Hello, hello. Please excuse my absence, but I sort of fell off the face of the earth with hope after the election was over. Now that my sigh of relief is over I shall return to dispensing bits and pieces of random music news.. and Abba videos.

So, what did I learn today…

Blink-182 might be reuniting. After four years of not speaking, the boys are reconnecting. This lends credence to my theory that it’s nearly impossible for boyhood friends to remain BFFs through the growing pains of becoming an adult, wild success, dating Playmates, etc. In any event, I’m mildly psyched about this even though the one Blink show I went to did convince me that the world was about to end.

I was not that psyched about the new Jim Carrey movie Yes Man but now that I know it features NINE Eels songs, I confess I’m intrigued.

Beck is collaborating with Charlotte Gainsbourg. I wonder if the pairing will be as interesting as that of Gainsbourg/Birkin.

And finally, as promised, some Abba. Idolator posted Tom Ewing’s Abba reviews today, and I was reminded, as always, of the grand confection that is Abba.

So now I gift you with “Fernando”! If only Abba would reunite and play SXSW. A girl can dream.

That’s all for today, cupcakes. As always, you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Toodles, lp

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: November 19th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

So grand. So delightful. A match made in musical heaven.

Things I learned today… there’s a ginormous Neil Young set coming your way in January. Joe the Plumber might be getting a record deal. And finally, Joaquin Phoenix has decided to retire from acting to pursue his music. I confess that only one of these bits seems like good news.

That’s all for today. Email great pumpkins to musicblog@sxsw.com.

Happy Halloweenie, lp

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: October 30th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

It always amazes me how come summer and fall after any given SXSW if I see a breakout artist or hear something cool and go “who’s that?”, it turns out they played the festival and of course I missed them and not only that but I’m a total moron for not being clued in to start.

So, as we’re hot on the heels of some exciting news for next year’s fest (I can’t believe it’s that time again already), I’m starting a new little feature taking a look back at some of the artists I wish I’d seen at SXSW ‘08.

I’ll start with England’s
http://www.myspace.com/thetingtings” href=”http://www.myspace.com/thetingtings”>The Ting Tings whose song “Shut Up And Let Me Go” was ubiquitous for a while recently due to some Apple commercial.

The band is performing at the Barbary in Philadelphia on Halloween as part of MySpace’s Secret Show series.

Until then, here’s “Shut Up And Let Me Go” from SXSW Live.

I’ll try to be funnier tomorrow. I’ve been doing the crack that is MSNBC for days on end now. I can’t wait until this election is over (provided my candidate wins, tee hee), and I can return to life.

As always, you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Dogs are awesome, lp

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: October 29th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

It always amazes me how come summer and fall after any given SXSW if I see a breakout artist or hear something cool and go “who’s that?”, it turns out they played the festival and of course I missed them and not only that but I’m a total moron for not being clued in to start.

So, as we’re hot on the heels of some exciting news for next year’s fest (I can’t believe it’s that time again already), I’m starting a new little feature taking a look back at some of the artists I wish I’d seen at SXSW ‘08.

I’ll start with England’s
http://www.myspace.com/thetingtings” href=”http://www.myspace.com/thetingtings”>The Ting Tings whose song “Shut Up And Let Me Go” was ubiquitous for a while recently due to some Apple commercial.

The band is performing at the Barbary in Philadelphia on Halloween as part of MySpace’s Secret Show series.

Until then, here’s “Shut Up And Let Me Go” from SXSW Live.

I’ll try to be funnier tomorrow. I’ve been doing the crack that is MSNBC for days on end now. I can’t wait until this election is over (provided my candidate wins, tee hee), and I can return to life.

As always, you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Dogs are awesome, lp

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: October 29th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

At the 1995 SXSW Softball Game and BBQ, a trio of kids from Oklahoma were singing for anyone who would listen. One writer recently recalled that day (in this story). Yup, Hanson came to Austin in ‘95, and a couple of years later, ‘Mmm Bop’ was implanting its fiendishly tuneful melody into everyone’s head.

