thing I look forward to personally is playing these new songs. We have been rehearsing and have a batch of new songs that are very beautiful and definitely a step forward for us. We never look at SXSW as a way to get ahead. For us, it's a way to see all of our friends for a week. It's just like camp, you know. You go to camp, and you play and see other bands and other bands see you, and [you] get to hang out with other people who aren't necessarily in music and party with. That's really important and fun, because it lightens the heart of the entire music industry and entire music world. It's really f---ing cool and really fun."
One thing a lot of people do in preparation for the festival is put together a playlist of festival acts. Here's a short one - the Monday Mixtape from none other than Twinkle Van Winkle at WWLP.com. The list of "up and coming indie rock bands that are worth seeking out" include A.A. Bondy, Toro y Moi, Black Lips and Austin fave White Denim.
Can you believe South by Southwest is now in its 25th year? I had no idea. Spinner.com was on top of things, though, and has put together a cool, thorough retrospective, videos included. Flaming Lip Wayne Coyne sums up what makes SXSW great -- the unpredictability: "We've had some pinnacle moments at SXSW," says Coyne. "We did a parking lot experiment in 1996, I think. People would come up to me and say, 'I've seen you before, but this experience I had here at SXSW, with you doing this bizarre thing in a parking garage with, like, 2,000 people jammed into this thing, this was, wow.' It had an air of magic about it, the excitement and the uniqueness of it that could only happen at SXSW."
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