Go out and support the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians by hitting up any or all of the businesses in Austin that are donating a portion of proceeds to HAAM to continue to provide Austin musicians affordable and no-cost health benefits. Many musicians who support and/or benefit from HAAM services are playing around town today in support for the organization, so I recommend you heading out today and buy some beer and/or food at the venues, restaurants, and stores to make your contribution.
I plan catching Quiet Company, Akina Adderly and the Vintage Playboys, Robet Ellis and Reckless Kelly in the parking lot of Waterloo Records beginning at 4:30pm this afternoon. More locals such as Toni Price, Dana Falconberry, Not in the Face, and even Opposite Day are playing too. Check out the listing of times and venues here.
Also, Google Places is having a nice little shindig down at B.D. Riley's that includes a free drink when you show the staff your Google Places app on your smartphone or Ipad. Be sure to download that here if you ain't got it already so you can have your first drink on their tab.
I'm gonna work this in too -$1 Lonestars at The Libertyon the East side. Drink and contribute! Support your local musicians and their health too!
Yesterday as I was driving myself to Georgetown, Texas to rehearsal I received an email from VICE magazine inviting me to a night of free music, free beer, and free The Black Angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy smokes! If you didn't get the email basically here are the details:
VICE and Jansport are presenting The Black Angels are Lustre Pearlbeginning at 4pm (according to the email) on September 23, 2011 in Austin. What's the deal and why are they doing this? Well, to promote Jansport backpacks of course and the kickoff starts here in Austin, The Black Angels hometown, for their Unzipped tour.
RSVP here for entry and free PBR and free food. If you miss it this time, I guess you can try to catch them on New Year's Eve when they end their last stop on tour back at Emos in Austin.
I ain't going to Austin City Limits Music Festival this year..again. I have been to every single ACL Music fest but this year, due to being a stage manager for a show in Georgetown, I do not have the time to split between the festival & work/tech week. I definitely wanted to see Stevie Wonder, too.
Not going either? Whatever the reason I don't blame you. Since my first ACL Music Festival in 2002, the festival grows bigger and bigger each and every year. This is a great thing, don't get me wrong, especially for a local Austin-based entertainment booking/staging company like C3 Presents. However, with that growth for a local music festival comes greater & bigger acts/band/performers....aaaaaaand within that comes more $$$ for C3 to bank on for purchase sales and sell-outs (I'm talking ticket sales here). Hell, they took $150 bucks from me for purchasing 3 three-day passes at the 'early bird' price. I got those tickets at a steal compared to what folks are selling their ACL 3-day passes for here.
According to astudy commissioned by C3, ACL is expected to have $73 million dollars pumped into the local restaurants, hotels, bars, etc! You got 70,000 attendees coming to the festival that are hungry, thirsty, and don't want to walk all the way back to their car after the festival and/or wait in the long bus line. Last year the Austin Parks Foundation benefited from2.34 million dollars in monies to have to improve the Zilker Park grounds to increase more tree coverage, an irrigation system, plant more grass, add benches, etc from C3's profit. It takes a lot of money to get the festival going, up, and running as well as keeping those that come from afar happy. And I don't know about you, but if I hadn't snagged those $50 three day passes a week after ACL Music Fest 2010 (a week in October right before Halloween), I don't think I could shell out almost $200 bucks cash for a pass or wristband even if I wanted to....
Ditch the Fest 2 has now become a benefit where most of the proceeds will be donated to the Texas Red Cross for the wildfire victims from Bastrop county. You can see as many bands as you can catch this year at 5 venues: Cheer Up Charlies, Red 7, Beauty Bar, the Scoot Inn, and Club De Ville.
What's great about Ditch the Fest 2:
local live music from bands that live or based out of Austin
local venues - a $2 per venue you can see the whole lineup or hop around with a wristband for $5 from venue to venue (except Club De Ville)
schedule of band set times range from 2pm - 2am at each venue
FREE SHINER BOCK from Birds Barbershop (as supplies last) - with 5 venues to choose from essentially if one is out you can go to the next..
local art and performance art at venues during band set times
photo booth, belly dance, screen printing, etc!
most proceeds are going directly to an organization that will benefit all of our friends, neighbors, and family members that have experienced the recent wildfire crisis (i don't see Rick Perry giving monies out of his political presidential campaign fundraisers)
it's all away from the festival, Zilker Park, and this party goes on until 2am and doesn't have to stop at 10:30pm.
no wait in line (unless you spot the free beer line and that gets crunk)
no sunscreen needed (well, maybe minimal sunscreen if you hit it hard beginning at 2pm when Ditch the Fest begins)
no overpriced $6-$8 12 oz beers - hell, you may end up watching a band(s) around happy hour
no need to worry about where you parked your car or if you can find parking (take your bike, yo!)
you don't have to lug around a chair in a bag or make sure your bottled waters stay sealed
This show, "Curated by: The Black Angels", at The Mohawk this Saturday night for free (with RSVP here) will include Austin's own Shapes Have Fangs, Smoke and Feathers, The Ripe. This will be a night of free, local, southern psychedelic folk/rock from musicians you have no choice but to go check out and listen to whether you heard of them or not. (It's free so why the hell not?)
Vice Magazine and Vitamin Water have teamed up to present "Uncapped Live" at The Mohawk, with an open bar of Corona's (9pm-10pm), after making a Dallas stop & 13 other cities across the country. Other cities included in the tour were/will be Cincinnati, San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Gainesville, Philly, New York, and more. Curators included The Thermals, The Black Lips, Against Me!, The Love Language, and The Soft Pack.
Shapes Have Fangs, signed to The Reverberation Appreciation Society(Austin Psych Fest artists), have been a local favorite of mine for 3 1/2 years now. I love their 50's throwback sound that reminds me of psychedelic surf rock. I am excited to see they are headlining this small showcase and will be thrilled to hear Smoke Like Feathers and The Ripe. Give me obscurity and droned out psychedelic sounds.
