It seems hard to believe Day one of SXSW is over and I’m sitting at the hotel writing while Fobia, whose striking (and quite nice) lead singer I met this afternoon, is out there closing out the first night of the fest.

I was reunited today with a few friends I hadn’t seen in a while, all of whom, strangely enough, live in Portland or Seattle. Our fearless and totally f’ing awesome Press volunteers (they don’t come any better than Renée, Josh and co.) manned the front lines while I tried to decide what two venues should get the extra press boxes that Leslie, the greatest Production Manager of all time scored for me.

Tonight I managed to make it out on the streets for an hour and within the space of ten minutes saw Perry Farrell walk by (see blurry picture) and Bushwick Bill standing by a photo booth at Dirty Dog. I will be absolutely honest and say that both of these sightings would have gone right by me if it weren’t for the astute eyes of Capitol Records’ Louie Bandak and Ground Control’s Eddie Meehan.

I also witnessed the awesomeness that is Louisville’s Wax Fang (see less blurry picture). Scott, Jake and Kevin always deliver the goods.

So, what are your night one stories? Who did you see that was beyond compare? Who made you starstruck? Who made you go ewww?

Let musicblog@sxsw.com know!

Back at it again tomorrow… I mean today,lp

Original post by LP

Posted: March 12th, 2008 under Linda Park, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: none

Bienvenue, Bonjour, Guten Tag, Ahn Nyeong, Heisann… Hello and welcome to SXSW XXII. The Superbowl of Music. I just made that up.

We here at SXSW work hard to bring you all the latest and greatest in musical talents. Somehow every year the magic manages to happen and you see a band that restores your faith in music (if you’ve lost it, like I had until I saw My Morning Jacket at Buffalo Billiards six years ago) or simply reinforces the fact that music is the language we all understand (see any of the Japan nights or even this year’s Norwegian Black Metal show).

So, who is the man on top of this mountain of craziness, this unruly spring break for the music industry? Well, he’s called Roland Swenson and he’s our very own Mr. Burns (or Tony Soprano, if you prefer).

It’s always interesting to me when I see Roland vilified in the press or on a blog somewhere. I guess when you have detractors it means you’ve achieved some level of success (which also must mean we are über successful!) Anyway, I’ve seen him called Karl Rove and all kinds of other ‘evil white dude’ variations. Well, sure, no one’s perfect, but I see Roland as the guy who loves music and has been active in the Austin music scene since way before SXSW even started. I see the guy I talk TV with, the guy who loans me books. The guy who loves his kid and tries to balance the oncoming onslaught of SXSW with the fact that his wife Roseana has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and is going through chemo.

We all come here for the same reasons, right? We want to see something great, we want to be moved, we want to have a good time.

Hopefully Roland will get a chance to have his good time at any of these Pick Three choices (he also did The LP Questionnaire way back when).

Was (Not Was): I never got to see them live back in the early 80s while was I wearing out my 12″ copy of “Wheel Me Out.” I saw Don Was play bass and lead an all-star band for Willie Nelson’s 60th Birthday Bash, and still can’t believe the sounds he got out of a bass guitar while barely moving his fingers.

Spoon: If there were seminaries devoted to the religion of “Rock and Roll,” then writer Britt Daniel would be the Reinhold Niebuhr of his generation. Err, the Soren Kierkegaard of his generation? Have I stretched this analogy past the breaking point yet? Still, don’t miss them.

Aberfeldy: Once you take a stand over the controversy that Aberfeldy is rightly categorized as a Midlands single malt and not an Eastern Highlands whiskey, (or does it owe more to the Speyside region than to the Midlands?), then you can begin to savor the complexities of the band that uses the same name. This Scottish pop act with folk sensibilities is overdue to break-out in the States. Two albums of witty, hook-laden charm have lead to a hotly anticipated third outing, due soon . Great live show, too.

(Unfortunately Aberfeldy dropped out - Roland wrote this a while ago - but I’ll leave them in because it’s still a cool plug and if I only run two that sort of screws up the whole “Pick Three” thing.)

I hope you all have the best time ever this week. Sure, there might be shows you may not get to see but there are so many options, you’re surely not lacking in choice. I’ve still got miles to write before I sleep so be back real soon with more posts than you can shake a stick at.

What have you seen that you liked? Shoot me an email at musicblog@sxsw.com. Hulk is still watching over me, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: March 12th, 2008 under Linda Park, LP Questionnaire, Pick 3, Music Festival, Conference, Latest News.
Comments: none

Season two of Human Giant started tonight at 11. I meant to post this at 11 am this morning. Instead it’s 2.39 am… the next day. I am lame, but you know who isn’t lame?

Rob Huebel, my friend Elizabeth’s other comedy crush. Rob Huebel, who is afraid of being buried alive and puts bbq sauce on everything he eats (even pancakes, I wonder?).

Rob likes the word “moist,” but hates the word “moisture” and doesn’t have any racist tattoos.

He is being stalked by Tina Turner.

He answered The LP Questionnaire…

Name: Rob Huebel
Pro Wrestling Name: Major Alchemist

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.

In 1985, I didn’t have a girlfriend. Or a drivers license. If I were smart, I would have made a mixtape with some cool traxx on it. Then I’d throw it into my boom box and ask if we could fingerbang each other to such hits as: “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy, “We built this City” by Starship and “Can’t Fight this Feeling Anymore” by REO Speedwagon.

2. Which evil villain would make the best president? I think the T-1000 from Terminator 2 would be a great President. He seems like a young, dedicated machine that would never give up. And you couldn’t assassinate him. So we’d save a lot of money on Secret Service.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? I watched He-man when I was probably too old to watch it. It really changed my life. I ride a tiger around now.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? I would like to be able to vomit money. That would be great.

