SXSW Day 3: Recap

Posted on by Kristen

Sorry for the delay in posting…it’s been crazy. I wrote this as a recap of Friday’s events:

I’m sitting down at the end of the day thinking about all that I just accomplished in the previous 24 hours and I’m simply floored. I refuse to believe that it was this morning that I ventured into the British Music Embassay for some breakfast (egg buttys and chips) and tunes, yet I don’t recall a breakfast I’ve had since, so it must have been! Today was particularly special because it was my birthday (YAY!) and honestly I can’t think of a better way to have spent it. Here are some highlights

* the aforementioned breakfast (seriously the food here in Austin has been amazing)

* the aforementioned British bands (ie The Good Natured)

* meeting Bob Geldof on a random park bench

* Dancing for every single band on the amazing lineup at The Force launch party at Red Eye Fly (included Little Red Radio, My Cousin The Emperor, Purple Melon, The Silent Comedy, Taylor Locke & The Roughs, Viva City, Hugo, and Deluka among others…I mean seriously I have never danced that hard for that long)

* dancing on stage with The Silent Comedy

* FINALLY seeing SINAI (jaw on the ground)

* discovering another band from Philly that blew my mind (Meriwether)

* Keaton Simons (who just makes any day a much better one)

* finally getting to see Liam Finn

* again, all the really cool and interesting people met out on the street or at the venues

* fried pickles

 

Amanda’s typing up the Day 4 recap as I post this…coming soon!

 

~ Kristen

SXSW Day 2: Another brief recap

Posted on by Amanda

Once again we find ourselves with little time for a true post but we figure it’s best to keep you cool cats in the loop (even if it’s not an extensive one). Also, you can expect us to write a more detailed post at the end of all this madness…

Our day started off in search of Twin Atlantic who somehow did not end up playing the previous day when they were supposed to. But we got an even better surprise, Doll and the Kicks! Check out this rather cool set list….

 

* Also, finally being able to see Twin Atlantic was a huge highlight!

* Dancing along to Purple Melon was pretty awesome. I always forget how good they are because they don’t have any music out 🙁

* Going to the Beaver Party and seeing Jodi Foster talk about the movie and Anton Yelchin in the crowd coupled with good food made this a really memorable party. We were sad to leave but had to move on.

* Finally getting to see Mother Mother and Empires play!

* Also, Augustana, while not what was expected, was a lovely treat.

* Seeing The Silent Comedy play (yes, again).

* Also, getting to sample tons of music and see favs Queen Caveat play twice in one day was pretty cool.

* The new discovery of Tailor Made Fable was great especially since an event like this is all about finding new band loves.

* Our day ended with a bang when we saw Lenka, Fitz and the Tantrums, Neon Trees, Taylor Locke, and Fierce Creatures play. Whew, what a day 🙂

SXSW Day 1: Quick Recap

Posted on by Kristen

Day 1 at SXSW was a rousing success! Don’t have time to write an entire post (as we’re about to start day 2), but here are some of the highligts

* following suggestion of fellow band passenger to go see The Head and The Heart (from Seattle)…they were fantastic! (very Mumford and Sons)

* seeing The Kin (TWICE). They have all new songs that are fantastic. Isaac also used a random pole for a substitute didgeridoo

* discovering the lineup at Lipstick 24 (The Stone Foxes, Empires, Saint Motel, Dead Sara, etc…)

* The Silent Comedy tearing it up at The San Diego Hoe Down

* the massive dance party we created at The Silent Comedy show at The Austin Rox Showcase

* finally seeing AWOLNATION (and living through the riot they nearly brought to Rusty Spurs)

* meeting new people who suggested new bands to check out

* being interviewed by All Together Now Showcase about this website

* ending the evening in a Dead Sara mosh

 

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day so I’m guessing today will be particularly insane. Who am I most looking forward to? SOOOO Many, but let’s go with Mother Mother who play at Lipstick 24 at 2:30 for the All Rights Reserved Showcase.

 

 

~ Kristen

New Band Alert: The PreZcotts

Posted on by Kristen

Looking for the next young pop stars? Check out The PreZcotts! Covering the likes of Heart and Metallica, these singing sisters (aged 11-16) seem to have something special. Check out the video they just released for their cover of “Nothing Else Matters” featuring the 10 year old Japanese guitar phenom, Yuto Miyazawa…wow!

 

~ Kristen

SXSW Day 0: A Story

Posted on by Kristen

If you don’t know anything about SXSW, you might, at first glance think that it is all about the music. But you’d be wrong. SXSW is really all about networking. You might think that someone only peripherally involved in the music industry (AKA The Scientist who moonlights as a music enthusiast) would not benefit as much from this aspect of the conference, but you’d be wrong.