I got a chance to catch the DUM DUM Girls play during SXSW '11 at Waterloo Records this past year. I had their show on the list of "Must See" during this years SXSW lineup only to be able to catch some of the sounds from their upcoming album, Only in Dreams, set to be released on September 27th, 2011. I am a huge fan of their 2010 LP release, released weeks after SXSW 2010, called I Will Be which played out to be almost like a nice tribute to 60's girl groups with some punk thrown into the mix. I dig it. I jammed that album hard for at least 3 months straight.
According to Sub Pop and an interview with Dee Dee, the groups leader, Only in Dreams is more polished and a little more pop driven. The Dum Dum Girls, excitingly, teams up with Richard Gottehrer (The Ravonettes, Go Go's and Blondie) & Sune Rose Wagner (The Ravonettes) on this new album . Having heard most of (and love) He Gets Me High EP at SXSW this past year, I think this next Dum Dum Girls album will be excellent.
....and guess what? Look who is coming to the Mohawk next week to headline forSailor Jerry's Austin Psych Fest on August 12th? You should go just to hear and see some of their latest & new songs from the upcoming album.
Austin's own, Shapes Have Fangs (a local favorite of mine) with UFO Club and Night Beats are scheduled to play before The Dum Dum Girls take the stage. Get there early, you know the Mohawk's capacity is less than 900? Yup, it is.
Dude. It's all free too. RSVP here, if it ain't too late.
In 2001, when I moved to Austin, I went out in search for a 24 hour coffee shop to study in and relax that wasn't Kens Donuts (I like the place but their coffee is instant) by campus. I decided to venture off away from Guadalupe & West campus and finally found Epoch Coffee on North Loop.
I also found other locally owned stores & shops like Hog Wild, the Sign and Graphics shop, Pharas, The Musical Exchange, Monkeywrench Books, Counter Culture, and my favorite - The Parlor.
We've all done it. If you have been to the Parlor between 8pm and 11pm (dinner time) you most likely had to walk right in front of the band, playing for a damn good pizza and a pitcher of Lonestar, to get the counter to place your order. I have probably walked in front of at least 100 bands on various nights to eat a slice and have a few pints of tasty local beer. Bands like Cruiserweight, Bestview, Girl in a Coma, Red Leaves, the Offbeats, Joan of Arc, Guns of Navarrone, and a shit ton of other friendbands and local bands from around the neighborhood and Austin. It was the best place to go see free local music & eat a fresh pizza with fresh vegetables & damn good cheese (and in 2001 they were one of the few that made their pizza fresh with vegan cheese & have always had it as an option).
It sadden me to read that The Parlor North Loop will be closing due to an 'unexpected & substantial increase in rent, as well a short lease option' in 2 weeks. Although there is another location The Parlor Hyde Park, I am still going to miss the HELL out of the North Loop location. I discovered local bands like Red Leaves and even saw my hometown favorite band, Girl in a Coma, play for free. I even remember showing up to a Red Leaves show and couldn't make it inside because there were so many people standing outside due to it being at capacity inside. Singer, David, and Marcos were friends I most likely always saw busting ass behind the counter making pizza, taking phone orders, setting the band up, and keeping the music in the jukebox real and badass. I always loved that you can find handwritten song lists/albums on the back of order tickets from Jon Wayne's Texas Funeral to Modest Mouse's The Lonesome Crowded West - (sometimes there would be pictures too that corresponded to the music).
Back patio mural at The Parlor North Loop
Last time I went to the Parlor was about 2 months ago while I was on bike. Despite the newbies that have popped up on North Loop Blvd like East Side Pies Too!, The Tigress Pub, Foreign & Domestic, Blackbird Clothing, and some other vintage store that isn't Blue Velvet or Room Vintage (anyone know the name?), I always went back for a slice at The Parlor. It was the lighting (red lighting undertone), the tattoo'd pizza makers/bike commuters, free local music, and the back patio that I love to go back to. It reminds me of friends and my first time discovering The Parlor. I'm gonna miss it.
There will be music to be had still, while it lasts, pizza to be eaten, and beer to be drank at The Parlor North Loop Closing- June Farewell Music Fest 2011 beginning Monday, June 13th. I plan on making it out to catch Bitter Birds (June 17th), Wino Vino (June 19th) and the last night of the location's opening on Tuesday, June 21st to see what "Very Special Guests" will be playing at 11pm. Check out which bands are playing and make it out. Seriously. Or go eat some pizza and have some beer there. Support local businesses and let the neighborhood know you will miss The Parlor by bringing this little pizza joint, that will be dearly missed by all, to CAPACITY!!!!
Beck was hired by Thurston Moore to help produce Demolished Thoughts.
Thurston wrote the album over a period of 2 years and produced in Beck's studios in LA.
It's so damn good & beautiful. I lost myself when I submerged myself into it.
Go listen to it here.
It is OVERWHELMING to go through all of the fliers, emails, links, posts, Twitter links, and verbal recommendations of all that is coming for SXSW. There are SO many websites that you can go through yourself if you want to see what/who is playing here.
If you haven't made it through my first 3 posts and sign up for the parties I recommended for the first 3 days of the SXSW Music go here:
Ready for what's going down on Day 4 of SXSW Music? I am and you should be too if you're as serious as me when it comes to music.
Today Rachael Ray released herSXSW Feedback Partylink here.
Bands to play this year include Tapes 'N Tapes, The Bravery, The Cringe, Das Racist, Royal Bangs, and Bob Scheider, and more. Rachael's SXSW parties are ALWAYS free, at Stubb's, free food, and last year they had free margaritas and daiquiri's at an open bar. This year the RSVP information says you will need a badge so you should probably click here and let them know you're coming.
FYF Fest and the people/entertainment company for FunFunFun Fest will be throwing a killer free party at the East Side Drive In from 11:30am - 6pm. Looks like there may be some Sailor Jerry Rum to consume and Zigenbock as listed as 2 of the many sponsors for Mess With Texas Party. Go here to RSVP. This site/RSVP link crashed twice this afternoon because of the amount of folks who have already go their name on the list. GO!!!!!!!!! Dead Milkmen, The Dodos, !!!, Surfer Blood, Deer Tick, and more to play!
