South by Southwest Music Fest - recommendations, please!

Livia · #1 03-08-2005, 11:43 PM

Yes folks, it's that time of year again - when the music, film and interactive industries invade my fair city for their spring break.

Robert Plant is the keynote speaker this year - and yes, I'll be going to see his new band, that's a no-brainer. I heard the single on the radio the other day, it's catchy!

I also plan to see the New York Dolls, and hopefully The Donnas (who are opening for Billy Idol!). And I'll be at Elysium Sat. nite for Japan nite. I like how they mixed up the genres this year for Japan nite. Petty Booka rules!

The latest season of the Real World is currently being filmed in Austin as well. Their "job" is to film a documentary - they'll be following a band throughout SXSW. I don't know who the band is, but it's probably someone local - I can't imagine you'd get much footage from just one band playing a 45-min. set in one SXSW showcase.

Okay, so here's the link - I know it's a lot to sort through, but you can click on genre, city, country, etc. to sort the list alphabetically by one of those categories. Y'all did good last year w/ the Scissor Sisters and a few others I managed to see! Thanks!!

http://2005.sxsw.com/music/

dissention · #2 03-08-2005, 11:51 PM

Is our lovely Minnie Driver performing again, Livia?

And maybe you'll meet another Soprano this year.

I'd catch The Crickets with Nanci Griffith at the Austin Music Hall, I think Griffith is pretty good.

Livia · #3 03-09-2005, 12:01 AM

Your memory is impressive! No Minnie Driver this year...she got replaced at the Oscars by Beyonce and was supposedly inconsolable. Aaaw....my uncle always says she should be a porn star w/ that name....

Yeah, I always do the Music Awards on Wed. nite, which normally ends at midnight or so. The larger venues are Antone's, Austin Music Hall, La Zona Rosa and Stubb's - so anything at those venues is pretty easy to get into, without worrying about them being full and not getting in... I'd love to catch John Doe at the Cont. Club, which only holds about 200 people.

I've been too busy at work and the rest of my nutty life to really peruse the website and the local entertainment rag is usually more forthcoming w/ the buzz band info, but I haven't heard much ado about anyone this year yet.

How about you, Tracye? I know you're gonna read this! LOL

Livia · #4 03-09-2005, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

And maybe you'll meet another Soprano this year

Look what I found - may be a good spot to mingle with Drea De Matteo again, assuming they're still together ?

http://2005.sxsw.com/music/showcases/band/20365.html

cliffdweller · #5 03-09-2005, 10:36 AM

Uh, you best believe I'll be at the Robert Plant show. Unfortunately he's playing on the same night as my girl Kathleen Edwards. Hopefully she'll be playing a day show too. I AM NOT missing Robert Plant. It's the closest I'll ever come to seeing Led Zeppelin in my lifetime.

Billy Idol and The Donnas? Better get there early! Sounds like a good show, I think I'll camp out at Stubbs that night. They are playing at Stubbs right?

Livia · #6 03-09-2005, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

Uh, you best believe I'll be at the Robert Plant show. Unfortunately he's playing on the same night as my girl Kathleen Edwards. Hopefully she'll be playing a day show too. I AM NOT missing Robert Plant. It's the closest I'll ever come to seeing Led Zeppelin in my lifetime.

Billy Idol and The Donnas? Better get there early! Sounds like a good show, I think I'll camp out at Stubbs that night. They are playing at Stubbs right?

Yep - Wed. nite. I'll have to make a mad dash from the Awards show to Stubb's, and hopefully get in!

hayley · #7 03-09-2005, 11:50 AM

I agree with Sharon about Ray LaMontagne- fantastic. And the Frames on Thursday- you really should see them. They are the best, and so good live. The new record, "Burn the Maps," is fantastic. Seriously. See. The. Frames.

On Friday, there are some great ones- Ash, Raveonettes, The Kills, Stephen Malkmus, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Rainer Maria- but the lineup at Stubb's looks fantastic. Aqualung, Bloc Party, Kasabian, a DJ set w/ Fischerspooner, and the NEW YORK DOLLS. That's what'd I do. Although No Depression has Caitlin Cary and Robbie Fulks, too.