Also, the idea that the bar is the best place to mix and mingle (a concept I’ve never really warmed up to) might not be entirely correct.  I feel like the van rides back and forth from the hotel to the conference center downtown might be the new “bar”. Last night’s transport back, lead us into conversation with a professional “foodie” (from the food network) and someone who works at Bryn Mawr College of all places (my alma mater). So I may not have been able to whisper the names of my favorite bands into some big executive’s ear over a couple of whiskey sours, but I know the best place to go eat in downtown Austin AND I got some top secret intel regarding my 5 year college reunion coming up in May.

Such random encounters really gets me excited about the unknown and unexpected possibilities for the rest of the week!

 

But back to the music, TONS to look forward to today! The Kin, The Silent Comedy, Twin Atlantic, Oh Land, AWOLNATION, The Blue Pages…all on my list for today.

 

AWOLNATION plays 10pm at Rusty Spurs for the AustinROX showase…

 

~ Kristen

(Unofficially) Day 1: SXSW Part Two

Posted on by Amanda

My oh my what a day it’s been! As you can tell I’m writing this post at 2:46 a.m. (central time) and I’m not even in bed yet. Although, I do have my pjs on.

Needless to say, it has been one crazy day full of line waiting, wristband/badge picking up, music, and food. We actually retired to the hotel around 11 to get rested, charged and ready for tomorrow. We just spent the last few hours going over our schedules for tomorrow and who wants to see what and where.

I really should be in bed right now but I just wanted to check in a share a few photos from today…

 

This was how the line looked after we spent 2 hours in line for our wristbands. I’m super glad we got there at 12 instead of any later.

 

Fader Fort Line- After our pickup

 

This is one of the four members of Viva City. Chelsea and Trina boasted about them so we decided to go see what the fuss was about after we picked up our Purevolume badges. I’m super glad we got to see them. They remind me of a hybrid of Parade of Lights and Kill Hannah but with a harder edge. I dig.

 

Viva City

Until next time.

~Amanda

p.s. Follow us on Twitter @_localmusicnat if you don’t already! We will be updating throughout the day as much as we can 🙂

Amanda’s SD Show Calendar 3/14-3/21

Posted on by Amanda

Hey folks! This post is coming to you from the backseat of Kristen’s car. We are currently in New Mexico and on our way to SXSW. If you aren’t familiar with SXSW, don’t worry because we will be posting video from our experience daily (fingers crossed) and hopefully get to chat with some bands as well!

But I digress. Despite a lot of fantastic local music being in Austin this week, there are still some great bands to see in San Diego this week. Also, you get an extra day of my calendar this week due to SXSW.

 

Monday: Little White Teeth @ Tin Can Alehouse @930 $8
AND: Cave Singers @ Casbah @9 $12

Tuesday: The Black Heart Procession, Maren Parusel, and The Hot Moon @ Soda Bar @9 $10

Wednesday: The Paragraphs @ Bar Pink @10
AND: The Midwinters @ Soda Bar @9 $5
AND: Tapes ‘N Tapes @ Casbah @9 $15
AND: Abbey Road- A Beatles Tribute @ Belly Up @8 $12 adv/$14 day of

Thursday: Tyler Hilton and Josh Damigo @ Lestats @9
AND: 80s vs. 90s with Zoo2 (U2 Tribute Band) @ Belly Up @ 9 $10 adv. $12 day of

Friday: Get Back Loretta @ Soda Bar $7
AND: A Scribe Amidst the Lions and The Howls @ Casbah @9 $8
AND: Jackson Price @ Lestats @9
AND: Stepping Feet- Dave Matthews Tribute @ Belly Up @9 $12 adv/$14 day of

Saturday: An Evening with Tainted Love @ Belly Up @9 $17 adv/$19 day of

Sunday: Devo @ Belly Up @8 $89 adv/$94 day of

Monday: Tapedeck Mountain @ Casbah @9 $8 adv/$10 day of

 

Keep in Mind:

March 22nd- Girl Talk @ Soma
March 23rd- The Appleseed Cast @ Casbah
March 24th- Fierce Creatures and Kevin Martin @ Ruby Room
March 25th- Hoots and Hellmouth @ Soda Bar
March 26th- Endoxi @ Belly Up
March 29th- Fitz and the Tantrums @ Belly Up- Sold Out!
April 2nd- Little Hurricane @ Casbah
April 3rd- A Rocket to the Moon, Valencia, and Anarbor @ Soma @630 $13 adv.
April 4th- The Sounds @ Belly Up
April 8th- Rise Against w/Bad Religion @ RIMAC Arena- UCSD
April 9th- Pete Yorn @ House of Blues
April 14th- Billy Clyro @ Belly Up
April 14th- Brandon Flowers @ House of Blues SD
May 2nd- TV on the Radio @ 4th & B
May 3rd- James Blunt @ Humphreys
May 6th- Ghostland Observatory @ 4th & B
May 6th- Chris Cornell @ Humphreys
May 6th- Fleet Foxes @ Spreckles Theater
June 11th- Airborne Toxic Event @ House of Blues