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? Rob Huebel thinks you should buy this book, you pussy

Pick Three

There are way, way too many bands that I want to see. I actually think SXSW should cut it back to like, 4 or 5 bands total just to make it easier and eliminate the options.

The English Beat: I’m pretty psyched to see The English Beat because of high school.

Ice Cube: I want to see Ice Cube because he’s the shit. And I really liked him in XXX State of the Union.

Matt & Kim: I want to see Matt & Kim because they’re super fun to watch and they seem like they have a great time together.

Paul Scheer once crashed his mother’s Mercury Bobcat when he shifted the car in reverse while it was parked on a hill and he crashed into a tree.

This Halloween he dressed up as Jared from Kid Nation.

He know how to ride a horse. He knows how to not be a jerk. He knows how to answer The LP Questionnaire.

Name: Paul Scheer
Pro Wrestling Name: Agent Nova

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.

The year is 1991 and here is my Mixtape

“Gonna Make You Sweat”, C+C Music Factory - BEST SONG EVER!
“Touch Myself”, Divinyls - I don’t quite Understand it fully, but I know it’s dirty.
“Losing My Religion”, R.E.M. - I don’t get it but the video is cool.
“Unbelievable”, EMF - Andrew Dice Clay mixed with Music, Does life get any better?

2. Which evil villain would make the best president? GENERAL ZOD from Superman 2. He’s got the outfit, the sweet goatee and the ponytail. Hell yes, I’d kneel before Zod.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? Hong Kong Fuey…But looking back on it now, it seems oddly racist.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? The power

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? This Isn’t Just about Making Sausage, It’s About Good Ideas: The Paul Scheer Story. Basically I’d just take Jimmy Dean’s autobiography and every time it says “Jimmy,” I’d replace that with “Paul.”

Pick Three

Abe Vigoda: I really hope this is the actor from Barney Miller and not some band with an ironic name. Because I hear Abe’s jazz Acoustic sets are not to be missed.

(Abe Vigoda, real or otherwise appears to no longer be playing, unfortunately.)

Peelander Z: I guarantee you they are the only band at SXSW that uses their lead singer as a bowing ball, don’t believe me? See it for yourself. I 100% guarantee you won’t be dissapointed with their performance.

SECRET SHOW: Rammstein and Matisyau - performing together in something called “The Apology Tour.”

That was so awesome… so awesome that I can’t write any more. I will just seem sheepish and unfunny in comparison. If you want to email me about other things that are awesome (like nutella), you may do so at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Welcome to the jungle, we got fun ‘n games, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: March 12th, 2008 under LP Questionnaire, Linda Park, Pick 3, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: none

I just saw Eugene Mirman (the comedian and man who makes soup for breakfast most mornings) at the IFC party at The Parish… but I’m too shy to be like, “Hey dude, yeah, I’m the goof who blogs for SXSW. Let’s be friends? Okay? No? Maybe? You can decide later…”

Still, it was cool to see the man who killed at the Interactive Web Awards ceremony Sunday night. My friend Elizabeth is on to something with her little crush on the Mirman.

When Eugene was in the 8th grade he once got a -8 on a homework assignment for math class (I guess this was that new math they were trying to teach us back in the 80s). One time at a party he defeated the girl who was the backgammon champion of Chicago.

In the 6th grade his dog got hit by a car and died, and a girl told him that his dog committed suicide because it didn’t love him. That is one of the most tragic stories ever.

Mr. Eugene was nice enough to do The LP Questionnaire and stuff. What better way to start some late night comedy SXSW kickoff posts (Human Giant coming up in short order).

Name: Eugene Mirman
Pro Wrestling Name: King Frost (the female version is Miss Freak)

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.

The year is 1990. I would put “What It Takes” by Aerosmith (or “Janie’s Got A Gun” if I was in a goofball mood), “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” by Guns ‘N Roses and “Stuck Inside A Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again” by Bob Dylan.

2. Which evil villain would make the best president? Magneto, because he is good natured, and he’s also well informed.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? Superfriends, I think. I also liked Galaxy Rangers and Transformers.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? It’s so hard to pick just one, because they are all so good (except if your power was throwing up a lot and not noticing it). It would definitely be fun to fly. However, it would also be great to shoot beams out of your mind. I guess I would have to say telekinesis, because it’s the most versatile. I’d want to be a much more powerful version of Scott Baio’s character from Zapped! (I’d also take my powers more seriously than he did) and also from Zapped Again! (which I have not seen, but I imagine must be very, very similar to Zapped!).

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? It would either be Eugene Mirman: The Story Of Oddball Immigrant Man or Please Don’t Shit There: The Life And Times Of Eugene Mirman. Regardless, it would have a giant sticker on it that said, “Now With More Swears!”

Pick Three

Alina Simone: She is a childhood friend of mine who just recorded an album of covers of Russian punk-folk legend Yanka Dyagileva. I recently heard the album (which is in Russian) and it’s great and I’m very excited to see her live.

Lou Reed. Like many musicians, when I first heard the Velvet Underground I fell in love with it and decided to become a comedian.

Yo La Tengo: All I know about them is that they formed in 1984, which is enough for me.

Thanks for reading… check out more LP Questionnaires here. Pick Threes here. Good stuff happened with My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, The Whigs, Billy Zoom, and more.

It really begins tomorrow, huh? Are you excited? I’m positively thrilled. I can’t wait for 10 am when the boys in skinny jeans and unfortunate hats descend upon this fair town (I think some are here already). The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go, doesn’t it? lp

Original post by LP

Posted: March 12th, 2008 under Panels, LP Questionnaire, Linda Park, Pick 3, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: none