SXSW 2012 Bullets (3/21/12): Best of the Best and the Worst

South By Southwest is over, but the assessments continue to roll in.  One popular format we keep coming across are the inevitable "best of" and "worst of" lists.  So here's a rundown of some of the best best-of and worst-of lists, and the best bests and best worsts on those lists.  Not to be confused with Best Wurst, Austin's favorite cure for a drunken hunger, and itself a SXSW fixture.

Pitchfork:  The Best (and Worst) of SXSW 2012 - From Fiona Apple to Jack White to the latest in gross-out fast-food technology

• Best Best: "Best 'Living in the moment' = Jack White and Skrillex found common ground this SXSW by making their anti-cellphone-concert-video views clear during simultaneous gigs on Friday night. White's Third Man showcase prohibited all photography and video, while Skrillex said to the crowd, 'Put your fucking cameras down for a minute!' Even if we like watching live YouTubes every now and then, the stance is admirable. --RD"
• Best Worst: "Worst 'Increasingly slow, complex band setups' = Whenever I wander away from metal, punk, or hardcore shows at festivals, I'm amazed at how long it takes bands to set up. I'm guessing this is because, these days, artists are often big enough for festivals before they've ever actually gone on a real tour and learned how to speed this shit up and/or trim the fat. --BS"

Austin360:  All the best of the SXSW Music festival - Old favorites remind why they still rock; new acts blow away crowds

• Best Best: "Nancy Flores: GZA featuring Grupo Fantasma and Brownout. Who was the genius who thought of this perfect combination? Grupo's horn section brought GZA's beats to life, creating a funky new hybrid act. GZA even told the enthusiastic crowd at the Haven, 'The chemistry is lovely.' Saturday's performance was a testament to what happens when artists take risks. It was a prime way to bid farewell to SXSW. Some magic was created with this collaboration, and GZA promised future shows together"

Washington Post: SXSW: 5 rock ‘n’ roll moments

• Best Best: "4. A fan noshing on a hamburger throws hunks of his lunch into a ceiling fan overhead. The spinning blades bat pieces of bread and beef across the room."

Vulture:  The Thirteen Best, Weirdest, and Most Memorable Moments From SXSW

• Best Best: "9. Best conversation I’ll overhear all year: 'Is he looking at me because he thinks I’m weird, or because he thinks I’m cute?' 'Sweetie, you are barely even one of those things.'

Indiewire:  Indiewire's 12 Favorite Moments from SXSW 2012

• Best Best: "Standing in line for coffee at the convention center. Place my order, give him my debit card. Sign the slip. The Jo's Coffee cashier looks at the receipt, then at me, and says: 'Wow. You have a seriously awesome signature. It really looks like you're having a good time.' This has nothing to do w/ how I write but the fact that despite the endless hordes at the convention center, a guy ringing up coffees for minimum wage can still be that positive and generous. That is definitive SXSW/Austin and one of the reasons that people usually leave here happier than when they arrived -- something you can't always say about Sundance, Toronto or Cannes. [Dana Harris]"

SF Weekly's All Shook Down Blog:  The Worst Moments from SXSW 2012

• Best Worst:  "Worst Spontaneous tattoo at the S.O. Terik / Filter showcase.  On Friday, Samantha Urbani from Brooklyn indie band Friends did something to a fan he might forever regret. At the S.O.Terik-Filter showcase, beneath a blazing sun, she tattooed him using a safety pin and a lighter. The ink -- a crude-looking planet with a ring around it on his right bicep -- was modeled after one Urbani has herself on her left middle finger. When pressed, Urbani declined to identify it as a specific planet, despite its similarities to Saturn. 'It's just a planet,' she said. 'My own private planet!' She seems annoyed, perhaps because she'd been asked this question many times before. As for her smitten devotee, he can look forward to a lifetime of explaining that he got a shitty tattoo from a member of a early-teens buzz band that he briefly liked with a song called 'Friend Crush.' - Ben Westhoff / LA Weekly"

