Scenes from SXSW

God, I'm glad this fucking festival is over.

SXSW Music- Suzanna Choffel

I've never been much for female vocalists or singer-songwriters, but Austin, TX musician Suzanna Choffel has changed all that for me.

A little bit of jazz, a little bit of folk, and a little bit of rock, Suzanna's music is unlike any other. Her voice is both sad and optimistic. Listening to her puts me in a reflective mood. A sort of Sunday feeling.

Her new song, "Archer", produced by my co-worker, Danny Reisch, is possibly my favorite songs right now. Check it out at the top of her Myspace page.

Down below is her performance of "Hey Mister" on ME TV.

SXSW Music- Delorean

Checked out this rad band, Delorean, last night. They're from Spain and freakin' awesome!
Kind of like a more synth poppy M83.
Shoegazing mixed with some thumping beats.
They also have a kick ass name.
Check out their song, "Deli", below.
DO IT!


SXSW schedule:

mar 18 2010 12:00p	SXSW-INSOUND PARTY@CLUB DEVILLE	austin, texas
mar 18 2010 6:30p	SXSW- TRUE PANTHER PARTY@MS. BEAS	austin, texas
mar 19 2010 11:00p	SXSW - WINDISH SHOWCASE@EMOS	austin, texas

Day 1

Today is Day #1 of the music portion of SXSW.

Which means the craziness has begun. 

I'm running off to a luncheon for AOL/Spinner regarding Seed.com

I'll tell you more about it later.

I haven't showered and I still have my eye makeup on from last night.

My Mom would be proud.

Today I'm wearing my brand new Tiffany T-Shirt Dress from Alternative Apparel in Midnight. 

It's so soft and lays perfectly! Love it!

My $2.99 boots from Thrift Town and Opaque pantyhose in Paprika from American Apparel.

See you all later today!

SXSW Survival Gear

You're in Austin.

You're about to see an ass load of indie bands perform out of every nook and cranny of this city.

It's 95 degrees, then it suddenly hails, then it goes back to 95 degrees with a humidity index of 99%.

You spot a boy who wears a smaller jean size than you and you are determined to make out with him by the end of the night.

It's late, you're drunk off of Lone Stars because you only had seven breakfast tacos about twelve hours ago, and you have blisters lining the bottom of your feet.

These are questions and scenarios that will arise this week during SXSW.

Don't be unprepared!

Follow my survival guide list below and you're sure to have a worth-while and healthy SXSW experience.

1.) The Fanny Pack- Fuck purses. Who said these ever went out of style? WHO? TELL ME! I recommend the American Apparel shiny denim fanny pack in royal blue because it's awe-inspiring. Look at it. LOOK AT IT! Pretty.

2.) A Pair of Tom's Shoes- Never mind. These hipster staples are like having a thin layer of burlap separating you from the ground. I can't believe they're donated to a child every time a pair is sold. The next generation is going to grow up all jacked with arthritis.
(*this statement is in jest...Tom's is a great company that does a lot of wonderful things)

3.) Cheap Brightly Colored Wayfarers- Because in a way we're all still stuck in 2004, aren't we?

4.) Cardigan- Texas weather is known to be a fickle one, so make sure to carry around a cardigan with you for night or when it spontaneously rains though the precipitation level is 0%. Also, throwing on a cardigan over any shitty ol' outfit, will suddenly make you look more intelligent than you actually are.

5.) Clean Underwear- 'Cause Lord only knows what you're going to do with your current pair of underwear.

6.) Scrunchies- Ladies, you make fun of them, but you know you secretly love them. Who is going to hold back your hair when you're puking up all that free Hornito's in the Beauty Bar toliet? Not that DJ with the florescent bike cap. He's been eyeing the girl with the non-prescription horn-rimmed glasses that are over-taking her face all night. You always have a friend in the scrunchie. 

7.) Fake Mustache- Because you don't want to feel left out in this city.

8.) Business Cards- Business cards legitimize you. Even if you have nothing to sell. 

9.) Granola Bars- The nice thing about Austin is that we're not a bunch of assholes that bump up the price of everything while you're visiting. However, your eating times might be off and in order to not get wasted by 4PM, it's worth carrying some snacks around with you (Dear Lord. I sound like my mother).

10.) Water- Blah blah blah boring

11.) $1's- For when you wander off alone to the strip club near the airport during a drunken blackout. Right, Marcos?

12.) Air Mattress- Often enough couches are better than air mattresses. Most of the time you wake on the hard wood floor, the mattress having deflated like that of your hard-on after popping way too many Adderall. However, the couch might already be taken by the time you get there, so make sure you come prepared. 

13.) Chapstick- Because by the end of the night, your mouth is going to look like that of a crusty crack addict.

