Austin Sound

SXSW loves to tease us. Last year’s announcement was like waiting for Chinese Democracy (except that the final product was actually good), so we’re hoping that we’ll have a full list of bands playing the 2009 Fest a bit sooner this year. We’ll see. But SXSW did just release a decent chunk of bands that will be hitting up our fair city come March 18. This is on top of the recent announcement the Quincy Jones will be Keynoting (Q-noting?) on the 19th.

In the announcement that accompanied this list the festival cabal noted that these were “A few highlights selected out of over 10,000 music applications.” It’s not bad, what with Primal Scream, Dead Prez, Port O’Brien, and a slew of good locals, but let’s just say that we hope these lights get a lot higher. Check the list below:

The news from SXSW is starting to trickle out. A few bands have been announced, but nothing major, and we’ve heard from other local bands that confirmations seem to be making their way out a little earlier this year. Today’s Chronicle has word that this year’s keynoter will be jazz legend Quincy Jones. Hopefully all these earlier scoops mean that the full list will be dropping a bit earlier this year and we won’t all be drooling until the last minute. We’ll keep you posted on any major announcements, but we’d start saving up for that wristband now.

Oh boy, already? Can’t we even get through ACL first without having to gear up again for SXSW? Glad someone is on the ball. SXSW announced today that they are now open for business in the music showcase department, and they have a new option for registering as well. Not only can you fill out your application electronically on their site like last year, but you can also do it through Sonic Bids. That’s one helluva score for the Sonic Bids site, and must have cost them a nice sponsorship! It really doesn’t matter which way you apply though, the deadlines and fees are still the same.

It’s been over a week since the day that kicked it all off, and here we are, finally able to finish collecting our thoughts. SXSW was a maelstrom of music, sweat, beer, exhaustion and Free Ice Cream. We checked in, one last time, with all our local contributors, including John Laird who keeps his own blog over at Side One Track One.

Here’s what we dragged ourselves out of bed for after only 2 hours of sleep on Saturday.

Robyn

Well now that we’re all well rested after nearly a week of burning at both ends, we’ve got some more of what we saw, what we liked best, and things we caught on camera. We checked in with all our local contributors, including John Laird who keeps his own blog, Side One Track One.

Here’s what we were up to on Friday.

Bon Iver
Photo by John Laird

In addition to our SXSW picks and Show Previews, we’ll be bringing you short reviews of what we saw, what we liked best, and things we caught on camera. We’ll be checking in with all our local contributors, including John Laird who keeps his own blog, Side One Track One.

Here’s what we were up to on Thursday.

Hurry Up and Wait

In addition to our SXSW picks and Show Previews, we’ll be bringing you short reviews of what we saw, what we liked best, and things we caught on camera. We’ll be checking in with all our local contributors, including John Laird who keeps his own blog, Side One Track One.

Here’s what we were up to on Wednesday.

Question: is it better to burn out that to fade away? Do you go see bands until you pass out from exhaustion, or do you “just see a few and head home” today? Or maybe your stamina has been hardened by years of going to concerts (like us). Either way, today is the last day of all out music extravaganzas, and your last to chance to see everything you’ve been meaning to see. Don’t mess this up.

Here are our Saturday Picks.

Congratulations you made it to Day 3. No time for small talk, there’s a day of music on the horizon.

Friday Picks over here!

Souncheck Magazine is turning 2 and they want to make sure you know about it. So they’ve rounded up a team of great bands from all over the country and are calling it a show. Guess who else is proud to sponsor Soundcheck’s 2nd Birthday Party? If you said Austin Sound, you’d be 100% correct. Yes we’ll be there watching old Soundcheck blow out his two candles to the musical stylings of Why?, Cloud Cult, and many more! Things get underway at Emo’s Annex Friday at 11:30 a.m.

Check out our preview of the show right here.