I like the name of this event that will be taking place at someone's backyard off East 11th Street. Township Records, Rock Proper & Stic-of-the-Week presents Hipster Skinny Jeans Invasion Party. You got to RSVP through this link and get ready to hear some music from Pretty Good Dance Moves, Dead Eyes, J Wesley Haynes Trio, Gemini Club, The Noise FM, and more. See full line up here so you won't miss a band/musician you wanna check out like these folks:
Over 4,000 people have RSVP to this:
I am not sure who is playing but looks like there will be FREE SHINER at this show called The Big One. Last year I had a problem with this same show due to the fact that they let in only wristbands and badges. Not sure what is going down this year but I am guessing Do512 is has a big surprise in the coming weeks as to who will be playing. RSVP here.
Urban Outfitters off the Dragalways has some great bands lined up for you to check out as well as FREEEEEEE BEER!!!!! See who plays which lot and when here. No RSVP needed just show up! This website is great to read interviews from the bands who will be playing! Thank you UO! Saturday's lineup includes Beach Fossils, Josh T. Pearson, Eternal Summers, Reading Rainbow, and more. See it here.
Reggies SXSW Showcase at The Jackalope looks like a great punk/rock show to attend for FREE if you RSVP here. FREE BEER, gift bags, and a free show!
The Modern Time Machines will be having a party in my neighborhood at BackSpin Records on March 19th from Noon to 5pm. This is definitely a great place to have a show considering how much chaos will be going down in downtown Austin. Read about who is playing and let them know you are showing up. Free beer?
AMPM sound is hosting a SXSW rap/dj party from 7pm - 2am (not a day party!) at The Revolution Bar off Webberville Rd (East Austin) calledRock Versus NOT!. The Triggermen, MC Frontalot, Jesse Dangerously and more will be playing. For complete line up click here.
If you want to see the most unique, awesome, and quirky bands I would suggest going to the7th Annual C.A.R.P. Bizarre B-Q(Central for Art Rock Policy) SXSW showcase at The Carousel Lounge (off 52nd street) to see Opposite Day, Invisible Czars, Muppletone, Bee VS Moth, and Shaolin Death Squad. This is a great venue because the bar inside is only set up for beer but it is a BYOLiquor bar RIGHT NEXT TO Chris' Liquor - a local and small liquor store with lots of cheap and good liquor to purchase. Full lineup and schedule here.
(((Detox by Retox))) is going to be a great party to get into if you RSVP here. According to their FBpage any of the Facebook friends of Couchprofessor Fambly Austin will get priority admittance over even the sponsors guest list. Befriend them here. FREE BEER and/or liqour beverages are promised as well as some really great bands like this one:
BAMM.tv "No Badge, No Problem" Fan Appreciation party at Palm Door on Saturday is promised to have FREE BEER/food beginning at 1pm - 6pm. Ouch - looks like RSVP and tickets have been given out but I bet it doesn't matter day of - just show up.AB and the Sea, Thao & The Get Down, Great Lake Swimmers, and more will be playing!
Brooklyn Vegan and ProfoundLore Records are putting up a pretty snazzy metal music showcase with music from Combs, Dark Castle, The Body, Deafheaven, Graceyon, Batillus, Wolvhammer, Castevet, Altaar. It is all going down at Lovejoy's.
The Vibe House will be hosting a free SXSW party at Venue 222 (on east 6th street) with live shows all night and music all day. This is a R&B, hip hop, and rap event. Read more here - no specific acts listed or specifics but I did see Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at this house last year sponsored by Vibe Magazine for free so I'd say they're legit.
The Axis of Audio is probably one party I mentioned before however on Sat, March 19th The Greenhornes, A Place to Bury Strangers, Astronautalis, The Gay Blades and MORE will be playing at The Rumbler Lounge (402 E 6th Street) for freeeee!!!!! Party starts at 12pm and I would get there early if you want to see any of the big acts.
Next post coming this weekend featuring what apps to download for your Iphone or Android to use/abuse while you roam around downtown, east side, central, or South Austin during the week of SXSW.
I have been running across many great links for information on what parties will have who playing, what's free, where the party will be at, and the rest of the details. Below are some helpful links and databases to get you going without having to rely on all the recommended RSVP's and parties I give you.
Try them out for yourself:
Austin 360 has an EXCELLENT database here for all SXSW showcase dates. You can specify what criteria you want to pull up by date, whether there will be free beer or food, and even as which SXSW events (Interactive, Film, Music, or All) you are interested in attending that day. Thanks to Dee Toxin (she's the 3rd one down on that link) for sharing this Austin 360 database link with me!
Go here for SXSW Side Parties Database 2011.
Do512 has always been my go-to website to check out ANY and all local shows (and not so local shows) any time of the year. This year they have a nice and snazzy look/feel to their website when it comes to informing you about all official and unofficial SXSW shows. Check it out here. You will have to sign up for an account or if you are familiar with Do512 and have a login then you know how awesome and informative the website can be. All dates for SXSW have a running looonnnnng list of official and unofficial SXSW showcases. In fact, most of the RSVP links I have already put up are straight from Do512 website. They are compiling RSVP lists for the sponsors, showcases, and production companies coming to SXSW so be sure to click away. Warning: you may need an hour (at least) to go through all the information on the Do512 website.
Twin Shadow, Wavves, Bright Eyes, The Strokes, Blue October, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Middle Brother, and more will be playing a FREE concert each night during SXSW Music at Auditorium Shores. Complete lineup and set times for these bands can be found here. Be sure to figure out who you want to see and get down there early. This is an open park so you cannot bring any open containers or alchohol - at least according to this.
Republic of Austin blog has posted 25 SXSW 2011 Free Party RSVP's to get you started on where/when the best FREE parties hosted by PBS and Friends, Android, Gowalla, Dixies, Village Voice, and more. All complete with RSVP links as well.
