Well kids, enough time has passed that I can think of SXSW 2009 without a singular tear falling down my cheek. As I’ve mentioned before, SXSW is a life-changing mecca-like experience and somehow, under some miracle, each year keeps getting better.
Interactive aside, the music rocked hard. As promised, here is my “best of” and then some list of bands and also the full list of all that I saw there (48 bands in 4 days, intense, I know.)
SXSW Music Picks:
Clothes Falling Off, Oozing Sex, Performances Left Me Physically Unable To Speak:
Sam Roberts Band – El Sol Y Luna
Delta Spirit – Radio Room *extra points for best use of playing a trash can lid*
(Reference YouTube videos above)
Best International Comparison (And bonus for “See Them Now and Say You Saw Them When”):
Glasvegas – Vice (Scottish Bruce Springstein)
Asteroid Galaxy Tour – Emo’s Annex (Dannish Stevie Nicks)
Dancing Face-Melting Madness:
Totally Michael – Beauty Bar
Freeland – Maggie Mae’s Rooftop
Stumbled Into Surprise:
Sleepy Sun – Emo’s Jr.
Hype Hype Hype, But Worth It:
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – Buffalo Billiards
Best Acoustics:
Department of Eagles – Central Presbyterian Church
Best Job Of Keeping It The Family:
Flosstradamus – Filter Magazine Showcase at Cedar Street Courtyard
Kid Sister – Steve Aoki After Party
Secret Track on a CD Award:
Moriarty covering “Enjoy The Silence” – Driskill Hotel
Runner Up Best Cover:
Manchester Orchestra covering “Prince of Bel-Air” – Radio Room Patio
Bands On My List That I Missed:
Harlem Shakes
King Khan & the Shrines
Janelle Monae
Matt & Kim
The Avett Brothers
Venues I Swear I Want To Go To Next Year:
Continental Club
Scoot Inn
The Ranch
The Full List:
Wednesday (11)
Department of Eagles
School of Seven Bells
Delta Spirit
Manchester Orchestra
Peter Bjorn & John
Glasvegas
Belle
Ladyhawk
Sleepy Sun
Heartless Bastards
Datarock (technically Tuesday night but post-midnight)
Thursday (10)
Tyrone Wells
Francis & The Lights
Crystal Stilts
Easy Star All-Stars
Bishop Allen
Ocelot
Totally Michael
Asteroid Galaxy Tour
Freeland
Kid Sister
Friday (12)
Echo & The Bunnymen
Dananananakroyd
Manahattan Love Suicide
Driskill Jam Session
Big Elf
Valient Thorr
Peter & The Pirate
Mumford & Sons
Freeland
Sam Roberts
Von Bondies
Shwayze
Saturday (15)
Asobi Seku
Flosstradamus
N.A.S.A.
Rye Rye
Lucero
Akron Family
White Lies
Juliet Camadire
The Little Ones
Moriarty
Duke Spirit
Silversun Pickups
Solange
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
MSTRKRFT
And now the big question – Who were your favorites?