Indiewire:  The Critics Break Down SXSW 2012

• Best Worst: "'The worst movie I saw was 'Nature Calls.' The worst *thing* I saw was 6th Street.' -- Eric D. Snider, Film.com"

Dallas Observer's DC9 at Night Blog:  A.Dd+'s Top Eight Moments of SXSW

• Best Best: "​Dallas own' A.Dd+ had quite the spin during SXSW 2012, playing roughly half a dozen showcases and day parties before getting right back on tour with Black Milk on Saturday. ... So we thought we'd ask what some of their highlights were. Here is the duo and DJ Sober's top moments from the fest. 1. Seeing Chance from Burning Hotels in the middle of the street screaming 'A.Dd+ Muthafuckaaaa' to passing cars, while almost getting ran over by one, Leslie Chow-style."

Calgary Herald:  Best and worst at Austin South by Southwest fest

• Best Best: "Best vice-presidential intellectual beating: Al Gore on Sean Parker.  The two were having a discussion, but it's clear who was the intellectual and who is wearing cool glasses. Not that I hate Parker, because, when it comes to under-standing the kids, he's got it down. But during the discussion, it was Gore's house."
• Best Worst: "Worst takedown: Billy Corgan vs. Kids These Days.  Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan was all set to make a couple of solid points on the state of the music industry, but a well-meaning discussion soon became a chance for Corgan to rail against the death of alternative music and how kids these days just don't care about music like they used to."

SXSW 2012: Quiet Company Cleans Up at Austin Music Awards (As We Predicted)

Last year after The Bright Light Social Hour was the big winner at the Austin Music Awards, an annual celebration of the city's music scene that takes place each year during South By Southwest, we asked for comments on the following question: "An opinion on who will be the next band to break out, Mother Falcon or Quiet Company?"  Well, it was Quiet Company who you should have put your money on, as the local quintet cleaned up the awards last week.  In addition to Band of the Year, Album of the Year for We Are All Where We Belong and song of the year for "You, Me & the Boatman," the band's members were all big winners too.  QC front man Taylor Muse took home top prize in three big categories (Male Vocals, Songwriter and Musician of the Year) while fellow member Matt Parmenter won in the Producer category and was runner-up for Bass, Jeff Weathers won Drums, and Tommy Blank was runner-up to the deserving Gary Clark Jr. for Electric Guitar. Mother Falcon didn't do too poorly either, winning in the Avant-Garde/Experimental category.

So what about 2013?  Well, one safe bet would be the Wheeler Brothers, the 2012 Best New Band winner and a top ten finisher in many categories.  And how big will Quiet Company get?  They have been featured on the grooveshark.com front page for a while now.  That's a good sign.

While you think about these and other important questions, here's a video of Quiet Company performing winning song "You, Me & the Boatman" backstage at the 2012 Austin Music Awards.  And below, listen to this year's top ten finishers in the Song of the Year category.  Congratulations from FBtA to all of this year's winners.  And if you're thinking of getting tickets for next year's awards show and are wondering what sort of thing might go down, read this prior post for another video featuring Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, and some other guitar player from Jersey.

SXSW 2012 - Slideshow: Choir of Young Belivers, Eleanor Friedberger, Tom Morello (w/ surprise guest Wayne Kramer)

South by Southwest has developed a reputation of being full of surprises.  Bruce Springsteen joining Alejandro Escovedo and Joe Ely on stage at the Austin Music Awards will likely be the most covered surprise moment of SXSW Music in 2012.  Our SouthBy experience was just a toe-dip in the water, but we still got a few unexpected memories of our own.  One example from Thursday:  Walking down the Lady Bird Lake hike/bike path and hearing this music that sounded a lot like Fela, then climbing the river bank and finding Fela's son Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 playing a free set at Austin City Hall on a beautiful afternoon. That was very cool.

A second surprise happened on Saturday.  We were about to give up on trying to get into the Rolling Stone Rock Room Party at La Zona Rosa while munching on some sandwiches outside the Royal Blue Grocery across the street.  After all, the line to get in was pretty long and had barely moved.  But when we looked up one time, the line had shrunk to almost nothing, so we decided to give it a go and went in to see the last act, former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, playing as The Nightwatchman, both solo and with his three-piece backing band the "Freedom Fighters Orchestra."

