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.
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