Well here I go again. It’s time for my yearly review of all I saw (and heard and ate) at the South by Southwest Music Conference. It should start with the part about how it is bigger than ever. Which is true. Followed by the part about what a great town for music Austin is. Which is true too. And finally I can’t forget to list all the terrific interviews I did and people I met.
Which leads to the question: Why was this South by Southwest different than any other South by Southwest? The answer is: It just felt good. This insane undertaking runs like an amazingly well-oiled machine. The band almost always show up. Considering there are over 10,000 people on the streets and in the clubs, the shows overall level of indecency, public drunkenness and other things that can annoy me about rock and roll is, well, not much at all. When my daughter is old enough (and I am theoretically too old, I will take her to this “Music Day Camp For Adults” without a doubt).
So here goes, this years DTM South by Southwest experience to the best of my memory!
Wednesday: Gotta Get The Badge.
Wow! Getting my Press badge was easy this year. No long lines. Maybe my timing was right. Or maybe they just put more people on the job. Whatever, it was a terrific way to start things out.
Dinner At Ironworks: Bones About It. A Revered Tradition.
It wouldn’t be SXSW if Acting Producer Alan Starr and I didn’t attend the temple o Ironworks for our first dose of that wonderful medicine called BBQ. My only disappointment is that you can’t get a Half Chicken-Half Rib combo. So, I went for the chicken. And the Peach Cobbler for dessert. I say this every year – it’s as good as a remember it, right down to the slab of white bread.
Wednesday Night Shows:
The Panda Band:
Please don’t ask me where they were playing (good reason to always write your summary right after the fact, right?) They are from Australia and they have a new record out. They are quirky. None of them look like a panda.
The Hourly Radio:
A favorite from appearing on our Sunday JAMS show, they are from Dallas and sound like they are from Manchester. Their set did not disappoint!
The Jealous Girlfriends @ Woody’s:
My friend (and killer violinist and entertainment attorney) Janis Shen got Alan and I to go into the boonies to see this highly original band. Major crush on the lead singer, and keyboard parts that varied between psychdelic and spooky! Think: Sonic Youth meets Blondie meets Patti Smith meets cool. Lots of pizza specials at Woody’s including Pepperoni!!!! Too bad we weren’t hungry.
Peter Bjorn and John @ La Zona Rosa:
LZA is my favorite venue. Big enough. Good sound. Cool crowd. And yes, some of the best bands. P B & J made a rare appearance on these shores and serenaded us with their brand of pop confection. “Young Folks” is an anthem in my book. Thursday Day Showcases: Robbers On High Street @ Planetary Skewer BBQ:
The Robbers played a short set and we enjoyed the free beer and BBQ. Thanks Planetary for the mini messenger bag – which became the defacto carry-all for my digital recording equip for the rest of South-By!
Midlake:
The audience at this showcase had already been Van Occupanthered based on their positive reaction to the melodic rock of the Midlakers!
The Whigs:
A short, respectable set for these up and comers.
Fratelli’s @ Fader:
Ah yes, the first visit to the so-hard-to-get-into R.S.V.P.-only Fader Lounge. Bud products instead of Red Stripe cause disappointment among the “quality beer inclined.” Even the lager still tasted like Bud. That said, the new larger location made for more room for the big crowd for the NME fave Fratelli’s who played well and played loud.
Stax 50th Year Review:
Well, there was no doubt this was going to be one of the biggest shows. The issue was that there were so many passholders including myself, no one with a wristband had a fighting chance of getting in. Since Alan my Producer had a wristband, I stayed with him in the hopes that the door folks at Antones would strike a balance. They never did. And so we stood outside and listened to “Green Onions.” Which seemed an appropriate song for the way this show was handled. Interviews on Thursday Interview with The M’s
Interview with Hoo Doo Guru’s 
Thursday Night Showcases:
Forro In The Dark and David Byrne @ San Jose Hotel:
Before I go any further, thanks to Inge at Girlie Action for the invite! The scene: the pool at the lovely San Jose. The music: Nublu hot Brazilian band meets Latin-music-obsessed rock and roll singer. Amazing, delightful and well, once in a lifetime! The Oohla’s @ Red Eyed Fly
DTM didn’t get to see the Oohla’s when he interviewed them in San Francisco. To say that singer Ollie gets worked up on stage would be an understatement. (The guys in the audience got even more worked up, and she very much liked that!) Friday Showcases: Galactic@Stubbs (Spin Party)
Co-Producer Alan Starr said it best “This is not the Galactic” I have seen before. Several celebrity rappers joined the band for this appearance, and it wasn’t
OurSpace.