I was never a big Rage Against the Machine fan, but sorta dig the small amount of Nightwatchman music I've heard.  As you might expect from a member of Rage and grad of Harvard, Morello was outspoken and engaging, and played his guitar with some serious energy and deftness.  He and the Orchestra ripped through some of the heavier songs, including a searing rendition of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" by Bruce Springsteen -- "The only Boss Man worth listening to," as Morello proclaimed. But The Nightwatchman isn't only about tearing shit up.  He also plays some more traditional American protest music, and while the lyrics are sometimes a bit forced, the meaning always comes across loud and clear.

Most of the crowd was probably there to see "the guy from Rage Against the Machine," as Morello even joked himself late in the gig.  So not surprisingly, after getting the crowd to hush up for the quieter "The Garden of Gethsemane," fans were ready to go for the remaining, as-bargained-for "nothing but heavy metal jams."  And speaking of jams, for the last 15-plus minutes, Tom brought out punk and protest forefather Wayne Kramer of The iconic Detroit group The MC5.  Of course, the band must have felt as if launching into "Kick Out the Jams" was practically mandated, but nobody in the crowd seemed to complain.  At the bitter end, The Nightwatchman invited those he watches over to join him on the stage for upbeat closer, "World Wide Rebel Songs."  Aside from the gent who passed out and fell flat on his face right next to us (he was fine), everyone left grinning.

We also quickly ran by the UT Urban Outfitters to catch Eleanor Friedberger's solo gig.  She was really fun to see, albeit not the most interesting act to photograph.  But the solo setting provided a good opportunity to catch her clever, poetic lyrics.  We also got to see a good chunk of the set by Choir of Young Believers, a shoegazey indie group that we enjoyed.

SXSW 2012 - SIideshow: Seun Kuti & Africa 80 at Austin City Hall

We were on our way to go see the free show with M. Ward and The Shins at Auditorium Shores last night, but we were downtown early and had time to kill.  Fortuitously, we happened upon a free outdoor gig by Seun Kuti & Egypt 80!  Seun is the youngest son of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the little-disputed father of Afrobeat music. He grew up playing with his father and the band and took over leadership after Fela's death from AIDS in 1997.  Coincidentally, we had just listened to his 2011 album the other day, From Africa With Fury: Rise, and were really psyched to luck into seeing Seun Kuti play.

Seun may not be his dad, but he possesses a lot of the fire and spirit, not to mention musical chops, that made his pop a legend.  The band was tight and treated the audience to that patented endless groove, while Seun worked up a big ol' sweat testifying about political and social issues.  The crowd was diverse and not too thick, so we were able to get some nice shots of Mr. Kuti and the great Egypt 80.

 

SXSW 2012 Bullets (3/16/12): Big Day of Free Shows Tomorrow!

Some days, the badgeless at SXSW are really not that much worse off than those who shelled out the big bucks. You might not be getting into any of the official showcases without a badge, but tomorrow there are just too many free gigs going on to worry about that.  The side parties database has over 130 free parties listed for Saturday.  Sure, some things will be packed, but the vast magnitude of options should spread the human density damage out somewhat.  Not sure what we'll be doing, but here are a few we've highlighted as possibilities (in addition to MWTX and others we've noted in earlier posts).  Some require RSVPs, so you'd be wise check the details of you're interested.

