::: MORE :::
::: the essence of cultu:re:birth  :::  the birth & rebirth of culture :::

::: COLIN'S TRIP TO SXSW:::
So, I have wanted to go to SXSW in Austin, TX for many years, ever since I heard about it in high school. I have been to CMJ (in NYC) three times, but missed it this Fall. I always love CMJ - I love seeing the variety of bands , hopping between the venues, and catching some of the panels - but I have gotten very sick of people bashing it when overly-complementing SXSW. A few weeks before I was about to sadly miss SXSW once again because of it's exorbant costs, I got talking to a dude at a party who used to live in Austin and had previously been to SXSW. I was stizzzoked! This dude, who I really didn't know that well, but liked quite a bit, ended hooking up free wristbands through a connection and got us (four of us in total) a free place to stay with his sister who lives near Austin, so it worked it amazing well. A dream come true. This also enabled me to begin spreading the word about and start networking for the launch of NECTIC. So, I promptly got those shiny green business/promotional cards printed up. Yep.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED SXSW and was totally overwhelmed by it at the same time. At any given time, day or night, there were about five bands playing I wanted to see and the choices were difficult. Also, I was not willing to go a show hours early just to see one overly hyped or large legendary band (like MGMT, Vampire Weekend, REM, or My Morning Jacket), so I mainly stuck to smaller, upcoming bands (some I knew and some I didn't) and hopped between bars all night to see the maximum possible, and catch some new ones!

While I was down there, I ended up getting a call from my friend Ben, who runs Sidehatch Entertainment, to help with an article that was coming out in the second issue of Wicked Good Zine, a new Boston focused music magazine. The main focus of the issue, including the cover photo, would be about Piebald and their farewell shows in late April at the Middle East. I have been a huge Piebald fan forever and I got a chance to do a fairly extensive, fun interview with Travis (the singer), who was down at SXSW playing keys for a UK band called The Duke Spirit. It was amazing to be able to interview him in person and hear all about Piebald's reign of rock power for 15 years and the coming end of it all. So sad it's ending. I also interviewed some other great Boston bands & people for a Boston bands @ SXSW piece for the zine, but I am not sure if that is going to print. The interviews are below, please enjoy them:

BAND INTERVIEWS I DID AT SXSW:
TRAVIS of PIEBALD
JESS of VIA AUDIO (they are from Boston, but live in NY now)
THE PEASANTRY (whole band)
THE BOY BATHING (they are from Boston, but live in NY now...I think)
EXPO of AUDIBLE MAINFRAME (they are from Boston, but live in CA now)
MARGOT who organized the BERKLEE DAY SHOWCASE

I especially relished the atmosphere and environment of SXSW, with the great Southern Spring weather, the close proximity of many of the venues on and around Sixth Street & Red River, the wonderful indie vibe of SXSW (although I know it's quite corporate now....the people are indie!), and the kick-ass people around me who seemed to be, at times, as obsessed as me with bands and shows. That is a rarity. It's just such an electric feel all over the city and there is just so much going on. I mean, there are more unofficial shows than official shows, on a given day, and it's hard to keep it all straight. On Thursday, I think I counted about 100 unofficial "promotional" shows, parties, or festivals. DAMN...WOW! I also very much enjoyed catching up with friends and bands in the music biz I hadn't seen in a while, especially the ones from the West Coast. Anyways, below is my list of bands I saw, I missed, my favs, and some fun photos and details! Enjoy! I hope to see YOU at SXSW next year.

SXSW 2008 BANDS:
---> These are the bands / show I saw. I am sure I missed a few and will add to them, but this is a pretty good list. Some bands I saw almost their whole set, and a few of the bands I only saw briefing or in passing, so it was a while range. Especially when there are 5 bands playing at the same time and I tried to hop between them. These lists are pretty much in chronological order from the day through late into the night.