SF@ SXSW Party
Thank you to Cindy for inviting us to this one. Tons of great S.F. bands including The Lovemakers played. And, I love the t-shirts too!
Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s @ Jane Party
A psychedelic performance from a slightly bummed-out So and So’s since their record company (they informed me after they played) has gone out of business leaving this talent band, not so high and more dry than they’d like to be ):
Sloan@ The Jane Party
Man do people love this band from Canada. And who wouldn’t like a record with 30 tracks. I met a Journalist from Kansas City who shared our joy when they played “Who Taught You To Live Like That?” Amy Winehouse @ La Zona Rosa
I don’t care if she was sober, drunk, or high on just being in America, A.W. put on a hell of a performance. Highlights included her saying how excited she was to open for Razorlight (see below.) And her two back-up singers canvassing the crowd afterwards in search of fans, connections (I’ve have their cards and have received emails since) and a major career of their own! 
Razorlight @ La Zona Rosa
They were a surprise guest, and the crowd adored them – especially the lead singer who is truly one of the most energetic since Mr. Mercury (See below!) They are pretty much deserving of their success, if only for that alone.
Mika @ La Zona Rosa
Everyone has a comparison to some other artist for Mika. Fact is he is young, handsome and has a hell of a range (voice and musical.) Highlight: His banter with his guitarist, which extended to, “Whose fucking band are you in and what song are you playing?” I don’t think he was serious though. Or was he?
Interviews on Friday
Interview with Paul Collins Interview with Mohair At Their Very Well Catered Hotel DTM and Graham Parker Interview
DTM used to listen to Graham Parker religiously, so what better venue for their interview than this very sonically unique church?Mohair @ Filter Party (Cedar Street Courtyard) 
Saturday - The Last Day. And Then We Have To Wait Another Year!
Cary Brothers @ Bluhammock Records Brunch
Great waffles and Fruit Salad. Wow! No BBQ. Yay! Thank you! The Cary Brothers are lovely too. Great melodic rock and roll. Their first album is deserving of success. Filter Party
Way too many promo people and d.j’s at the Filter Party. Among the those living it up: DTM, Agents ChaChi and Mark from U.N.C.L.E. Mase from WKZQ, Myrtle Beach, and the lovely Ellena from Mute Records.
Pipettes @ Filter Party
The buzz was so loud you could barely be there without vibrating. The party was packed. The Pipettes won’t make the world revolve any faster. They are just fun. That’s just fine with me!
Mohair @ Filter Party (Cedar Street Courtyard)
This band should be much bigger than they are (which is not very, unfortunately.) Nice guys who not only have talent – they really can craft a tune that you won’t get out of your head forever. “I’m stranded, in the midddddle of nowherrrrrrrre!”
Mando Diao @ Filter Party
I love this band. And it doesn’t get any better than going to the bathroom at the Cedar Street Courtyard and hearing three Swedish voices saying “Hello Mr. Menace from San Francisco!” Polyphonic Spree (Private Showcase)
This was apparently NOT an official showcase – it was sponsored by some
magazine or other. Three bucks to get in. Funny. If you haven’t heard P.S. sings less about the sun, the moon and the like and now sings real rock and roll and dresses all in black. Gosh golly, even the girls had dark black almost identical hair. Maybe their fearless leader is channeling Phil Spector. The new music was really wonderful – so much so that when they played the old stuff it sounded really, uh, old.
Interview with IV Thieves
Meat Puppets
We went because we couldn’t get into many of the other shows. Yes, the
Saturday night SXSW syndrome. Everyone’s in town and the lines are LONG. Since my parents taught me to only say nice things, I’ll just say that I did like the M.P.’s one hit. As for the rest of their show, I’ll keep that to myself.
Johnette Napolitano
We caught “Joey” and her last song before G.P. and she hit a note that should
have broken every glass in the place. Wow. Voices like hers are one in a million!
Graham Live - 18th Floor Hilton Garden Inn
A great way to end another South-by. The view of Sixth Street below was very purty. And the fact that we weren’t in the madness down there anymore was even better. G.P’’s cover of “Stop In The Name of Love” was unexpected and lovely. The set was less than 20 minutes though leaving the audience a bit (in Graham’s parlance) Stupefacted!
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