SXSW Evolves

by Chris Aponick

The lesson of South By Southwest is that if an attendee has their heart set on attending one of the marquee intimate shows that the Austin, Tex.-based music event books, then the best bet is to plan ahead and be prepared to wait for the chance at a once-in-a-lifetime musical moment.

Last year's Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show set the bar for how these events can play out and it...

SXSW Day Four: Austin musical math

by Chris Aponick

The cool thing abut SXSW is sometimes it helps put two and two together and that's the bit of math that happened Friday at Cheer Up Charlie's, a funky indoor/outdoor club on Austin's hip east side. 

After grabbing a cocktail and navigating through the venue, I decided to take a look at one of the band's playing on the outdoor stage on the other side of the venue. It took me a few moments to...

Jimmy Hooligan at SXSW: Day Two

by STAFF

Yo, what up? It’s me again. That guy that “Does what he wants” aka DAWB aka Jimmy Hooligan reporting from Austin, Tex. on SXSW Hip-hop.

This blog is meant to be for Day Two, however Day 2 ended up being day 3, or maybe 4. Either way here is my best attempt to fill you in on the past 48 hours.

Day two starts off with me waking up in the back seat of my vehicle at 7 a.m. from a phone call...

SXSW Day Three: New vibes from familiar faces

by Chris Aponick

South By Southwest Music Festival is part writing assignment and part spring break for me. A chance to scrape together the little bit of extra cash I do have and go chase down some of my favorite bands for a week.

The Reader graciously provides a badge, the priority access placard that gets the holder first dibs on entry to SXSW's nighttime showcases. The rest of the trip is on me, so while I...

SXSW Day Two: Day shows and long lines

by Chris Aponick

Day shows are quickly becoming the best place to catch the latest crop of SXSW buzz bands, as well as established, but under-the-radar acts like the Shout Out Louds.

Meanwhile, SXSW itself has doubled-down on the the sort of big event, small room idea that results in long lines of badge holders who will never get in, even if they get to the venue hours in advance. 

That was the case with...

Jimmy Hooligan at SXSW: Day One

by STAFF

Jimmy Hooligan here, reporting from the insanity that is SXSW. Myself and my crew Big Mista and Aaron Gum aka Ion RayGun officially landed yesterday morning. (Tuesday, March 12) After picking up our 500 posters, 5000 flyers and five banners, we hopped out the Hoolimobile brushed our teeth in the street, sprayed cologne and immediatly hit the streets with two to three hours of "road sleep".