My Free Concert blog also has TONS of links and party information here for SXSW all organized for you from a New Yorker blogger.
Lastly, SCHED* SXSW 2011 Blog has BOTH official and unofficial showcases listed here by date. You can even search/skim for the band(s) you want to see, find out the venue and time they'll play, as well as any RSVP links you may need to visit before attending these FREE SXSW events.
Overwhelmed yet with all the information and resources you can use to find out where to party?
Not me....I'm just getting started.
I am in between making spreadsheets, getting my calendar all filled out with what to do/when/where, and keeping myself as damn organized as I can be with all of this crazy information and freeeeeee shows!
Here is more for you to consider and/or go to on March 18th, 2011 - Day 3 of SXSW Music.
Sea Shepard Conservation Society is throwing a pretty snazzy SXSW party from March 16th - March 18th at Annie's West. The organization is known for supporting and stopping illegal whaling operations that happen in the ocean waters in the South of Japan. They are teaming up with popantipop to bring you a lineup from She Wants Revenge, A Place to Bury Strangers, The Photo Atlas, Colour Revolt!, and more. RSVP here for some fun!
Headhunters will get down and dirty (and probably sweaty) at this day show on March 18th from 2pm - 6pm with some awesome metal. No RSVP link but you may want to get there early so you can get in. Headhunters is small. Metal Sucks blog hosts SXSDeath:
Waterloo Recordshas announced some GREAT bands playing everyday of SXSW at their 6th and Lamar location. Get the lineup here for March 18th and let them know you are attending. They will have an outdoor stage set up outside with capacity at about 1500 people. If you can't get in you can always post up near Book People across the street and get your music fix. These shows are gonna be funnnnn!
Here is the lineup for March 18th at Waterloo Records:
NOON Moondoggies
1:00pm Dum Dum Girls
2:00pm Joy Formidable
3:00pm La Sera
3:30pm The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
4:00pm Oh Land
5:00pm ...Trail Of Dead
6:00pm Cloud Nothings
Sonicbid's Official SXSW Party sounds like a banging good time. RSVP here and show up at Maggie Mae's between 11:30am - 5:30pm. Lineup includes The Seedy Seeds, Black Atlantic, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Eastern Conference Champions, and more. Full line up here. (warning: there is no indication of needing a badge or wristband so check it out before committing to a line.)
Emos Annex will be holding it down with another metal fest on March 18th. Get there early since there is no RSVP and everyone gets in. Lineup on poster here:
The First Annual Matchbox Showcase will feature several bands like The Canvas Waiting, David Ramirez, The Soldier Thread and more here at Antone's during the day. There will be free breakfast by Mel's Meals and free pizza from Mr. Gatti's. RSVP here just in case you need to be on the list before getting in.
My Old Kentucky Blog presents a nice snazzy show for free at Peckerheads, if you RSVP here, with Das Racist, Asobi Seksu, Burnt Ones, Turbo Fruits, and more. Check full line up here.
The Texas Tornado Day Party day 2 looks fun and awesome to attend. Free with RSVP here. Shows on March 18th will be at Red Eyed Fly. You can even bring in 2 friends with just one name on the list. Lineup on poster:
REDEFINE Magazine will be hosting a day party at the House of Commons on March 18th between 12pm - 11pm. This is free and you may want to RSVP here just in case since this isn't a venue (it's a Co-Op house). It is a BYOB event and if you are early enough there will be "snacks" says their info page here. Acts you can see include Woodsman, Casiokids, Brahms, Future Blondes, Moon Duo, and more.
You're back and hopefully you are ready to get down with some suggestions, bands, and day parties that are FREE to attend on day 2 of SXSW Music.
Here is what I recommend signing up for and attending on Thursday March 17th:
Last year I got to try Brooklyn Lager for the first time at their day party at Iron Gate off east 6th street. I had a blast, got really drunk, and heard some fantastic bands I had not heard of. This year Brooklyn Lager is hosting a Brooklyn BBQ party. 30 bands are slated to play on three stages with FREE BBQ!!!!! You must RSVP to get in. Bands to play: The Gay Blades, Supermachines, Black Taxi, The Dig, Weird Owl, Austin's own The Black and White Years, Michael Kingcaid (from What Made Milwaukee Famous), Butcher Bear Soundsystem, and more. There will be free beer from Brooklyn Lager, screen printing, DJ's, and even some video installations.
Michael Kingcaid cannot be missed:
Hollerado's Nacho House has a great lineup of pop music from Montreal at Beauty Bar. RSVP for an open bar, free nachos, and sounds from Mr Heavenly (modest mouse, manman, and michael cera - from Juno - on bass) Palmbomen, Superhumanoids, The Moondoggies, Hollerado, and more. You can bring up to 3 guests in for free so be sure to RSVP.
I saw Mr Heavenly at The Scoot Inn in 2010 and you may want to be ready for screaming ladies if Michael Cera shows up to play bass. It got crazy crunk as soon as they walked out on stage to play...kinda like this reaction from the crowd:
Beerland will be throwing some some great psychedelic music with Sarced Bones, Stereogum, and Chaos in Tejas during the day as well with bands Moon Duo, TRUST, Human Eye, Fresh & Onlys, Circle Pit, Pop. 1280, Cult of Youth, Veronica Falls, Los Robertas Big Freedia, Amen Dunes, and a "special surprise guest headliner" who is yet to be unnamed. More info here and no RSVP link for this one.
Trumer Pils Afternoon Social will have their day 2 showcase of music at Klub Krucial with bands Living Things, Honeymoon Thrillers, Maren Parusel, The Lonely Forest, Guy Runner and full line up here. Free swag from sponsors and no badge required.
Off the Record: Berklee's Unofficial SXSW Party at the Lucky Lounge looks pretty fun. There will be music showcased from alumni and students that attended/go to Berklee's College of Music. No word on free anything but there will be music! Full line up here at their FB page.
