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SXSW 2009: Passionate Feelings About Passion Pit
I’ve just returned from our day-party with Brooklyn Vegan, which threw down with a headlining set from one of my favorite new bands, Passion Pit. It’d be easy to say that the Cambridge, Mass. quintet makes dance music for people who hate dance music, but these guys also make dance music for people who like dance music, so here’s the new paradigm: They make dance music for people who like music. ... read more
Found in: Blogs, Ctrl-VSXSW 2009: Thomas Function Wakes Up Austin
Before Huntsville, Ala.'s Thomas Function took the stage (read: corner of floor) at Headhunters modest porch space last night, I took a quick count. Nineteen. Less than 20 people (including myself) were waiting to see one of the finest examples of power-pop/garage rock the South has to offer right now, and if I were a betting man, I'd say a quarter of them were there to chat and drink cheap beer.... read more
Found in: Blogs, FestivusSeven things about The Decemberists' debut performance of The Hazards of Love at SXSW
SXSW is great for discovering new bands, so I try not to see many acts I've seen before. But not only did I check out The Decemberists' set Tuesday night at the IFC party with Gomez, I caught their full concert at Stubbs the next night. But Wednesday night's show marked the band's first public performance of their new concept album, The Hazards of Love. It was like watching an indie rock musical based on some long-lost Shakespearean tragedy. Here are seven random things about the show:1. Playing the whole album without a break left the usually talkative Colin Meloy... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DaySXSW 2009: Crocodiles Eat Good in the Neighborhood
Crocodiles' guitarist Charles Rowell and vocalist Brandon Welchez have played in bands together in San Diego for nearly a decade, but only started working on this current crop of jagged, psychedelic pop collages as a duo last May. Summer of Hate, due April 28 on Fat Possum, scoops up JAMC fuzz for "I Wanna Kill," but is closer to puttin' on the retro ritz for "Flash of Light." "Songs are super important to us," Welchez explains. "I would never play something onstage in this band that I wouldn't feel comfortable playing on acoustic guitar." After a convincing first of five... read more
Found in: Blogs, FestivusSXSW 2009: Chow Report
The other day, I posted a list of my favorite places to eat while in Austin for SXSW. Since then, I've had some valuable feedback from a few trusted locals, and I've also learned that two of the places on my list, sadly, have closed their doors. (So you won't be able to savor those delicious chilaquiles for breakfast at Las Manitas this year, nor that juicy steak at McClusky's. Este es la vida.)But the good thing is that there are plenty of new places I've been tipped off about. Here are a few...... read more
Found in: Blogs, FestivusSXSW 2009: Wavves' Secrets for Survival
Scuzzy do wop punk of the moment Wavves' Nathan Williams laid out his SXSW plans while driving to a gig at Phoenix's Trunk Space on Monday. Between Wednesday and Saturday, he and touring drummer Ryan Ulsh will cram in nine shows at various showcases, according to his MySpace page (Williams says there will be 10). Wavves' infectious second album, Wavvves, just got its physical release via Fat Possum this week. Although the San Diego-based Williams comes from a family of musicians, he's never played so many shows in such a short span of time before. Can he keep his growls... read more
Found in: Blogs, FestivusPaste's guide to SXSW 2009
Just in case you somehow hadn't heard by now... read more
Found in: Music, NewsPaste's Hour-By-Hour SXSW 2009 Music Recommendations
With hundreds of bands converging upon Austin and what seems like a zillion shows to choose from, planning a South by Southwest schedule can be a daunting task... read more
Found in: Music, FeaturesEight Survival Tips for Your First SXSW
While the goals of SXSW Music attendees are pretty much universal (cram in as many musical experiences as humanly possible in one four-day span of time, with a lot of beer and very little sleep thrown in on the side), there are about as many strategies for maximum SXSW enjoyment as there are people striving for it. But if this week finds you heading down to Austin for the very first time, here are a few things some Paste staffers have learned from experience that might help you navigate the wilds of Sixth Street. Seasoned veterans, feel free to share... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DaySXSW Film 2009: Don't Use the M-Word
For good reasons — like the fact that all of Joe Swanberg's features have played here — the annual South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas, has a reputation as the adopted home of mumblecore. The dreaded M-word is used more and more negatively these days, but any term that labels films as diverse as Frownland, LOL, and Mutual Appreciation is a coinage looking for a definition. It was bound to fizzle at some point. The terminology may be disintegrating, but the filmmakers behind these movies are still collaborating and still growing. This year, Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha,... read more
Found in: Blogs, Festivus
The 20 Best Gadgets of the Decade…
The 17 Best Romantic Comedies This Decade
The 50 Best Albums of the Decade…
The 25 Best Movie Performances of the…
The 20 Best Live Acts of the…
Kim Taylor - Days Like this
Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard
B.O.B. - Put Me On
Gregory Alan Isakov - The Moon Song
Punch Brothers - Punch Brothers at CMJ
Anya Marina - Whatever You Like
David Bazan - Hard To Be
