I’ve known Mark Kates in many incarnations… Geffen A&R guy, DJ Carbo - resident DJ at Atmosphere, The Viper Room’s weekly drum and bass night, President of Grand Royal, and now, founder of Fenway Recordings where he’s building his own management empire with artists like The Cribs and MGMT.

I’ve also seen Mark sing “I Am Woman.” Granted, he was pretty much forced into it by me at my wedding (who can deny a bride her greatest wish?! Also, he wasn’t alone - see, Will Langolf, Louie Bandak).

Mark remains one of the good guys in this ever changing (yet somehow managing to stay bizarrely the same) music industry. I’m glad he’s my pal and glad he did my Pick Three…

Alabama 3: I was lucky enough to work with them which makes me smart enough to be curious as to who actually makes it over. The brothers Love in Texas…what could be better!

The Wombats: As much as I loved their SXSW shows last year, they predated their amazing first album which is one of my favorites of ‘06. It will be so much better knowing the lyrics.

Carbon/Silicon: Seeing Mick Jones on stage is always a gift

Thanks for dropping in! I hope you’ve been enjoying the Pick Three treats. You can read all of them here. I’ll be back tomorrow with another great round of interestingness featuring Colin Gilmore and many more. Email free time to musicblog@sxsw.com. Ooh! The Lightning Seeds just came on (and no, they’re not playing), lp

Original post by LP

Posted: February 29th, 2008 under Linda Park, Pick 3, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: none

Bodies of Water appear to be a charming band of the Secretly Canadian indie variety… but if you look at their website, you’ll find they post things like this. So, now that my eyes have popped out of my head, might I also add that they list two of my favorite composers, Igor Stravinsky and Erik Satie, as influences.

The music is reminiscent of a musicale with a dash of Abba, but not exactly Mamma Mia!

It’s been rather exciting discovering bands via writing the SXSW Music Blog. I definitely feel like my cool quotient’s gone up now that I know who Bodies of Water are (although it just dropped again by using the phrase “cool quotient”). Sometimes six, sometimes ten, always interesting, you can catch them at the Mohawk Patio on Thursday night at 9pm (but I’ll be seeing them at the Day Stage Cafe on Friday at 4.30).

Meredith, wherever you are, thanks for doing my dorky questionnaire (and I, too, heart Mads Mikkelsen)! David, per your blog post of 12.25.07, check back next week for James from Yo La Tengo’s LPQ. I think you’ll appreciate it.

And now, please enjoy El Cuestionario de LP sobre Gold Coward…

Name: Meredith Metcalf
Pro Wrestling Name: Gold Coward. Then I checked the female version and it was Lush Justice. I think I like Gold Coward more.

1. Pretend you’re 15 (and tell us what year it is, if you don’t mind). Name three songs you’d put on a mix tape for your girlfriend/boyfriend.
1995
“Underdog” by Sly and the Family Stone
“Silly Love Songs” by Paul and Linda McCartney
“Helpless” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

2. Which evil villain would make the best president? Mads Mikkelsen. He’s the bad guy in Casino Royale. I dont think he would necessarily make a good president, but I have kind of a huge crush on him so I’d like to see more of him around.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? I was really into Pee Wee’s Playhouse. That’s not a cartoon though. Looney Tunes are great. The music in those old cartoons is wonderful.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? I’m really into human anatomy so sometimes when I see someone with an interesting looking body shape, I wish I could see through clothing. I am not a pervert.

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? Jazzy Times, Jazzy Measures. Jazz.

Pick Three

Karl Blau: I’ve seen Karl Blau, and he is always so rad.

Holy Fuck: i’ve never seen Holy Fuck but I’m thinking they will put on a great show.

Black Mountain: Black Mountain is so stoney.

Thanks for dropping by on this humid Friday evening. Somehow the combination of caffeine and mac and cheese isn’t putting my head back together. I feel like Humpty Dumpty. SXSW is closing in fast. Are you ready? I might be (on March 17, anyway). Check out more LPQ’s here. Make your reader read us. It will be super duper glad you did. Email friendships that are a hug from God to musicblog@sxsw.com. Come see what we all talk about, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: February 29th, 2008 under LP Questionnaire, Linda Park, Pick 3, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: 1

The Catalan festival Primavera Sound will be hosting their very own SXSW showcase installment this year at Red Eyed Fly on Thursday, March 13th. Just like the annual Spanish summer festival, they are bringing out all the stops. Barcelona’s beloved El Guincho (Pablo Diaz-Reixa) will be headlining the night for his first ever appearance in the U.S. His material sounds like a combination of Tropicalia and a Spanish Animal Collective, and his album “Alegranza!” was recently voted “Best New Music” by Pitchfork. This is guaranteed to be a performance that you will not want to miss. He will be joined by fellow Spaniards Les Aus, and Dim Mak’s Tokyo Sex Destruction will be right there kicking out the jams. To top off the craziness, Fuck Buttons will be bringing the noise and the party with their distorted experimental hooks. Other bands that will also be rounding out the night are The Extraordinaires who will be taking a night off from their current tour with vaudeville gypsies, Man Man, and La Bibal d’Emporda’s Mazoni along with Barcelona’s Veracruz. We’ll see you there.