14.) Condoms

15.) Diana Camera- To commemorate the night you get shit-faced with Bill Murray or corner David Byrne up against a wall and explain to him how you two were always meant to be together...in lo-fi.

Welcome to Austin, SXSWers!

First post in my Austin, TX series for SXSW

It's that time of year again.

The time of year where you stock up on your Adderall or Xanax or Xantac or horse tranquilizers and set your Facebook tagged photos to private.

South by Southwest Interactive and Film will be starting this Friday, with the music portion beginning next Wednesday.

What does that mean for you?

That means your chances of getting drunk with Bill Murrary or hooking up with a hipster from Brooklyn who is in a band with the words "bear", "deer", "neon", "gold", or "black" in it have just improved.

If you're new to Austin, here is a list of traits that make our town so unique. Come and join the fun!

1.) The entire city collectively waits with bated breath for the Groupon of the day.

2.) At anytime in anyplace, your chances of hearing New Order playing on the sound system are 2 to 1.

3.) We treat music festivals like national holidays (and we really don't have a choice).

4.) Overhear conversations that start with, (person looking at their Iphone), "Oh, looks like Brooklyn Vegan is following me on Twitter. Cool." (overhear= I said it yesterday).

5.) Facebook comments like, "There is a little kids choir singing Flaming Lips and Wilco at my place of employment right now."

6.) Every single person has a mustache and we have competitions once a month to see who has the best.

Photo by Alison Narro

7.) A 24 hour pecan vending machine in the middle of nowhere.

8.) We eat migas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and we can tell you exactly where in town the best migas are located.

9.) The rivers in Austin are made of beer and you can often find us knelt in the river bed, stuffing our goard like Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka.

10.) We quietly judge each other on the make of our bicycles and nothing else.

11.) The older and more worn your clothing is, the more street cred you have.

12.) We do a lot of our business out of Airstream trailers. Mostly for aesthetic purposes.

SXSW 2010 Film Lineup: The Forgotten Stepchild

All this talk about the SXSW 2010 Music lineup!
But what about the movies, huh?
You know, SXSW ain't too shabby in the film department. The festival has introduced us to such great hits as: I Love You Man, Moon, Adventureland, Hurt Locker, 21, American Teen, Choke, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Shine a Light.

Here are some highlights of the SXSW 2010 Film lineup:

It's Austin, Why Wouldn't There Be a Bunch of Movies About Music?
-Lemmy- All I know about Lemmy is that he has a mustache that can kill. And he looks like he belongs in a gay porno. I don't think I like Motorhead, but I'm sure this doc rocks nonetheless.

-The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights- Why wouldn't the White Stripes come up with such an epic title for their documentary? This doc follows the band across Canada as they converge on their 10th anniversary performance.

-The Runaways- This film about the 70's rock band, The Runaways, stars Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning and premiered last month at Sundance. After seeing the trailer, I gotta admit, it looks pretty fanfuckingtastic in a I'd-totally-grow-a-mullet-if-I-could-act-like-Joan-Jett-and-crush-some-balls kind of way.

Movies I Kind Of Want To See:

-Elektra Luxx- Story of a porn star (Carla Gugino) who gets pregnant. That part I don't care about. It's the starring Timothy Olyphant and Joseph Gordon-Levitt part I like (something about this movie says The Girl Next Door)

-Lebanon, PA- Any self-discovery movie set in a Rust Belt city is a winner in my book!

-Leaves of Grass- A movie where Edward Norton plays twin brothers, also stars Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, and Keri Russell, and directed by Tim Blake Nelson!? Where do I sign up!

-Cyrus- Baghead and The Puffy Chair directors Jay and Mark Duplass are back with a film about a lonely divorcee (John C. Reilly) who meets a beautiful woman (Marisa Tomei), but discovers he must compete with the woman's 21 year-old son (Jonah Hill). You had me until Jonah Hill.

-Get Low- Story of a hermit in the 1930's who planned his own funeral. Starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, and Sissy Spacek. Yay! Hopefully another excuse for Bill Murray to come to Austin and hang out for a month and drink.

-Kick Ass- A movie about a teenage comic book fan who decides to become a super hero!? Holy shit!

Documentaries Are To Film Festivals What Crack Is To ________:
-People Vs. George Lucas- I have no idea who this guy is, but I guess they made a documentary about him.

-American Grindhouse- Documentary that explores exploitation cinema. No, Quentin Tarantino didn't produce this.

Documentaries Dealing with Sports That I Most Likely Will Never See:
-One Night in Vegas- The love story between Mike Tyson and Tupac Shakur.

