Some pics...

Destroyer at The Parish for the Merge Showcase.

And so, a la TV Guide, here's my Cheers and Jeers in reference to my fun Spring Break SXSW-ing.

MUSIC

Cheers: Montreal (hell, all of Quebec)
I witness performances from Handsome Furs, Islands, Chromeo, and Hollerado. All Montreal-based bands. All of the performances were intriguing and awesome! Even though they didn't play the songs that I knew them for, the stuff they played sufficed. I love the Montreal music scene. Plus I got a Quebec t-shirt for reasons currently unknown.

Jeers: Vancouver

This was my first time attending South by Southwest and all the related events in Austin and it is finally past. SXSW 2008 to me was all about live music and meeting industry people to learn as much as I could. Ultimately, I made numerous business acquaintances and countless new friends. I won't go into all the details here, but I'd like to at least get a link to my site (counterlogic.net) which has (and will soon have even more) SXSW 2008 media. "Read more" after the jump for some interview links and more!

SXSW started off right with Black Joe Lewis on Wednesday. Austin's very own twenty-something soul shouter was so much fun I thought about going out on a high note and picking things up the next day. Instead I hit a very weird Slits reunion, if two original members and three young recruits count as "the Slits" at all. Ari Up bounced around in skintight leggings, mooned the crowd, and reminded us repeatedly that "the Slits exist!" Entertaining, yet surreal.

DJs Slightly Special are hosting a late night after party when everyone gets out of the venues tonight. Check out the flier and more at counterlogic.net and myspace.com/slightspecialists. Front of the flier is below. Click this entry or check out the above web addresses for more information.

Venerable blues legend and Alligator recording artist Guitar Shorty will be making a live in-studio appearance with DJ Smokehouse Brown on Blues At Sunrise this Wednesday, 03/12.

Later in the program, we'll be doing a live phone interview with Austin piano goddess and fellow Alligator recording artist Marcia Ball, who has a new album coming out on April 8 titled "Peace, Love & BBQ."

Don't miss this chance to hear a conversation with these talented blues artists. It all happens on Blues At Sunrise Wednesday March 12 from 7-9 AM.

UPDATE: Crystal Castles will unfortunately be unable to play at the KVRX-plosion show on 3/13 (thurs.)due to injuries sustained during a recent car wreck (forcing them to cancel the remainder of their tour with HEALTH as well as earlier SXSW dates).

We wish them the best and are still super excited for the KVRX-plosion!! To see our awesome remaining lineup visit our Spring Break Page!

That's right. KVRX favorite Crystal Castles, an electronic duo from Toronto, have just been confirmed to play at the KVRX-plosion Event at the Austin Children's Museum on Thurs., March 13th.

RSVP for this event here.

Crystal Castles

So today was the first day to get SXSW wristbands and it was done through a lottery in which purchasers had to show ID and payment card to claim their wristbands. Of the 4,000 available, about 3,500 were distributed. Check out the full article on Austin360.com for more on scalper prevention and SXSW's inflated ego.

I mostly enjoy reading the comments from Austinites begging some unknown savior to please end SXSW or please end ACL. Such desperation.

"If these entities are putting on these free parties to “help” artists and fans, there are 51 other weeks of the year that need it a lot more than during our event." - SXSW Co-founder Roland Swenson