WEDNESDAY
(daytime - unofficial shows mainly)
City and Colour @ Canadian showcase tent
some band (will find out) @ Flamingo (hanging out with the Pirate guys)
Wintersleep @ Troubador Saloon (Karma Showcase)
(night - official shows mainly)
Longwave @ Emo's Main Room
Madeline @ Spiros
Pretty & Nice @ Emo's Annex
...tried to see Lightspeed Champion @ Antones - got rejected, had to walk there & back
Hallelujah the Hills @ Friends (MISRA showcase)
Young Heart Attack @Spiros Ampitheater
Cancer Bats @ Red 7 Patio
The Dodos @ Mohawk Patio
Dub Trio @ Red Eyed Fly
High on Fire @ Emo's Annex
Die! Die! Die! @ Wave
Saul Williams @ Vice

THURSDAY
(daytime - unofficial shows mainly)
Look See Proof @ Maggie Mae's (Planetary Group's Skewer BBQ)
The Dykeenies @ Maggie Mae's (Planetary Group's Skewer BBQ)
Moby playing with a blues-rock band @ Maggie Mae's Gibson Room
Elf Power @ Maggie Mae's (Planetary Group's Skewer BBQ)
Tapes N' Tapes @ Emo's Main Room (Saddle Creek / SV Club showase)
The Forward @ Troubador Saloon (Karma Showcase)
The Hanks @ Troubador Saloon (Karma Showcase)
The Donnas @ bar next to Troubador Saloon
Love Like Fire @ Plush
(night - official shows mainly)
Portugal the Man @ Emo's JR
The Colour Revolt @ Spiro's (Austinist showcase)
Anathallo @ Spiros (Austinist showcase)
Robert Gomez @ Spiros (Austinist showcase)
House of Fouls @ Spiros Ampitheater (Drive Thru showcase)
Mieka Pauley @ Spiros side room (unofficial showcase)
Drug Rug @ Spiros (Austinist showcase)
Totally Michael @ @ Beauty Bar Backyard
Constants @ Plush (unofficial)
Steel Train @ Spiros Ampitheater (Drive Thru showcase)
Boyz Noize @ Beauty Bar Backyard (had to watch from outside the fence, it was full)
Caspian @ Plush (unofficial)
Via Audio @ Habana Annex
Vedera @ Creekside EMC at Hilton Garden Inn

FRIDAY
(daytime - unofficial shows mainly)
Via Audio @ Friends (Berklee College of Music showcase)
Bleedin Bleedins @ Friends (Berklee College of Music showcase)
...Then I did an interview w/ Travis of Piebald @ Marisco Cafe
The Duke Spirit @ Wave Rooftop (NME showcase)
Audible Mainframe @ Music Gym
(night - official shows mainly)
HEARTSREVOLUTION @ Emo's Main Room
Lymbyc Systym @ Emo's JR (Leafy Green Booking showcase)
Crusierweight @ The Rio (Doghouse Records showcase)
Tim Williams @ Victorian Room at the Driskill (ASCAP showcase)
Watershed @ Wave
Flosstradamus @ Emo's Main Room
Slim Cessna's Auto Club @ Emo's JR
The Cool Kids @ Emo's Main Room (BIZ 3 Publicity showcase)
MXPX @ Habana Annex Backyard (Ernie Ball Showcase)
Supersuckers @ Emo's Annex
Scissors for Lefty @ The Thirsty Nickel