Under the Radar magazine will be throwing a free showcase to feature The Dodos, The Atlas Sound (their only SXSW show), Menomena, Okkervil River, Owen Pallet, Surfer Blood and more. NO RSVP required but if you want in at the Flamingo Cantina you WILL need to get there EARLY!
Set times for March 17th:
5:00 PM: Atlas Sound (only SXSW show)
4:05 PM: The Dears
3:15 PM: Lord Huron
2:25 PM: Anna Calvi
1:35 PM: Yuck
12:45 PM: The Dodos
12:00 PM: Violens
March 18th set times:
5:00 PM: Okkervil River
4:05 PM: Menomena
3:15 PM: Telekinesis
2:25 PM: Surfer Blood
1:35 PM: Owen Pallett
12:45 PM: Hooray for Earth
12:00 PM: Porcelain Raft
March 17th is St. Patrick's Day in case you forgot and there will be an Irish music showcase to attend for free at the Seaholm Power Plant. Party starts at noon and goes until 9pm. No RSVP needed since this is an open and large venue. I can't find a better reason not to go and listen to some Irish music from all over the world including a band from Mexico City. More information here.
At Ruta Maya coffeehouse off S. Congress is slated to have some great reggae music to go check out away from the downtown chaos of SXSW with their ATX Wildfire showcase. Great thing about this showcase is it lasts the whole duration of the SXSW Music days. No RSVP or badges needed. Show up, get some coffee (or beer) and jam out. The entertainment/booking company is called Free Beer Entertainment. I bet there will be some free beer involved considering that.
The High Five! Party Party! promises to have a free Irish breakfast if you get down there early at The Elysium. Plus another chance to catch Mr Heavenly and other bands like The Eastern Sea, Young Girls, CHAPPO, Database, DJ Spooky, and more. RSVP here.
I like this flyer and The Boxing Lesson.
PENROSE presents Woodward Ave Massacre . The day party has a ton of bands (see them here) that will be playing at an unknown location (at least that I am unaware of) on 5800 Woodward Avenue. This is another one of those music showcases away from the downtown and east area of Austin.
The Village Voice has put out this flyer but no other information in terms of who will be playing besides Ume and Wild Flag. Their SXSW party will be at the Austin Music Hall this year from 3pm-7:30pm and will probably be a good one. The last 5 years I have been to their party I have seen some remarkable acts for free!!!! Oh, and RSVP here.
This showcase looks wonderful and ideally I would like to say that in the past 3 years I have yet to be able to stay and see the headliners play at Filter Magazine's SXSW day parties. The guestlist is limited and they always end up letting badge and wristband holders in before anyone else. By the time everyone with badges and wristbands get in you are out of luck. The venue hits capacity very soon and stays that way throughout the day and into the evening. Either way, great bands and musicians will be at this showcase. RSVP and maybe this year we can get in! let's just see what happens and play it by ear. Oh and free beer and BBQ here too.
We're 4 weeks down until this whole town gets filled up fast with musicians, panel speakers, corporate and non corporate record labels, sponsors, banners, rolling amplifiers down 6th street, day parties, morning parties, free taco parties, free beer parties, meet some new friends, reconnect with old friends, and hear some damn good music. SWSX is about to take over Austin.
If you are anything like me you look forward to all of what SXSW brings to Austin. I love the diverse crowds, the weather always seems so perfect, and there are so many FREE events you can go to, see, eat at, dance at, and drink at.
The RSVP links have been flooding in lately so do your best to find the shows/parties you want to go to and GOGOGOGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please note all bands and links below are for Day 1 of the SXSW Music showcase, all are free to attend, and most have free beer and/or food!
This is one show I just read about this morning and I immediately was super excited about. Das Racist, Bodega Girls, Shinobi Ninja, and more at The Speakeasy on March 16th. There is no link to RSVP but if you want to be at this RapRocks!SXSW show you better get there early like I intend to do and wait it out. I am sure Das Racist will be playing towards the end of the party. It all begins at 1pm.
Also, on opening day there is this:
Show up at the French Legation Museum one the first day of the SXSW Music week. Free tacos, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lonestar beer, and music, music, music! The French Legation Museum was one of the funnest venues to go to during SXSW last year and about late afternoon is when they venue would hit capacity. Get thurrrrr early!
Go here to see what bands will be playing at this NO BADGE event : Trumer Pils Afternoon Social with free swag given away from DVS Shoes and Matix Clothing. The party is at Klub Krucial (you know, that shady club that is always closed next to the other door at Emos - off 6th.) and goes from 12pm - 6pm. Let them know you are attending so the sponsors can be prepared to give you some snazzy stuff.
I love local Chicken Ranch Recordswho manages/supports White Ghost Shivers, Tiger!Tiger!, Blue Eyed Blacks, Mr Lewis and the Funeral 5, and more. On March 16th come out to Ranch By Chicken Ranch 2011 to see The Moonlight Towers, Beautiful Supermachines, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5, The Woggles, and Peelander-Z. There will be free BBQ and free beer while it lasts! Party starts at 12pm and goes til 5:30pm at The Elysium. Get a sampler of the bands here at CRR website. You should probably RSVP here too.
Sometimes big time corporations have SXSW day parties like Team Android! Add your name here to the waitlist and as soon as a ticket becomes available you can go to this event on March 13th at Lustre Pearl. If you were early enough you got a VIP badge. Open bar and free Bomb Tacos for the event.
The Full Metal Texasshowcase are always my favorite to go check out to see some awesome Texas metal bands kick some major ass (and each others). This SXSW they are back and they have teamed up with Brooklyn Vegan to showcase bands like:
ALL PIGS MUST DIE
BETTER LEFT UNSAID
DRIVE A
ELYSION FIELDS
HULL
RWAKE
TRAP THEM
(I put them in caps because metal heads SCREAAAAAAM!!!) No RSVP link and no need to put your name on any list. Show up and get there early.
