It was a struggle finagling our way into the ultra-private IFC Crossroads Party with Gomez and the Decemberists, but we managed! The lighting at Pangaea, a dance club except during sxsw insanity, was wonderful, so check out a few shots from the night.
Gomez
The Decemberists
As usual, more photos from the party are up at Mary’s Flickr.
Here are a couple of free parties for both Free Moral Agents and Infusion. This is your chance to check out these great Chillville bands without the expense of a wristband/badge.
Gabriella Cilmi (ironically pronounced “chill-me”) is the hottest thing to come out of Australia right now, and she is now looking to take over the U.S. She has already won 6 trophies in the ARIA Awards (Australian Recording Industry Association), which is the equivalent to our Grammy Awards. Some of the categories she took home the hardware were “Best Female Artist” and “Breakthrough Artist of the Year”. Gabriella has sold a ton of records overseas, and VH1 has her as a “You Oughta Know” artist for 2009. She will be visiting us next week for SXSW, in her quest to take over the world…and to be honest, I think she can. Her voice is strangely similar to Amy Winehouse; however, her tracks have a more pop-like sound that is infectious. These are songs that both young and old can enjoy. So take a listen to my catch entitled “Sweet About Me” from Ms. Cilmi, and be sure to get her first album, Lessons to Be Learned, which drops here in the U.S. on 3/17. But let me fill you in on a mind-blowing fact about Gabriella…she is only 17 years old (which is even more jaw dropping after you listen to her voice, and the entire album)!!! Enjoy.
Here are a few videos from this morning’s show.
Damien Rice – “9 Crimes”
Radiohead – “High and Dry”
The Orb – “Blue Room”
Tricky – “Overcome”
You don’t have to to spend a bajillion dollars on a badge to have a crazy good time during SXSW. If you got one, you’re awesome. But if you’re as broke as a lot of folks in these crazy times now (me), you don’t even have to wrangle up a wristband to get in on the fun. And broke or not, who can pass up a sale? Here are a few freebies and cheapies that guarantee good times. Save your money for beer!
Kick it off Friday, March 13th at The Mohawk. Just $9 gets you in without a badge for AMODA’s Digital Showcase featuring live electronic music and digital art. 16 electronic DJs will compete in a a series of elimination rounds, battling it out on their laptops. Austin’s Phranchyze and Zeale will emmcee at the event, and a panel of judges will decide the winners of each round. Digital artists from across the U.S. and the U.K. will showcase their talents, and this is a great way to support the non-profit AMODA in a SXSW event that showcases digital art at it finest.
Thursday, March 19th there’s good news if you like Punk, Pop and Hip Hop – (even on a budget.) Daddy Fat Sacks, A.K.A. Big Boi of Outkast, is headlining a show at Austin Music Hall featuring K’Naan in this Afropunk showcase. Anyone can attend for $15, with or without a badge (or fat sacks). Also, you can follow the link above for a chance to win one of ten free pairs of tickets from Do512. Hey Ya!
Wednesday, March 18th – Saturday, March 21st – Get to the booty bar! Every day and night there’s something going on at the inside stage and in the backyard that’s totally free. Just RSVP. I’m looking forward to catching DJ Craze at 1:00AM, FREE on Friday the 20th – all cash on beer! And if that’s not enough booty for ya, check The Beauty Bar’s MySpace page for even MORE FREE SHOWS, like this one presented by Art Disaster. These free parties are happening day and night during SX.
Thursday, March 19th – Saturday, March 21st – Three nights of awesome FREE concerts at Auditorium Shores. No RSVP required! Gates open at 5:00PM Thursday and Friday, and the fun starts at noon on Saturday. Catch free performances by M. Ward, The Cold War Kids, Erykah Badu and more. Also enjoy festival food, local vendor booths and arts and crafts from some of Austin’s finest artisans. Our own Explosions in the Sky will finish things off with a bang Saturday night at 8:00PM. Though the event is free, no outside food or drinks are allowed. So go sell some plasma, and enjoy these free outdoor shows with some cold beer! (No pets allowed this year.)
Saturday, March 21st – As if there weren’t enough to do on Saturday, how ’bout The Knuckle Rumbler with Rollingstone.com? Taking place at Peckerhead’s on 6th, this event features early sets by Austin’s Scorpion Child and Zeale. Later, Lady Sovereign and “cyber-girl from outerspace” Janelle Monáe are among other performers to take stage. Big Boi fans will recognize this fellow ATL native whose unique fashion sense and musical stylings are freakishly similar to that of Outkast’s other half, Andre 3000. (Listen to her hit song “Violet Stars Happy Hunting” for a good time.) Did I mention this entire lineup is FREE? Plus there’s lots of free alcohol, drinks, food and goodies being offered at this shindig.
Sometimes life takes badges or wristbands… but for everyone else, there’s free stuff.
So in 2008, Tricky released his latest album entitled, Knowle West Boy. This past week, we saw the release of a new EP containing remixes of tracks from that record; however, he also released a brand new song as a bonus. Tricky has always been known as one of the pioneers of the electronic/trip-hop movement, starting with his membership with the legendary Massive Attack. He was only 21 when he became a part of the band, but turned into a major force on the first two albums (Blue Lines and Protection). His contribution was viewed as the legitimate urban, hip-hop piece of Massive Attack, especially on “Karmacoma”, “Eurochild”, and “Daydreaming”. He then parted ways with the band to pursue a solo career, and a couple of his tracks came with him. On his first LP, the incredibly successful Maxinquaye, he used the lyrics written for “Karmacoma”, re-arranged the entire sound, let vocalist Martina Topley-Bird take the mic, and called it “Overcome”. The same thing was done with the Massive song, “Eurochild”, which was converted to Tricky’s “Hell is ‘Round the Corner’”. After several years, several albums, several collaborations (Garbage, Bjork, Nenah Cherry), and a few movies/videos, he is doing a rare U.S. tour. Be sure to catch him at this year’s SXSW festival. Today’s catch is called “Numb”, and you can listen to a clip of it down below. Enjoy!
Tricky – Numb
Moby – “Memory Gospel” (taken from the film Southland Tales)
Thievery Corporation – “Sweet Tides”
Bomb the Bass – “Butterfingers (ft. Fujiya & Miyagi)”
The Cocteau Twins – “Heaven or Las Vegas”
Underworld – “Crocodile”