SATURDAY
(daytime - unofficial shows mainly)
Ludacris @ DMX private event (DMX the company - not the rapper private tent event)
Beat Union @ Emo's JR
Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Emo's Main Room (Rockstar / AP tour showcase)
The Rocket Summer @ Emo's Annex (Rockstar / AP tour showcase)
Holy Fuck @ Beauty Bar Backyard (Rachael Ray presents - YES, the real Rachael Ray)
Sam Champion @ Jackalope (K-Swiss sponsored show - got some FREE shoes!)
Viva Viva @ Jackalope (K-Swiss sponsored show - got some FREE shoes!)
(night - official shows mainly)
David Bazan @ Maggie Mae's Rooftop (The Barsuk showcase)
some band @ the Texas Rock Fest (big unofficial fest right near Sixth St.)
Simian Mobile Disco @ Mess with Texas 2 (unofficial fest @ Waterloo Park)
The Breeders @ Mess with Texas 2 (unofficial fest @ Waterloo Park)
NOFX @ Mess with Texas 2 (unofficial fest @ Waterloo Park)
The Hush Sound @ Spiros Ampitheater
Innerpartysystem@ Habana Annex Backyard (Purevolume.com showcase)
Panda @ Habana Annex Backyard (Purevolume.com showcase)
Phantom Planet @ Spiros Ampitheater
Pompeii @ Spiros
Crystal Castles @ Wave Rooftop
Hypernova @ Wave
Film School @ Bourbon Rocks
Dr. Dog @ Emo's Annex
An Albatross @ Spiros (Eyeball Records showcase)
RX Bandits @ Emo's Lounge

MY PICKS FROM THE SHOWS I SAW:
(these were all very tough to pick - so they are a bit approximate)
BEST SHOW OVERALL: (tie) Anathallo / RX Bandits
MOST FUN SHOW: (tie) Rx Bandits / The Rocket Summer / The Cool Kids
BEST SHOW FOR A BAND I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE: (tie) Scissors for Lefty / Innerpartysystem
MOST EXCITED ABOUT SEEING: (tie) Simian Mobile Disco / Vedera / Anathallo
BEST NEW BAND (I didn't know about AT ALL before): Lymbic System
BEST INSTRUMENTAL BAND: Lymbyc Systym
CRAZIEST LIVE SHOW: An Albatross
BEST SOUNDING SHOW: (tie) Innerpartysystem / Film School
BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND: Hypernova (from IRAN) / Die! Die! Die! (from New Zealand)
BEST AUSTIN BAND: (tie) Lymbyc System / The Young Heart Attack
BEST BOSTON BAND: (tie) Via Audio / Audible Mainframe

BANDS THAT I MISSED THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE
(VERY = very bummed about missing - either their venue was too far away, I couldn't get in, or I just forgot or couldn't fit in their show)
MGMT (VERY), My Morning Jacket, Sia (VERY), Lightspeed Champion (VERY), Two Gallants (VERY), Spoon (VERY), Sons & Daughters, Ra Ra Riot, Cut Copy (VERY), Headlights, White Williams (VERY), Willowz, The Photo Atlas, Goldspot, Girl in a Coma (VERY), Be Your Own Pet, The Nightwatchmen, The Young Republic, The Von Bondies, Saturday Looks Good to Me, The Black Keys, TAB the Band, Wild Light, Foreign Islands, Catfish Haven, Call Me Lightning, The Big Sleep, Akron/Family, Zambri, Freezepop, R.E.M, The Exit, Kevin Devine, Jon Foreman (of Switchfoot), The Heavenly States (VERY), Kaki King, The Whigs, Working for A Nuclear Free City, Darker My Love (VERY), Tim Fite, The Weakerthans (VERY), DeVotchKa (VERY), Wheatus, President of the United States of America, Ludo, Islands, Har Mar Superstar, The Audition, Perry Farrell, Peelander-Z, Sara Bareilles, Western Civilization, Dizzee Rascal, Murs, The English Beat (VERY), Augustana, The Raveonettes, The Blow, Constantines, Nada Surf (VERY), Rogue Wave, Lyrics Born, Middle Class Rut, The Weather Underground, Deer Tick, Juiceboxxx, Del the Funky Homosapien, White Rabbits, Earlimart, Castanets, Aloha, Anthony Green (solo) (VERY), Envy on the Coast, Danger Radio, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Chiodos (VERY), Paramore, We Versus the Shark, J Mascis, Thurston Moore w/ band, Future Clouds and Radar (VERY), The Slits, Foxy Shazam, World/ Inferno Friendship Society, Limbeck (VERY), Sleepercar, Jet Lag Gemini, Shout Out Louds, Santogold, The Cribs, N.E.R.D., Moby (VERY), Junkie XL, Pete Rock, Talib Kweli (VERY), Ice Cube, The Matches, Oh No! Oh My! (VERY), Tally Hall, Tokyo Police Club (VERY), Tulsa (VERY), Sea Wolf (VERY), Maps & Atlases, WHY? (VERY), Matthew Good (VERY), Tigercity (VERY), Okkervil River (VERY), Kiss Kiss (VERY), The Lemonheads (VERY), MSTRKRFT (VERY), Chromeo (VERY), The Explorers Club, The Working Title (VERY), Action Action, Band of Heathens, Frank Smith, The Secret Handshake, The XYZ Affair.