WOOHOO!!!! Saint Arnold Brewing Co. will be hosting a SXSW party at the Ginger Man called SXSaintArnold. Bands included in the line up are The Ugly Beats, The Freddie Steady, Thunderchiefs, Eve and the Exiles, and Al Staehely. No RSVP link or information on how to get in. I am sure there will be free beer. I really dig Thunderchiefs' sound. If you like rockabilly music and throwback to the 60's you will like Thunderchiefs.
On March 16th The Austinist will be hosting a Kickoff Party w/Twin Shadow, Cloud Nothing, Royal Bangs, Givers and Cloud Control. The party is at The Mohawk all FREE! No link to get in just plan to get there early since The Mohawk always ends up filling up fast during SXSW. You'll definitely dance to this lineup.
BAAMO's 8th Annual Florida Bandangoday party at Yard Dog will feature Tampa Bay, Florida's best bands like Sleepy Vikings, The Beauvilles, Have Gun Will Travel, Poetry 'n Lotion, and The Human Condition. I love going to the Yard Dog during SXSW because 1) it gets funky packed, 2) there is ALWAYS free beer, 3) you get to see some great local art from Austin artists and 4) you get to hear/see bands you'd eventually end up drinking a beer next to at the about-to-be-floating keg. Also, apparently there will be FREE alligator chili (yum!) and Ybor-City cigars (some of Tampa City's best cigars). Hmmmmmhmmmm, tasty! Party starts at 12noon and goes til 6:30pm. Also, Yard Dog put up a list of SXSW shows they will be hosting this year here.
I do love me some Have Gun, Will Travel:
Brooklyn v The Bay will be hosting a party at Red Eyed Fly with bands Dodos, John Vanderslice, The Mumlers, Delicate Steve, and more. See the lineup & schedule of bands to play here and RSVP here. You MUST be on the list in order to attend the show. Also, the Do512 link states there will be an open bar beginning at 12 noon when doors open.
DC Does Texasat Lovejoys will end up having Dogfish Head beer as refreshments as you hear Carol Bui, Deleted Scenes, Typefighter, True Womanhood, The Caribbean, These United States, y mas. See the lineup here and catch some great Washington bands like this one: Deleted Scenes - Ithaca from Ben Rowny on Vimeo.
Southern Hemisphere Sounds presents Music from Below the Equatorday show at Aussie's Bar and Grill. Free event and make sure to RSVP here. Party starts at noon and goes til 11:30pm. Bands from South Africa, Australia, Peru, Chile, and even a local Austin band Dead Black Hearts.
SUB.CONSCIOUS x METHODS NYC presents a full day of hip hop and rap music from LA, Atlanta, NYC, and Houston & Austin, Texas acts at 6th Street bar Barcelona. RSVP here on Facebook, take a look at the lineup & schedule as well as some of the sponsors here.
I am really happy Spiderhouse will continue to showcase bands every day during SXSW for FREE!!!!!! This allows me to be pulled away from the chaos that stirs downtown Austin during the week and I get to chill out under nice beautiful trees & drink for cheap. SXSW-anso Party at Spiderhouse will feature bands from all over the world on 2 stages of fun music acts for you to see between noon and 10pm everyday. No RSVP needed just drop on by. I am a fan of New Zealand's Surf City (aka Kill Surf City) who plays on Wed, March 16th. I saw them open for Ladyhawke back in 2008.
If you want to hear some "damn good music" of shoegaze, darkwave, electro type of showcase (not to be labeled as coldwave, goth, or industrial music as their FB page states) for free make it out toSynth by Southwest: The Blacklist III at 1500 East 6th street. Art v Industry, Chant, subNatural, Reagan Jones, and more will be playing for free from 6pm to 2am. No wristband, badge, or RSVP needed. Go here to see the lineup.
Again, all shows above are day parties (most), happening on March 16th (opening day of the SXSW Music showcase) and are FREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
We're less than 4 1/2 weeks away until the official SXSW begins right in our neighborhood(s) and it's time to get you some information now before parties/events/badges/tickets/wristbands get sold out or filled up. I'm here to educate you first.
SXSW officially begins March 11th with the Interactive and Film festivals where you can see Lt. Jim Dangle from Reno 911 and watch trailers of the movies to premiere here. The Music festival dates are officially March 16th - 20th. Now when I mean "officially" I mean this - where you gots to drop down $700 - or $750 at a walk up rate (this is a good hundred more than my rent) for just a music badge that gives you access to all 'official' SXSW showcases, artist/label Q&A sessions and panels, free BBQ, a softball tournament, a fancy ass bag w/swag in it, some flatstock posters, and in to all the 'official' SXSW music parties. Now that price and those perks are ONLY if you want to see the music portion of the festival. If you want to enjoy the film aspect AND the music you will have to come up with at least $900 or $950 if you walk up day of the festival.
Yes, prices are absurd and frankly let me tell you this - do not spend more than $100 TOTAL the whole week of the festival if you are a local! You DO NOT need to buy a music festival pass to have fun during SXSW. I have been rolling for free the last 4 years at SXSW and have yet to purchase a badge.
If you are not a local (even if you are and want/plan to volunteer) and want a badge perhaps volunteering and/or winning a free badge from some contest in town or radio station is your best bet if you cannot afford to purchase a stinkin' badge.
If you are pretty serious about wanting to attend the Interactive or Film part of the festival I recommend you either pay for a day pass to get into the venue where the event is taking place at (they may have a cover to get into the venue or club). You are going to have to consider the capacity of the venue (to determine if you get in or not), the exclusiveness of the event (as in check to see if the event indicates "Badges Only" which means you need a badge to get in), and/or if there will be a popular musical guest/group at the event. These things will prevent you from having some "official" fun if you don't have an 'official' badge to the 'official' SXSW events.