• Things start up early.  If you're brave, head to the  MOG at the Mohwak (9th & Red River), where we're betting the crowds will get thick to see the likes of legendary axe-shredder Bob Mould, Blitzen Trapper, The Roots, War on Drugs, Cloud Nothings, and Gary Clark Jr.  Things start up at noon.  No RSVP required.
• Right nearby at Club DeVille (900 Red River), things are also starting early.  Go catch Cymbals Eat Guitars, We Were Promised Jetpacks, The War On Drugs, White Rabbits and others from noon on at The AV Club's party.  No RSVP required.
• On the other side of downtown, La Zona Rosa picks up at noon too with Rolling Stone's Rock Room party featuring Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman), Gary Clark Jr. and others at La Zona Rosa – starts at noon so they probably go on late afternoon.  No RSVP required.
• This morning, the deejay on KVRX played a song by Peter Wolf Crier that we found pretty catchy.  They'll be playing at Domy Books (913 E Cesar Chavez) (2:30 PM) for the party headlined by The Black Swans (6:15 PM).  "It's that time a year again friends, pseudo-folk stylings in Domy's backyard to help us wind down a heavy week. Come on down to the grass, hang as you will, and enjoy some assuaging acoustics from this land, across the pond and beyond. Refreshments provided while they last and good vibes in abundance."  No RSVP required.  
• We've been surprised how much we enjoy the first solo CD by Eleanor Friedberger, so we're hoping to go catch her set from 2-2:45 PM at the Urban Outfitters near UT (I think in the lot behind).  Hot new electronic artist Grimes comes on at 6.  No RSVP required.

But wait!  There's so much more!

• Day 4 of Brooklyn Vegan's Hotel Vegan party has a ton of good acts, including Heartless Bastards and Diamond Rugs (John McCauley of Deer Tick w/ members of Los Lobos, Black Lips & more) back-to-back from 4-6 PM, plus boatloads of hip-hop indoors.  Party's at 1500 E 6th.  RSVP here via Do512.  Wanna read more SXSW stuff from the venerable rock rag? Here's a lsit of Rolling Stone's 25 acts to see at SXSW.
• Missed Built to Spill at any of their many gigs around town this week?  They're at Filter's SXSW Showdown at Cedar Street (208 W 4th St.) at  5:00 PM.  RSVP is required for that one.  They're also at an afternoon gig at 1300 South Congress – South by San Jose  – along with Austinite Ben Kweller and others.  No RSVP needed for that one.
• One more big one!  Wavves, Diplo and tons of others play at Emo’s East and the Beauty Bar.  RSVP via Do512.
• Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and members of Old Crow Medicine Show are playing some music after a showing of "Big Easy Express" on the LBJ Library lawn (near UT) at 6:30.  RSVP is necessary and might be full.  Or sweet-talk your way in.
• Can't deal with that?  You could always head down to Auditorium Shores for the annual free shows that SXSW officially puts on.  We saw M. Ward and The Shins there last night in fact.  Tomorrow finishes up with Austin's fun retro-rockers The Bright Light Social Hour  (7 PM) and UK post-punk icons The Cult (8 PM).  No RSVP needed.
• If you want to keep going, head to 8th and Trinity for the Red Bull Thre3style party, always a big smash.  A bunch of DJ greats are in town, including Dan the Automater, Jazzy Jeff and Z-Trip, plus Erykah Badu and others, starting at 8 PM.  No RSVP here either.
• Not your thing?  Try Alejandro Escovedo at 9:00 PM at Maria’s Taco Xpress (So. Lamar).  I doubt Bruce will show up.  He's probably not even in town.  But it is billed as “Alejandro Escovedo’s Annual Taco Party,” and Al seems to be the Boss Man's newest and bestest buddy.  So who knows?  RSVP at Do512.

Bruce, Joe Ely and Alejandro Escovedo making some memories at the 2012 Austin Music Awards (credit: DownThunderRoad)

SXSW 2012: A Collection of Tweets on Tuesday, March 13

Searched Twitter for "SXSW" and read through a number of results.  Found a few that were amusing or informative.

SXSW 2012: Mess With Texas Party Set Times Announced

One of the top free "unofficial" South by Southwest gigs each of the past few years has been Transmission Entertainment's Mess With Texas Party.  Set times for MWTX, which is at 1100 E 5th St., are now out.  RSVP at mwtxparty.com.

SXSW 2012 Bullets (3/11/12): Interactive and Film in NOW Mode; Music in PREVIEW Mode

South By Southwest is all over the news.  A Google News search netted nearly 5,000 articles posted over just the last 24 hours.  Interactive and Film, which in full swing, are getting lots of coverage, but Music is picking up steam, with a a lot writers sharing their "top picks."

