SXSW Overview

It should be another good year.Despite the inevitable controversy that swirls around the event,with 1750 bands you can`t really go wrong.The question is,which of these 1750 bands do you want to see,since you`ve never heard of any of them?And which one of the dozens of day parties should you attend?So many bands,So little time.That`s where this blog comes in.I will attempt to sift the wheat from the chaff and get to the germ of the good shit.Roland and Louis`s bizarre war on non-SXSW events may push them a little more underground,as in not listing their event online.But with over 60 parties every day last year those guys are just pissing into the wind.I also heard that a lot of the big name acts were bailing because of lack of record company support.This may account for the lack of an announced show Friday at Auditorium Shores.
For me the party always starts Tuesday nite on Red River.All the best local bands are playing for free at Emos,Red 7,Beauty Bar(2 stages each)plus Room 710,Red Eyed Fly,Beerland,Mohawk,etc.This nite is the closest thing to old SXSW,where you can actually move from bar to bar easily until you find a band you like.Also its not too crowded yet.
Wed day scene is also concentrated on Red River.By now lots of out of towners are in town looking for something to do until dark.Its funny and kind of pathetic to see all the black leather,tattoos,piercings,sallow complexions and fashion disasters in the harsh light of day.These parties can sometimes be good for free food and booze.I`ll try to note this where possible.
Wed nite is the 1st nite of wristbands but is usually easy to get around because the locals are all at the music awards and all the tourists haven`t shown up yet.Hi-lites include REM at Stubbs at midnite,The Slits and The Dicks at Flamingo Cantina,and Mexican nite at Opal`s.
Thursday the day shows really kick in gear.There`s a big punk rock throwdown at the Typewriter Museum on the east side with Gorch Foch and a cast of thousands.Also a cool show at Lombardi Gallery featuring The Dicks and friends from 6-10.Also the usual down town and S Congress action.More info on that as they emerge.
Thursday nite brings Susan Cowsill & The Cowsills at a church for a blast from the past.Brazilian bands at Copa,More rock en Espanol at Flamingo Cantina,Trombone Shorty from New Orleans at Fado at 10,Argentine bands at Ninety Proof Lounge(?),zydeco with Geno DelaFose followed by mega-band 17 Hippies from Berlin at 9 at Momo`s,A cool line up of bands from Barcelona at Red Eyed Fly,MGMT at The Rio(?),Black Mountain at the Mohawk.
Friday nite starts with former house guests The Golden Dogs at The Ale House on 6th(in the alley),more rock en Espanol at The Dirty Dog Bar,Japan nite at Elysium,N Miss.All Stars close out Opels,MGMT(again) at Stubbs.
Sat nite my house guests this year ,The NORTONS,play at 10 at Club 115 as part of Brazil nite.Copa has world music with bands from Senegal,Zimbabwe, and Trinidad.More world music is Tanya Tagag,Inuit throat singer from Canada(more on her later),Cherine Anderson from Jamaica,White Shoes& the Couples Co. from Indonesia,The Soundtrack of Our Lives(played ACL) from Sweden,and an avant garde singer/performance artist from Berlin.Headliners are X, The Donnas and The Raveonettes at Emos.It will be hopelessly packed.Try The Slits at Flamingo instead.
Sunday save a few brain cells for Leann`s Big Barn Dance.Location TBA.