Usually a few weeks before (last year I think it was a week before the kickoff) SXSW is set to begin, there will be an opportunity for any local Austinities interested in attending the music showcases of SXSW to gain a wristband that ranges somewhere between $140 to $180 bucks (last year was $139 online and $180 in person). This wristband is good to attend all SXSW venues and showcases with no cover charge, AFTER the badge holders are let in to the venue, and before the single admission ticket holders for that show. Access is not guaranteed, however, and again, you are let in to the venue AFTER those badge holders depending on if the venue is at it's capacity. More about localwristbands here - also, keep in mind you need 1) a credit card to purchase and 2) an Austin billing address that matches that credit card holders name/account. Oh yeah, and you can only purchase 2 wristbands at a time and they sell out quickly!
Still here? If you stayed with me this whole time THANK YOU. It's a big fucken headache trying to explain this to my friends who come in from out of town to attend SXSW or even to my friends who live here and think their Spring Break is doomed because they didn't spend it at a beach or purchase an overpriced badge to the conference.
That all being said here are some links I recommend you signing up for NOW before the sponsor/band/venue closes the RSVP links and/or reach their limit capacity. I suggest you sign up for anything and everything you think you may or may not make it to. You never know when you end up having some free time when the SXSW week comes. I definitely don't apperciate those procrastinators who end up asking me to have them as a tag along as my +1 to these events during SXSW week. Sign up for your own shit.
Here is what I know so far:
IODA(independent online distribution alliance) has put up a linkto their 7th Annual SXSW Opening Day Bash on March 16th at Emos Annex (the big tent right across from Emos venue on Red River side). Gold Panda, Beach Fossils, Typhoon, True Widow, The Bewitched Hands, and Aphasia will be performing for free!!! Alls yous gots to do isRSVP. No badge is required and the party begins at 12pm and lasts til 6pm.
Also, if you have no idea who the bands are you should listen to a sample here.
This party here at Auditorium Shores is always delightful, stress free (if you get down there early or bike), and the best thing is you don't have to RSVP to any of these shows. Get ready for Man Man, Wavves, Bright Eyes, The Felice Brothers, and Blue October (meh.) will be playing for FREE!
Here is another free SXSW showcase w/2 stages you can attend without any badges or wristbands here. Book mark this link so you can go back to it to check out what bands from Seattle, S.F., LA, Santa Cruz, and Texas will be playing when they are released. The showcase is on March 18th with SFitall.
I am a big fan of The AV Club and they will have a free show on March 18th at The Mohawk that features music from Sharon Van Etten (!!!!yes!!!!), Baths, Ted Leo, Low, Small Sins, Maritime (I love these guys), No Joy (who recently came through town with Wavves and got in a car accident - with no injuries - and had to cancel their free Waterloo Record store appearance because of it), and Tristen. This is going to be an amazing show!!!! No RSVP needed now but find out who else will be playing here.
Texas Jumpstart Party has now moved their "100% free and 100% free beer" SXSW party to Hole in the Wall this year with The Midgetmen, Ezra Furman, Shilpa Ray, and more. This is seriously going to be a great show with free beer and free cover without all the mess of being downtown. Line up hereand you need to RSVP to this one.
Friday, March 18th is a busy day and you will have to make decision on what show(s) are the best to split your time with or if you are like me, you will make every single band I wanna see via bike. Braids, Foster the People, Friendly Fires, The Naked and Famous, Toro y Moi (!!!), and more will be playing at Emos. No RSVPneeded as of now and it looks like Scion will be hosting this party.
More to come soon and I will keep you posted as it all comes along and comes flooding in to my email. Again, RSVP for yourself and don't complain if you can't get in because you waited to long. Don't be left out and do let me know if you see any cool parties or free shit.
The weekend is finally here and although I have been going strong on 5 consecutive nights I plan on still going out tonight. Every new band I have seen have either 1) impressed me 2) not impressed me or 3) all of the above & rocked my face off. You only got 3 more days to enjoy all these bands for no price.
Now before I give you some music recommendations and shows to catch, I wanted to share with you some hints & tips about surviving Free Week (for all you first-timers) This whole week I have found that some of my co-workers and friends keep asking what is the deal is with free week, what is free week, what do I suggest in terms of timing, bike or not, parking, etc etc.
Here's what I got for you:
1) Get downtown EARLY!
If you been to ANY shows downtown off Red River, at any point of the year, you know how late headliner bands (usually at 1am) and usually don't take off from the house until after 10pm or closer to 11pm to be able to catch the set. However, during Free Week there is an exception - YOU NEED TO GET DOWN THERE EARLY! There seem to be a SHIT TON more people going to Free Week then I have EVER seen who are going downtown at this time of the year. There are many people who are fully aware that almost all the music venues are free. Not only that but people either have bands they wanna catch, friends they gotta see, or meet another group of people thus the huge crowds down there! So, listen, do yourself a favor and show up around 9:00-9:30pm, go to the venue of the band you absolutely cannot miss and watch what other local bands are opening up. You may find another great band(s) to follow or find very interesting and are similar music style/genre as the headliner. There have been at least 6 bands lined up in one night under one bill so you will be fine waiting around with your group of friends to sitting around, drinking more beer, and/or making new friends. 2) Park somewhere off of 10th street or near Waterloo Park.
Don't pay more than $5 at one of those fancy parking lots of a bank or government building downtown. THIS IS A WASTE of BEER MONEY!!!!!!!Drive around and find a free meter or free parking spot somewhere between 10th and Red River and the Capitol building. If you follow suggestion #1 and #2 I guarantee you will be a happy music goer.A further suggestion would be load your bike and your friends bikes on the bike rack and park Red River and 15th area near Brackenridge Hospital. Your bike will get your down to the venue faster AND you have direct transportation to the next venue or band you wanna see at all the other free venues this weekend. 3) Know what bands play where and when!