Interactive

• Austin the new mobile software hub?  The Austin American-Statesman’s Lori Hawkins and Kirk Ladendorf write: "[E]ntrepreneurs have generated a wave of startups that are helping establish Austin as a hub for mobile Internet. … [T]he vast majority of Austin players are in their infancy. They include eight-person CanWe Studios, whose founder, Brooke Braswell, raised $1.5 million from private investors and moved from Indianapolis to Austin this year to create a smartphone app for business networking.  … 'Austin is like an approachable Silicon Valley. People are open to having coffee and talking about their own business and helping you connect,' Braswell said. 'Even though everyone is fighting for the same talent and in some cases the same customers, there's a genuine desire for you to succeed.'"
• What SXSW Interactive stories are currently trending on Google News?  Unfortunately, the story about "Homeless Hotspots" isn't really a positive one.  (It isn't just me, right?  The subject title "Homeless Hotspots" just reeks of questionable taste, no?)  Slate's Rachael Levy: "[T]he homeless individuals hawking the service were recruited from a local shelter and are walking around carrying MiFi devices (techspeak for mobile WiFi hotpots) and wearing t-shirts with this: 'I’M [FIRST NAME], A 4G HOTSPOT, SMS HH [FIRST NAME], TO 25827 FOR ACCESS, www.homelesshotspots.org' Those who wish to connect to the 4G network offer a donation that goes directly to the homeless person. BBH Labs recommends a $2 donation per 15 minutes of use—which can be paid through PayPal—but leaves the ultimate payment up to each Internet user."  Naw, that's not bad taste!  Yeah ... neither was bum fights.
• The New York Times' bloggers appear to be immersing themselves in all that SXSW has to offer. In this update from SXSW Interactive, the Times touches on the important side activities of brunch and partying, but also offers up this story which to me is so very "Austin": "The folks behind the Austin-based start-up Mifft didn’t feel like shelling out thousands of dollars for a mere table in the South by Southwest exhibit hall. So they spent $3,000 on an ancient schoolbus and turned it into a mobile briefing room and taxi service."  There's also a 22-minute video.  Go check it out.

Credit: bits.blogs.nytimes.com/

• Is blogging a girl-thing?  Austin360 food blogger extraordinaire Addie Broyles went to a panel on just that, and had a few "takeaways" to report back, including this theory: "Women traditionally have been storytellers, and blogs are just another way for them to tell stories. (We’re good at social media for this reason, too.) It’s in a public space, so sometimes this makes them think twice about exactly what they blog, but in general, telling stories in an open space should be the same as in a closed space. Be heartfelt and honest."
• Rock gods and movie stars aren't the only celebrities in town for SouthBy.  Green policy biggie and former VP Al Gore was in town, and he thinks our "democracy has been hacked" in describing the trouble with special interest money and bipartisanship.  ABC News' Jake Coyle sums it up like this: "To fix what he called a no-longer functional U.S. government, Gore urged the audience to begin a new 'Occupy Democracy' movement. He pushed for the creation and implementation of digital tools and social media to 'change the democratic conversation.'"
  

Film

• Switching over to SXSW Film, Austin360 put out its picks for the film fest last week.  They narrow down the many panel and movie offerings to 35.  Flick picks are grouped into features, docs, Texas-related, and music, including one event we were really excited about but sold out for non-badge holders quickly, Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (Work-in-Progress): "Never-before-seen footage, in-depth interviews and musical performances by bands they inspired help round out director Drew DeNicola's portrait of power pop pioneers Big Star. An all-star cast — including Big Star drummer Jody Stephens, Mike Mills and Peter Buck of R.E.M., Chris Stamey of the dBs — will perform Big Star's legendary, enigmatic album Third (aka Sister Lovers) after the screening. Austin's Tosca String Quartet will also participate."  If you're lucky enough to be going, or you think you can sass your way in the doors, its March 15 at 7 p.m. March 15, at the Paramount Theater.  If not?  Well it isn't much, but below is Big Star's "Blue Moon" from the aforementioned Third/Sister Lover.  And here's the Austin360 preview of the Big Star documentary.