-No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson- ESPN film digs into the '93 trial of Allen Iverson. Iverson, a respected basketball player, found himself in jail after a fight broke out between his entourage (all black) and a group of white patrons. See, Mom! You'd be proud of me. I do know a little about the NBA.

Couldn't Get Through the Trailer Because It Gave Me Too Much Anxiety-
-Cargo- Space horror movie in Swiss.

Movies That Sound Like They'll Make Me Stab My Eyes Out With My Thumbs While Viewing Them:

-Saturday Night- A documentary by James Franco about the current lineup of SNL? Ha, I'd rather get the rest of this root canal taken care of.

-Barry Munday- Dude loses his penis. Was going to star Luke Wilson, but now stars Patrick Wilson.

Who?

-MacGruber- Why do you tease with my emotions, SNL?! I despise what you have become, but an 80's tv show spoof starring Jason Bateman and Val Kilmer sounds....so good.

Maybe I Want to See If I Could Understand What the Heck They Were Saying-

-Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee- Described as a Christopher Guest-like film, this British "mockumentary" follows loser musician Le Donk and his quest to introduce the world to the very white, very clueless rapper extraordinaire Scor-Zay-Zee.

Just When I Thought I Was I Through Listening to the SXSW Line-Up...

....a gazillion more people are added.

Thanks to the wise folks over at Austin music blog Ultra 8201 for sharing this list.

Bands You've Probably Heard Of:

She & Him (LA)

Broken Social Scene (Toronto)

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (LA)

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (Brooklyn)

Les Savy Fav (Brooklyn)

Spoon (Austin)

The xx (London)

Favorite Band Name:

Bear in Heaven (Brooklyn)- This makes me think of a lonely stuffed Teddy Bear sitting on a bunch of clouds looking down at all the fun he's missing on planet Earth. It makes me sad. Good thing the bad is pretty kickin'.

Band of Skulls (London) Karen O?

Least Favorite Band Name:

Cymbal Eats Guitar (NYC)- Really? That is the best you could come up with? Don't let the name deter you. They're actually pretty fun.

Sigh, Another "Wolf" Something Or Other:

Wolfgang Gartner (Austin)- Ugh....and he's a DJ. No more DJs.

Wait, I Think My Ex-Boyfriend Told Me About This Band And I Definitely Was Not Paying Attention:

Hudson Mohawke (Scotland)- Slow hip hop synth kind of stuff with no vocals. What kind of genre is that? This band has killer graphics. Now I see why ex-boyfriend liked them.

Southern California Is Overrated:

The Soft Pack (San Diego)- Wait. These guys are going to be on Letterman!?

Shwayze (Malibu)- What band actually comes from Malibu? Hipsters who kind of name themselves after an 80's icon, that's who.

Steve Aoki (Los Angeles)- I'm so sick of DJs. I remember this guy used to spin at MOCA parties. I still don't like you.

Murs (Los Angeles)

LA Riots- What is Los Angeles, just full of freakin' house music?

This Band Is From the Same Town in Germany as My Best Friend Michael, So They Must Know Each Other:

Hauschka (Dusseldorf)- pleasant piano tunes

Texas Rappers 4 Life:

Chalie Boy (Hearne)

Chamillionaire and Paul Wall (Houston)

Trae (Houston)

Someone Is a Little Too Into Themselves:

Mr. Hudson- Who the fuck calls themselves "mister" under 40 years of age? Look at that picture. LOOK AT IT! P.S. Your music sucks.

I've Decided That Every Band Sounds Like 1 or More of Any of These Singers/Bands- New Order, Morrissey, Arthur Russell, or Coldplay:

The Drums (Brooklyn)

The Middle East (Australia)

Frightened Rabbit (Scotland)

Fanfarlo (UK)

The Wave Pictures (London)

Music- Wolf Gang (A Band I Really Want to See at SXSW)

Forget that this British band's name is Wolf Gang. Forget that there are four hundred other bands with the word "wolf" in it or that Phoenix's last album was titled "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix".

'Cause this guy is really good.

Like makes me feel like I'm the subject of a Bret Easton Ellis novel, watching the sun go down in Santa Monica with my Wayfarers on good.

This single has car commercial/episode of 'Gossip Girl'/played on American Apparel's Viva Radio written all over it. I have a feeling he's going to be big over here in America.

Perfect blend of British 80's synth pop and LA indie scene.

You can hear more music here.

Check out the video for "The King And All of His Men".

SXSW 2010 Music Call Sheet (Halfway Through)

SXSW 2010 Music Call Sheet Continued....

Worst Band Name To Google:
Aa (Brooklyn)- Try finding their website!