This is as simple as following the hashtag #freeweek on Twitter. Search for #freeweek in Austin and you will have a ton, mine included, of tweets that will give you the details on what bands play where, when, who is giving away what, and what friends are at what venues. If you don't have a smartphone, go ahead and write them all out from here before you head out downtown so you have an idea of where/when you can go somewhere else if you failed to not follow #1 and showed up after 10:30pm this weekend. Come up with a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D & E if all the venues you wanna be at are at capacity. Like I said, everyone is out and all shit is lose and free! 4) Bundle up and prepare to be outside for possibly the whole duration of the night
It ain't that cold but it may rain, it may be cold, you might get some beer spilled on your from it being overcrowded in the venue, you might get lost, etc. PREPARE to be outside so where comfortable shoes, rock the winter jacket, scarfs, mittens, and koozies.
5) Don't buy expensive beer
Just get a PBR or a Lonestar. There both come on tallboy cans so why even bother with anything else? If you're anything like me and hoping from one place to another you can pretty much bet these tallboys will a) get you just as drunk and b) you can save some money to eat at Stoney's Pizza or Kebobalicious.
Now let's go out & get into so music shall we?
Friday, Jan 7th
There are a lot of bands playing tonight and you really just have to pick 1 or 2 places to figure out where you wanna go and what bands at the end of the night you wanna see/catch.
I recommend heading over to Emos to check out The Lemurs, What Made Milkuakee Famous, The Authors, and even the outside show of Los Skarnales. I am a HUGE fan of The Lemurs and I haven't seen them in over a year. I am excited to hear what new stuff they have going on.
If you are at the Mohawk be prepared to be moved by some bass-y beats and almost psych-rock from Houston's own Indian Jewelry. I saw Indian Jewelry last year at #freeweek at Red 7 and they were amazing even with having only 1 strobe light illuminate their stage. They play with The Laughing and one of my favorites, Astronaut Suit.
Saturday, Jan 8th
If you missed Red Leavesearly this week well, no worries - catch them at Beauty Bar on Saturday along with Watch Out for Rockets, One Step Program, Pop Pistol, Love Hate Affair, Sundress, Black Books, The Clouds are Ghosts.
I have a great appreciation for bands that have that throwback 1960's rock and roll sound. I love me some Shapes Have Fangs and one other band that is fantastic live called Leatherbag. You have to catch this show off a East 6th Street - ND. They play with The Pons, Wiretree, and DJ Czech One. You will like this line up for sure.
I have been to five Rock the Casbah's hosted by my favorite dj in Austin, DJ Meland all of them I paid to get in! This Saturday night there is going to be an awesome (free!) dance party you will be sad you missed come Monday morning when all your co-workers are talking about how they got down and dirty with DJ Mel. Think a HUGE dance party in the middle of the best venues in Austin, at The Parish, filled with 80's songs & jazz/r&b infused together. I sweat so gotdamn much when I go to RtC every damn time! Go dance at the 41st Rock the Casbah! I promise you after the night you will free refreshed and may have learned a couple of new dance moves from all the movers and shakers that will be there.
Earlier today I was reading through the Austin Chronicle's Top 10 album list of local bands/musicians this morning and noticed one band I have yet to see - Mother Falcon. Their album, Still Life, is an LP I see at Waterloo Records quite often and always contemplate on whether or not I should pick it up. I have heard great things about Mother Falcon and can't wait to get out at The Mohawk to check them out with Royal Forest and My Golden Cal. You can't go wrong with an accordion, cellos, a mandolin, & violists in your band, right? Say it with me "Orchestras are beautiful!".
Three nights into Free Week in Austin and I am just getting started.
Sunday night I got to catch Fatback Circus out at Red 7 along with other bands like Gods are Ghosts, Sideshow Tragedy, and Space Case. Monday night I caught Shitty Carwash, Bubbles, Deer Vibes, and One Hundred Flowers. I have been pretty happy with all selections, sets, and pretty satisfied even with the sound at these shows for the past three days. I have gone by Emos and Beerland with all intentions of catching some bands there however since all shows are pretty stacked on the bill I am finding myself having a hard time trying to catch full sets during this years Free Week.
I suggest heading out now, before the weekend, to catch at least a band or two. Never been to free week? There aremanyandseveral suggestions as to where or what to catch when downtown. No cover and all ages are welcome. 21+ always gets in free and Lonestars and PBRs at these venues are always under $2bucks.
I suggest you show up at these venues to listen to these bands, musicians, living artists, and friends play their hearts out all for free!
Suggested listening for Tuesday, Jan 4th and Wednesday, Jan 5th, 2011:
Tues. Jan 4th
Young Girls, A Sky Jet Black, Pink Sugar, Knifight at Beauty Bar if you are down with some 80's influenced techno sounds and danceble beats for your Tuesday fun.
Here is a back seat acoustic performance of the Houston band Young Girls playing in the back seat of a van while riding to Houston.
Find out what Knifight sounds like here and purchase the album too while you are at it. It's hella cheap for some pretty jamming tunes.
If you prefer some minimalist rock and progression in your music go over to Emos to check out Woodgrain,We'll Go Machete (think early Fugazi), Watching the Moon, Come and Take It, and Half Mile Fox Fur. I'll be there after the Spurs play New York.
Wed. Jan 5th
I am in love with Shapes Have Fangs so naturally I will be at Emos for a hot second or two to catch a great lineup from A Giant Dog, Shapes Have Fangs, Elvis, Rayon Beach, and Fleshlights. I SWOON over Shapes Have Fangs:
You will definitely enjoy A Giant Dog and their live performance. They slightly resemble Sleater Kinney with a little bit of Patti Smith as well.
I also saw Fleshlights back at the Casual Victim Pile Showcase produced by Matador Records in February last year.
Also, be sure to step outside Emos will be the Quiet Company, The Boxing Lesson, Smoke & Feathers, My Education, Red Leaves beginning at 9pm.
I am a big fan of Red Leaves and Quiet Company as well. The Boxing Lesson has had a new 8-song LP since October 2010 that is out called Fur State. I like their live show so much that I purchased the album at their last show at The Mohawk.
According to Red Leaves' twitter, the band will be giving away their newest EP at the show so get there early! They go on at 9pm.
Go out and see some damn music, please. Maybe tomorrow or sometime later this week YOU can give me some suggestions.
click image to enlarge