• The Austin American-Stateman’s Farzad Mashhood: "13-year-old Justus Williams … is an expert chess player and one of the stars of Brooklyn Castle, a documentary about New York Intermediate School 318's chess team that premiered Sunday at the South by Southwest Film Festival. Throughout his nearly three hours of play at Brush Square Park downtown following the film's screening, he held a calm, almost expressionless demeanor. … Ethan Schaffer, 11, a sixth-grader at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, came to face one of the world's best scholastic chess players in Justus and watch a film about one of his hobbies.  'Any thoughts any person had about winning were extinguished within 10 minutes,' Ethan said. 'He had me picked apart in minutes.'"
• Here's a pretty cool one from SXSW news.  Per the vote of the masses, tugg.com is presenting re-screenings of seven films that were deemed to be giving off the "buzz" thing: Charles Bradley: Soul of America; TCHOUPITOULAS; King Kelly; WONDER WOMEN! The Untold Story of American Superheroines; Electrick Children; God Bless America; and Beauty is Embarrassing.  Special screenings start tomorrow and run through Thursday.

Music

• As noted above, Austin360's just released its picks for SXSW Music.  Various staff members list their picks by day, along with "who they could share the bill with" to give the unfamiliar an idea of what the artist is like.  Joe Gross includes one of my favorites, Screaming Females: "The key to this, one of the best punk rock trios currently active, is, of course, singer/guitarist Marissa Paternoster, whose shredding, shrieking and soloing can raise the dead. A fifth album, Ugly, is due in April (Could share a bill with: Wild Flag, Ted Leo/Pharmacists)."

• Todd Martens of the LA Times' Pop & Hiss blog presents his music stories to watch, including one potential break-out that I agree with: "Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar may be a SXSW veteran, but look for the forthright youngster -- and Dr. Dre protege -- to come home from this year's Austin shindig with a few more fans. He has three official showcases, and he'll also speak at a Thursday afternoon panel on the importance of branding."

• I felt obligated to post this one -- SXSW: Boston bound for Austin lists one Bostonian's music hit list. "Showing some hometown love, I'll also be keeping tabs on bands with local ties, including Debo Band, Quilt, and Providence's Brown Bird. I'll drop by Berklee College of Music's day party on Saturday. And in keeping with our city's pride, both The Dig and local music blogger Ryan Spaulding's Outlaw Roadshow will be hosting their showcases on St. Patrick's Day. You can take the Bostonian out of Boston, but...."
• Before skinny jeans and indie rock took over a good chunk of the scene, Austin (so I'm told) was something of a country rock town. For people still looking for that thing, the twang might be harder to find than in the past, but it's still lurking. CMT News has ten SXSW country music ideas, among them the local trio The Carper Family, whose members sometimes join in with a small bluegrass combo at the Austin Downtown Farmers Market: "The Carper Family are quite intriguing, although its members aren't actually related. These three gals mix old country, old-time, bluegrass and swing tunes into their original catalog. Their harmonious blend recalls a simpler time, yet one of their numbers is titled 'Who R U Textin 2nite.' Get dialed into their sound on Saturday at 11 p.m. at Stephen F's."

The Carper Family doing "Together Baby" in a music store

Austin Food Scene Gets Some National Exposure (Thanks to Paul Qui and Aaron Franklin)

I don't watch Top Chef on television, but my sister does.  When she described the chef from Austin who was her favorite contestant at the start of this past season, it sounded a lot like the guy behind one of my favorite food trailers in town, East Side King.  Turns out that it was indeed Paul Qui, Executive Chef at local sushi fave Uchiko and the man behind the East Side King trailers (there are three).  And after going to battle with fifteen other worthy contestants, Qui emerged victorious, making us proud here in Austin.  Especially those of us who've been lucky enough to sample his curry buns and meshi dishes.