Saturday, the only band I'd want to see is PHOENIX. I LOVE PHOENIX. Go if you want to dance.

Livia · #8 03-09-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Check out Ray LaMontagne (amazing voice) and the band Magnolia Electric Co. (very Neil Young crossed with Will Oldham), who are awesome!

Oh and Martha (sister of Rufus) Wainwright is pretty good too, as is Graham Coxon, the ex-guitarist of Blur.

Willy Mason is great, The Frames are a fantastic Irish band and their live show is a lot of fun, wow there's loads, Mary Lou Lord, Caitlin Cary, Calexico, John Cale, Idlewild...

Ed Harcourt! He's a fantastic British singer-songwriter and he's fantastic live!

Wow, the festival sounds excellent. I wish I could go.

Thanks!!!!

estranged4life · #9 03-09-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

I also plan to see the New York Dolls

http://2005.sxsw.com/music/

I thought Izzy Stradlin (Formerly of Guns N Roses) was playing with the Dolls...If so that would be worth the admission price alone

cliffdweller · #10 03-09-2005, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayley

Raveonettes

I'll be catching them at Emos. Gotta give mad props to the Scandinavian bands. They were EXCELLENT last year.

tommer · #11 03-09-2005, 03:18 PM

my highest recommendation would be Keren Ann. i'm tellin ya, she's the sweetest thing since Twix. i saw her last year in an intimate concert and i just melt, other than this must-see, you may wanna consider Embrace, John Cale, Charlie Sexton, Aimee Mann and definetly Kasabian.

hayley · #12 03-09-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

I'll be catching them at Emos. Gotta give mad props to the Scandinavian bands. They were EXCELLENT last year.

The new Raveonettes album is out in May and is AWESOME. We've been listening to it non-stop. It's got a totally different vibe, but in a good way. There's an awesome cover of "My Boyfriend's Back" on there.

I'm with Tommer, Keren Ann is great.

I can never go to SXSW. Ever. I won't eat, drink, or sleep. And I'd be depressed at all the acts I'm missing.

hayley · #13 03-09-2005, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

So glad you love The Frames, Hayley! They are adored in Ireland but haven't really made an impact anywhere else. They're a great live band. I haven't heard their new record yet though.

Livia, Bloc Party are getting loads of press here in the UK, they're being touted as the next big thing, as are Kasabian, so Hayley's right, they may be worth checking out too. Willy Mason is excellent too, not sure if I mentioned him before.
I totally missed the fact the New York Dolls are playing. Very cool.

I LOVE The Frames. They have a lot of roots here in Chicago, and are a little more well-known here than anywhere else in the states. I definitely recommend the new record- it's different, but it's good. Really, really, really, really good.

Bloc Party's starting to get buzz here, too- I like them. Kasabian I'm biased on, because I'm helping work that record, but I like them a lot too.

Livia · #14 03-09-2005, 09:45 PM

Local college paper compared Phoenix to Fleetwood Mac!

Daily Texan

"I gave my mom a copy of this CD for her birthday. She actually liked it. "It reminds me of Fleetwood Mac," she said. Actually, she wasn't so far off. It's sort of like Fleetwood Mac in their prime, only a lot cleaner, and with a French guy as a singer. Again, this comparison should be taken as a compliment, as hard as that might be to understand."

Livia · #15 03-09-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayley

I can never go to SXSW. Ever. I won't eat, drink, or sleep. And I'd be depressed at all the acts I'm missing.

You'd love it! You just gotta accept the fact that you can't be in two (or five or ten) places at once! My rule is to fly solo - I'll tell my friends what MY plans are, if I run into someone, great. If not, I'll make new friends! Or just enjoy the music. That's the advice I give - and wear comfy shoes, bring a larger purse than you think you'll need - you will collect all kinds of schwag (sp?). People literally hand out CDs, stickers, keychains, etc., like candy to kiddies on Halloween.