Look behind Hanson in this photo, at the big guy in a white t-shirt and glasses (and hair without any grey). That’s me, recovering from my second year as a panel volunteer. I do recall being struck by the initiative of these kids. It wasn’t until we found this photo in the wake of their success that I realized that I discovered Hanson. This shows that there’s much more to the SXSW BBQ than brisket, sausage and scintillating softball.

Photo by Greg Sells.

Original post by andy

Posted: October 27th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

Guns n Roses are finally releasing Chinese Democracy which means free Dr. Pepper for everyone! But what does Axl look like now?

Probably not like this (gosh, they were dreamy):

I want a Daft Punk bear.

Ian Mackaye is still cool.

And finally, SXSW alum Lily Allen has a new single, “Everyone’s At It.” I dig Ms. A for her übercool bluntness, and I’m digging the new track.

What do you think?

Hope you’ve enjoyed Thursday’s “Things I Learned Today.” As always you can email badgers to us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Toodle-oo, lp

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: October 23rd, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

Milestones don’t come often in the conference game, but we mark one today with the inclusion of a SXSW trip as part of the Showcase Showdown on yesterday’s ‘The Price Is Right.’ You’ll have to watch the clip to see the outcome of the Showdown. I still think of Drew Carey as the new guy, as Bob Barker’s presence still looms large over the whole operation.

Original post by andy

Posted: October 22nd, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

For our friends across the pond. Sad news as MMJ have cancelled their European tour due to injuries Jim suffered recently in Iowa City.

From the band…

“It is with great regret that we have to announce the cancellation of My Morning Jacket’s up-coming tour to Europe due to injuries suffered by Jim in Iowa City. For the fans who have purchased tickets, we would like to extend our gratitude for your support and understanding. Our hope was to merely postpone the tour, but as our scheduling does not allow that to happen in the immediate future, we feel it is best to cancel this tour in hopes of re-scheduling at some point.

We would also like to say ‘thank you’ to all the fans who have reached out to Jim with their well-wishes as we all hope for his speedy and full recovery.”

We, too, wish Jim all the best, of course.

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: October 16th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

As of late I’ve done some Tuesday Releases lists, but I’m switching it up because, well, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind. Or something like that.

The Beastie Boys have added three dates to their “Get Out and Vote” tour. Hopefully the shows will spur concertgoers to hit their polling places on November 4.

Here are the dates…

Oct 27 Charlotte, NC at Amos Southend - Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Santogold

Oct 28 Richmond, VA at Richmond Coliseum - Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Santogold

Oct 29 Youngstown, OH at Chevrolet Center - Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Norah Jones

Oct 30 Dayton, OH at Hara Arena - Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper

Nov 1 St. Paul, MN at Roy Wilkins Auditorium - Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Tenacious D

Nov 2 Milwaukee, WI at U.S. Cellular Arena - Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Crosby & Nash, Tenacious D

You can find more info at the Beastie Boys website or www.getoutandvote08.org.

For all our readers across the pond, Mastodon have extended their European tour to include some headlining dates in between their run on the Unholy Alliance Tour with Slayer and Trivium and their appearance at All Tomorrow’s Parties. You can check out all the dates here.

And last but certainly not least (in my heart, anyway), Duran Duran are out for just over a month starting November 4. Tour info here. I haven’t seen them live since 1983, but I’m sure they’re still totally fab. In fact, let’s relive some vintage D2 via “Careless Memories”

Simply dreamy!

And that’s all she wrote, folks. As always, you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Toodles, lp

Original post by Linda Park

Posted: October 14th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none

Take a minute out of your Monday to relive a golden SXSW memory from the 2007 Music Conference. This clip from David Fricke’s interview with The Stooges illuminates the band’s origins. Iggy pays tribute to bandmate Ron Asheton’s guitar influences and recollects their reaction to the rockstars of the day.

Original post by andy

Posted: October 13th, 2008 under Notes.
Comments: none