"Poor Qui" Pork bun from East Side King (credit: foodieisthenewforty.blogspot.com)

Paul is now up for Best New Chef - Southwest in Food & Wine Magazine.  Click below to vote for Paul!  If you're in town for SXSW, you should definitely go check out one of his three trailers over on the cool east side.

On a similar note, Austin's Franklin BBQ and pit master Aaron Franklin have also been pulling in the accolades.  Every time someone writes about top BBQ joints, whether locally, state-wide or nationally, it seems like Franklin shows up.  But competing with French Laundry and Le Bernardin?  Well, last week, I saw this article in Yahoo listing the 20 Best Restaurants in American.  And there at #15, right between Jean-Georges and Mario Battali's Babbo, was Franklin BBQ.  "The brisket, with its peppery exterior, falls apart as you pick it up. The turkey is what presidentially pardoned birds aspire to. The sausage snaps loudly when you slice it, juice splashing out and up... You've heard the buzz. It's not hype. It really is that good."  The article also notes the giant lines that form before the joint even opens.  So be forewarned, SXSW hipsters:  If you want to sample some of Texas' finest smokes meats, plan wisely.

Assortment of smoked meats from Franklin BBQ (credit:  fcg-bbq.blogspot.com)

A lot of people have had Franklin's name etched on the trophy for top BBQ spot the next time Texas Monthly publishes its Top 50 list.  The return to Austin last year of John Mueller and his JMueller BBQ, which Texas Monthly chronicled in its February 2012 cover story, has added a bit of intra-town intrigue.  So has a recent glowing review on the Full Custom Gospel BBQ blog of a place out in Bryan called Fargo's Pit BBQ.  In other words, if you do happen to be in town for South by Southwest and are afraid of the lines at Franklin, there are options.

SXSW 2012 Bullets (3/8/12): Side Parties Galore!

We mentioned in our SXSW 2012 Basics post that one great tool to use to find free shows during SXSW is the SXSW 2012 Side Parties Database on Austin360.  A search today for free Music Festival side parties only yielded a staggering 391 results.  Here are a few of the parties we're intrigued by:

•  We already posted the lineup for the Mess With Texas (MWTX) Party.  Mess With Texas has definitely been one of the best free "unofficial" shows each of the last few years, although we lament the  move from Waterloo Park when it closed for renovations. Acts announced so far that we're looking forward to this year include Built to Spill, Cloud Nothings, The Men and Titus Andronicus, plus we're curious whether A$AP Rocky can put on a good show.  3/15-3/17 ][ 1100 E 5th  ][ Free ][ RVSP required

• If you're in town for SXSW Interactive, go check out hot Austin band The Bright Light Social Hour, along with RAC, at the Get Down Party.  3/11 ][ PureVolume House (Trinity & 2nd) ][ Free ][ RSVP required

• Another good-sounding party toward the start of the festival is the #RobotripSXSW party from The Barbarian Group and Tumblr, featuring Japandroids, WAVVES, Kool Keith and more.  It's on Red River Street, at Club DeVille and Mohawk, one of Austin's best live music clubs IMHO.  3/12 ][ Club DeVille & Mohawk (Red River near 9th) ][ Free ][ No RSVP needed
• Another good showcase for local talent is the enticingly-titled Bands and a Bonfire Under the Big Sky.  Solid Austin indie rockers White Denim and The Strange Boys are joined by Brooklyn's Bear Hands and Nashville's Fly Golden Eagle.  White Denim made a bunch of end-of-year best-of lists for 2011's excellent album D.  3/13 ][ Mohawk (9th & Red River) ][ Free ][ RSVP required

• Thrasher and Converse are behind this year's Impose "Texas-style Death Match" day party at the Scoot Inn.  Lots of bands over five days, plus skating?  The Facebook page for the show mentions a half-pipe and the flier says, "Don't forget your board."  Acts include Cro-Mags, Cool Kids, Theophilus London, Das Racist and more.  3/14-3-18 ][ The Scoot Inn (1308 E 4th) ][ Free ][ No RSVP needed