BOSTON-AREA BANDS THAT PLAYED (unofficial & official):
---> This means that all these bands are either good, upcoming, or somewhat legit in the music biz, to make it on a SXSW show. So, check them out - many are super awesome!
Wild Light, Pretty & Nice, Hallelujah the Hills, Caspian, Via Audio (now in NY), TAB the Band, The Peasantry, Bleedin Bleedins, Freezepop, Audible Mainframe (now in CA), The Young Republic, Freezepop, Drug Rug, Viva Viva, Constants, The Downbeat 5, Steven Bredksy, Clouds, Tulsa, Tigercity (I think they are from Boston, but now are in NY), Megaphone, Elizabeth & The Catapults, Cassavettes (I think), Frank Smith (from Boston, now based of out Austin, I think), and I'm sure there are more!

MY FULL ALBUMS OF PHOTOS (on my personal facebook)
Album #1 | Album #2 | Album #3 | Album #4

MORE PHOTOS

Ludacris @ the DMX (the company, not the rapper) private event in a small tent. I was walking up to Sixth Street from the convention center and I heard some jams. I was like "What's going on here? " They're like, "It's a private event with Ludacris", I said "Can I come in?" They said "Sure" and I came and GOT MY BOUNCE ON!	Taking photos at the PV Ranch! From left: Mike from Purevolume in Boston (what a good dude - everybody knows him!), Craig from Rockstar in LA (I did some Rockstar promos with him last summer - he knows how to ROCK it quite excellently), ME (I'm a big dork; you know it, c'mon, be honest), and another guy (I forgot his name) who was helping with the Rockstar SXSW promos - real nice guy!
Scissors for Lefty singer picking a random guy in the crowd to sing with! What a sight to see.	Random dude at the Thirsty Nickel representing BOSTON & The Sox...yeah...Sox fans really everywhere, even at SXSW. Go SOX. Can you tell I am excited to see him?
This was TOTALLY WICKED! A guy with a crazy DJ boom-box system on a bike. Biking around and bumping tunes! This was the bike rider pulling the behind contraption.	AMAZING BAND: Lymbyc Systym @ Emo's JR. - they're from Austin! This was totally random; just stopping by the check them out and they blew me away. Two guys, post-rock instrumental with a live drummer and tons of keys and sequencing. They were so tight. I bought their album and it's WOAH WOAH GOOD!
Cool posters on the wall.	It's me with the EYEBALL MAN...yeah EYEBALL RECORDS, that's what I am talking about. What an awesome idea! Eyeball man was nice and I talked to some of the Eyeball people nearby. I love Eyeball records...think the first Thursday EP and first My Chem album...yeah, that's them!
The singer of An Albatross @ Spiros was screaming in my face and it was enjoyable. This is right after he had just jumped right at me along with a few other people on the side of the stage, to go crowd surfing, as if we were a crowd... but we weren't. We always dropped him...but barely caught him, lifted him up and passed him around the pole to the main crowd. It was just crazy.	I guess Hobos love Booze. Didn't know that...hmmm.