Indie Sounds NY & Austin

Weekend Bonus ... Intimate Stranger Video For Under

Intimate Stranger from Santiago, Chile, have a video for their song Under.  Expect to see them at SXSW in March.

SXSW 2010 Registration Is Open; Prices Up Again

Early-bird reduced-rate registration for 2010's South by Southwest festival - March 17th to 21st - is open.

Through September 25th, the price for a music badge is $595, up from $550 last time. A bit of shame that, given the current economic climate, though it continues a trend of increasing the badge price year-on-year that the organizers seem to think is fair and value for money.

If you can't afford a badge, remember that the best show by far at SXSW 2009 was an unofficial free one. There's lots of great music from everywhere happening in Austin during the festival, badge or no badge.

BJ's (Belated) Look Back at SXSW

By BJ Barratt

Thousands upon thousands of people attended SXSW, and no two people will have had the same experience.  Some people are there just to hear band after band, some are there to discover talent, some to promote their companies or music, some to be educated at seminars.  At any given hour, there are about 100 choices to make.  Walking down Sixth Street is a sensory overload of sights and sounds.  Music venues line each side of the street, each with windows open to the warm air, each with live music pouring out, creating a wall of sound as you stroll through downtown Austin deciding what to do next.

SXSW Epilogue, Highlights ... And Why Austin Continues To Be Weird

SXSW is over for another year.  Austin is returning to normal, so just a few dozen gigs every night in the circa 200 music venues that define this city after dark.

Highlights for me: Alejandro's gig, Ruby Jane Smith, the Momo's showcase with Drew, Suzanna and Dan, Sky Larkin, Ra Ra, Dustin, Kacy, several opportunities to hear the sweet violin of Ms. Trisha Keefer, the Webb Sisters, the Laces and Jerry Cherry.

Oh, and if anyone asks why the city's slogan is "Keep Austin Weird" then just check this out ...

Enough said? This concludes Indie Sounds' coverage of SXSW '09.  See y'all next year.

SXSW After Party With T Bird and the Breaks

I had gotten to see local act T Bird and the Breaks for the first time on SXSW-eve, so it seemed a good idea to revisit them for the after party at Antone's.  An amazing and entertaining live band they are ...

Ra Ra Always A Riot ... Round Off Saturday Night

I love to go see Ra Ra Riot for their high energy stage show, which last night took place at The Parish. A great way to round off a very long day.

Top Austin Acts Showcase Officially @ Momo's

The City of Austin's official showcase at Momo's featured some local favorites of mine, and I got there just in time for a ripping performance by Drew Smith's Lonely Choir.

Drew was followed by the lovely and talented Suzanna Choffel with her band.

And then I took in the showcase of the always enjoyable Dan Dyer.

A New Definition of "Gifted" ... Ruby Jane Smith

Ruby Jane Smith is just 14 years old, but you would not know it from her musical talent (she sings, writes original songs and plays guitar, mandolin, harmonica and the violin) and her engaging but adult stage presence.  She plays with Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and other greats, and was the recipient of the 2007 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin Award. And I was lucky enough to see her showcase at The Ranch.

Saturday Early Shows ... MPressfest, then Larkin' About

Saturday started promptly at noon at the MPressfest, catching sets by Katie Costello and Gregory Douglass.

Then it was on to the British Music Embassy (as Latitude 360 has become this week) to see Sky Larkin, from Leeds in Yorkshire (in England).  New to me, but a great band ... check them out in NYC at the Mercury Lounge on Monday.

It Was All About Alejandro Last Night ...

The head-and-shoulders-above-all standout show of the week - and yes I know it's not yet over - was last night's unofficial Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra outing at the Hotel San Jose in South Austin.  The 15-piece ensemble has not been seen in many years, and the parking lot was full to overflowing.