Original post by melissa

Posted: February 29th, 2008 under Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: none

This is Melissa Dennis (sans party hat) bringing you Music Registrants a public service announcement about the 2008 Music Welcome Dinner:

The annual SXSW Welcome Dinner happens Wed. March 12 at 6:30pm with four courses at the Four Seasons Hotel. This year comedian Jonah Ray and comedy/musical duo Hard ‘n Phirm (both of Comedy Central fame) will entertain. Maybe Hard ‘n Phirm will even play “Rodeohead”, their bluegrass-style medley of covers of Radiohead songs!

The deadline to reserve your spot is March 7th, so download the pdf and get ready for a good laugh today.

…Okay, I have to get back to my party hat and whatever it is that I do around here, if you have questions about the Welcome Dinner, email: welcomedinner@sxsw.com.

Photo of Jonah Ray courtesy of Seth Olinek

Original post by melissa

Posted: February 29th, 2008 under Conference.
Comments: none

Come have dinner and a dose of comedy! The annual SXSW Welcome Dinner happens Wed. March 12 at 6:30pm with four courses at the Four Seasons Hotel. This year comedian Jonah Ray and comedy/musical duo Hard ‘n Phirm (both of Comedy Central fame) will entertain. Maybe Hard ‘n Phirm will even play “Rodeohead”, their bluegrass-style medley of covers of Radiohead songs!

The deadline to reserve your spot is March 7th, so download the pdf and get ready for a good laugh today.

Photo of Jonah Ray courtesy of Seth Olinek

Original post by melissa

Posted: February 29th, 2008 under Music News.
Comments: none

No, the power of Melissa is not some new band of super hipsters in skinny jeans (God, we really need to come up with a new word to use besides “hipster.” Totally overdone and lame, don’t you think? And yes, I know I just used it!)

The power of Melissa is, instead, the greatness of Melissa Dennis (my awesome to the power of infinity office-type-thing-mate who works on the Tech Team) and Melissa Williams (who does most excellent double duty in Reception and Panels).

Melissa Dennis’ fiance tells her to be sweet to everyone every day, but I don’t think it’s just the word of BJ that makes her so easy to work with. She’s a regular joy to be around. I mean, look at that picture! Ms. D is also a great writer, and I hope someday she puts pen to paper and surprises us all with a fab work of fiction.

She took time out from coding things (or whatever it is that cool nerds do) to whip up a Pick Three…

British Sea Power: Do You Like Rock Music? is one of my favorite albums of 2008. I don’t even care if it is February, I know it’s going to stay at the top of my rotation all year. I keep forgetting to bring the CD to work, so I’ve been listening to the “Waving Flags” MP3 on their band page for four days straight now and I’m not sick of it. It’s that good.

This Will Destroy You: This local band from San Marcos, Texas was introduced to me by my friend Jeremy in Seattle. (Hi Jeremy! We miss you!) I feel bad for not knowing about these home-grown boys sooner because I feel like I’ve wasted hours of my life not listening to their music. They recently release a self-titled album that is so absolutely beautiful, it’s all I can do to keep from playing it in my sleep.

Dizzee Rascal: I love him. It took me a while to get through he accent and understand his lyrics, but he is clever and entertaining to listen to. People also talk about what a decent human being he is, and I appreciate that.

Melissa Williams once hiked the Grand Canyon, and she’s even been out on the Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. She’s a native Texan who’s married to a drummer and has three kids who are also drummers (man, is she going for sainthood or something?)

She’s also left handed. All the best people are! :smirk:

I’m mighty glad she wrote up a little Pick Three…

Shout Out Louds: Part Cure, part Thrills, all good.

King of Prussia: Kind of poppy and groovy. Never heard of them until I saw them on the band list, but I am digging their song “Misadventures of the Campaign Kids.”

The Golden Dogs: Rockin’ from Toronto… plus their cover of “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” makes me smile.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this late night (or early morning) super sized edition of Pick Three. Belle and Sebastian are getting me through the long dark night of the soul yet it’s not quite 3 am, is it (and no they’re not playing). Email smoke alarms to musicblog@sxsw.com. Oooh, doves just came on! There’s one record I’m looking forward to. C’mon Jimi, Jez and Andy! I’m waiting! lp

Original post by LP

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Linda Park, Pick 3, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: 1

Vapour Trails

Original post by Austin Chronicle Music

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Working Man’s Café

Original post by Austin Chronicle Music

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Devotion

Original post by Austin Chronicle Music

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Tupelo Honey, It’s Too Late To Stop Now, Wavelength, A Sense of Wonder, Avalon Sunset and Back On Top

Original post by Austin Chronicle Music

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none