• Pitchfork, the barometer of indie music freshness, landed a bunch of bands that they've reviewed positively for the Pitchfork Day Party at the Mohawk.  El-P, SBTRKT, Lower Dens, The War on Drugs, Cloud Nothings, etc.  3/15 ][ Mohawk (9th & Red River) ][ Free ][ No RSVP needed
• Speaking of Lower Dens, they'll be joined by Magnetic Fields and a few more at the NPR Music Presents Live from the Parish day party.  Should get packed.  3/15 ][ The Parish (214 E 6th) ][ Free ][ No RSVP needed
• For some more hip-hop and less indie rock, check out Wu-Tang's Raekwon and Mr. Muthaf*ckin' Exquire and others at Digital Freshness ATX.  One of the latter's most popular tracks features guest appearances by a few other artists in town for SXSW (Das Racist, El-P), so don't be surprised if a few "special guests" show up.  3/15 ][ Peckerheads (402 E 6th) ][ Free ][ No RSVP required

• Also on the hip-hop front, the IHEARTCOMIX & Life or Death PR present Texas Hip Hop Party has a little Wu flavor as well with GZA, Das Racist, Mr. Muthaf*ckin' Exquire and others.  3/16 ][ Beauty Ballroom (2015 E. Riverside) ][ Free ][ RSVP required
• Undeniably the most yumm-o party each year, Rachael Ray (not a joke) is hosting a great collection of acts again this year, including (but NOT limited to): reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Givers, Blitzen Trapper, The Cringe with special guest Billy Gibbons (of ZZ Top) and Austin's favorite Bob Schneider.  3/17 ][ Stubb's BBQ (Red River & 8th) ][ Free ][ RSVP required (link not working last we checked)
• The weekend is going to be fun.  Another good party taking place is the CYP2 X Mad Decent X Fools Gold = SXSW Super Party (that's really the name).  A-Trak, Diplo, A$AP Mob, The Drums, WAVVES and tons more.  3/17 ][ Emo's East & Beauty Ballroom (E. Riverside) ][ Free ][ RSVP required
• More dancing?  Head to the third annual Red Bull Thre3Style party with The Crystal Method, Dan the Automater, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Erykah Badu, Cannabinoids, Z-Trip and others, plus an opening set by Shortkut.  "Each DJ is tasked with spinning three completely different musical genres, all while keeping the party hot and the dance floor packed."  Shouldn't be too tough during SouthBy. 3/17 ][ 8th & Trinity ][ Free ][ No RSVP needed

There are so many more.  About 380.  Expect more parties to be announced too.  If you're going to be here in Austin for South by Southwest, you'd better be well-prepared or you'll waste a lot of time.  Trust us.  So keep checking the database, and check back here too.

Arcade Fire Lecturing at UT ... and Right After SXSW Wraps Up. Let the Secret Show Rumors Begin!

Entertainment celebrities can be preachy I suppose, but at least I often find their intent to be good.  In the case of Arcade Fire, the group has been unquestionably committed to helping Haiti rebuild (just search for "Arcade Fire" and "Haiti" on Pitchfork and see how many articles pop up).  In the latest bit of news, the University of Texas just announced that four members of the band -- leaders Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's brother Will and Marika Anthony-Shaw -- will be giving a lecture on  the Haitian crisis and relief efforts.  According to the news release:

In discussing the Haitian need for healthcare and aid from the first world, the speakers will encourage UT students to envision themselves as global citizens and local philanthropists. The musicians will draw attention to the work being done by the non-profit to which their profits are directed: Partners in Health.

Expect a packed LBJ Auditorium at 7:00 PM on March 19.  Speaking of which, as Pitchfork notes, that little music festival we have here in Austin every Spring wraps up on March 18: "Arcade Fire appearing in Austin right after SXSW wraps up... coincidence, or are a lot of festival-goers in for a surprise?"  As a resident Austinite, I hoping for the latter.

Arcade Fire has been on the Austin City Limits TV show twice now.  From their first appearance, below is the video for "Wake Up."  And if you're interested in donating to Partners in Health, visit here.