Cause Everything is Better in Iceland:
Olof Arnalds (Iceland)- 'Cause she looks and sounds like a little Icelandic Pixie

Someone I Think I'd Like to See:
A Shoreline Dream (Denver)- Nice shoegazey band that gets extra points 'cause their Myspace status says "Dreaming of Austin" and they seem to really really like Radiohead.
Break of Reality (NYC) Their stuff sounds like it should have been in "Last Temptation of Christ". Peter Gabriel approved!
Dappled Cities (Sydney)- They really sound like every other indie rock band, but I like it!
Michael Feinberg (NYC) Not sure which I love more, the NY Jewish accountant-like name or the sweet jazz that comes from his fingertips.
Malente (Germany)- FUNK IN THE JUNK!

Best Voice:
Male- Contra Coup (Austin)- If Danny Elfman and Antony Hegarty had a baby.
Female- Julie Peel  (Montreal)- Feist-y

Best Self-Proclaimed Ghettotech Band:
The Constellations (Atlanta)

Who Really Likes M. Ward and Dave Matthews? This Guy Does!
Paleo (Brooklyn)

The Band Whose Album Cover Most Reminds Me of George Harrison's "I Got My Mind Set on You" Music Video
Minature Tigers (Phoenix)

Maybe If I Was From Sweden I'd Be Hot Too:
Lowood (Sweden)- Dreamy pop

Adiam Dymott (Sweden)- Dreamy rock

Francis (Sweden)- Dreamy heartbreak

Movits! (Sweden)- Just dreamy

Another Fucking Wolf Band?
Wolf Gang (UK)
We Are Wolves (Montreal)

Pretty Sure is Actually Kings of Leon:
Ha Ha Tonka (Missouri)

I LOVE 80'S BRITISH SYNTH POP!
Chew Lips (UK)- I want to make love to her voice
Wolf Gang (UK)- Makes me feel like I'm in a Bret Easton Ellis novel and that MAKES ME HAPPY.
Everything Everything (UK)- Freddie Mercury meets "Glee" meets M.I.A. meets Coldplay.
Pivot (UK)
Wave Machines (UK)

Somebody Likes Morrissey A Lot Pt. 2:
Fanfarlo (UK)

And the Award For The Hottest Singer Goes To:
Marques Toliver (UK)- Not only is he talented, he can rock the blazer without a shirt.

No No No No NO! (Could Not Get Into...But Maybe You Will Like Them):
Karnivool (Perth)
Dan Black (France)
The 88 (L.A.)
Soulico (Israel)
Mixtapes and Cellmates (Sweden)
P.K. 14 (China)
VV Brown (UK)
Chris T-T (UK)

SXSW 2010 Music Call Sheet

Austin's South by Southwest is rapidly approaching (Mar. 12th-21st). I am making a vow to not do what I did last year, which was not go to a single event and sit in the corner and pout and mumble about how much I hate a festival that I've never even gone to.
There was really no call for it.
I was just bitter that I had to work the entire week and it would take me three times as long to drive anywhere. GO BACK TO L.A!

This year I will see shows if it kills me (fast forward to me sitting home alone on the couch with a tub of peanut butter).

Here is a list of some of the music acts this year. I'm still learning the list myself so there will be more to come.

Bands You Have Heard Of:
Neon Indian
Fool's Gold
The Crystal Method
Robyn Hitchcock
Deer Tick
The Boxer Rebellion
We Are Scientists
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO

Best Band Name of a Band I've Never Heard Of:
And So I Watch You From Afar
I Fight Dragons
Hot Panda
Bastard Child Death Cult

Austin Bands You MUST Check Out:
Suzanna Choffel - This girl's voice is unlike anything you've ever heard....promise
DJ Car Stereo Wars
Pink Nasty
Best Fwends - It's hard to describe these guys...

The Band Name Your Parent Will Mostly Like Hate:
My Dad is Dead

The Second Band Obsessed with the Jonestown Massacre:
The Jim Jones Revue

Best Band Name That Sounds Like A Lifetime Movie of the Week
Dead Sexy Inc. 

The Band That Most Made My Ears Bleed:
Shit and Shine 

Somebody Loves Morrissey A LOT:
The Wave Pictures

The Band Where Their Sketch Comedy Counterpart is Way Better:
Kidz in the Hall

The Best Band I'd Be Afraid to Run Into In a Dark Alley Out of Fear They'd Kick My Ass:
The Coathangers

Bands I Checked Out This Morning That Didn't Make Me Scrunch Up My Face:
Coolooloosh- Imagine Earth, Wind, and Fire mixed with Puff Daddy.
Thunder Power
Plants and Animals- First band I listened to where I actually said, "Wow".
The Diplomats of Solid Sound- Someone with some talent!
The Brunettes- Coworkers think hesounds like Sufjan

Band With the Coolest Music Video:
We Are Wolves- Fight & Kiss