tugmoose Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 pretty much delivered all it promised, but I think my 7th sxsw will be my last, for a while anyway. Passed on the big stuff (metalica, west) as i they're pretty much besides the point of the festival. saw good stuff every night, the Hold Steady ripped my head off, M Ward, A Bird, Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, Haley Bonar, more. but when you add it all up (flight, badge, hotel), you're not getting real good bang for your buck, even with free day shows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
miss jayne Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Festivals are intense...I haven't traveled to one in years but try to do Hardly Strictly Bluegrass every year and last year Outside Lands. Its hard work I think rock tourism is at an all time high right now. Wish I was in a position to do New Orleans Jazz fest this year but will have to keep it local. Could not agree more about The Hold Steady. Saw them with DBT and was grateful it was the last two shows of the tour or else I'd have gotten the credit card out to see a few more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent Best Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 pretty much delivered all it promised, but I think my 7th sxsw will be my last, for a while anyway. Passed on the big stuff (metalica, west) as i they're pretty much besides the point of the festival. saw good stuff every night, the Hold Steady ripped my head off, M Ward, A Bird, Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, Haley Bonar, more. but when you add it all up (flight, badge, hotel), you're not getting real good bang for your buck, even with free day shows. I cant fathom why anyone would buy a badge? Face falue is around $700 and it doesnt event guarantee admission to see the big names like Metallica, REM, Beastie Boys, etc... Nearly every band you mentioned above played a free show last week. The Hold Steady by my count must have played at least 7 of them. I have a musicans wristband (which I ended up giving away) and I think I only went to one showcase this year. The rest of my time was spent at free party's listening to great music, while drinking my filll of free beer and booze. But then again, if folks like yourself didnt buy badges, I guess we wouldnt have a SXSW to begin with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tugmoose Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 I cant fathom why anyone would buy a badge? Face falue is around $700 and it doesnt event guarantee admission to see the big names like Metallica, REM, Beastie Boys, etc... Nearly every band you mentioned above played a free show last week. The Hold Steady by my count must have played at least 7 of them. I have a musicans wristband (which I ended up giving away) and I think I only went to one showcase this year. The rest of my time was spent at free party's listening to great music, while drinking my filll of free beer and booze. But then again, if folks like yourself didnt buy badges, I guess we wouldnt have a SXSW to begin with.Well, the badge is a lot less when you buy early, and like I said before, the big name shows are kind of besides the point of sxsw. Plus I'm already flying in from cleveland, paying for a hotel room (discounted with badge), I figure it doesn't make sense to half-ass it on the night shows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TemplePilot Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Frank Turner was my highlight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tugmoose Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 2 of the best things about SXSW 09: No Leslie or Beatle Bob sightings!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrNo Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Stuff I loved:Tallest Man On Earth (holy shit...so good)Port O' BrienPhosphorescentAlela DianeDark MeatRed Red MeatJustin Townes EarleDinosaur Jr.Felice BrothersSam Amidon Stuff I liked:Those DarlinsHaciendaEfterklangCamera ObscuraMegafaunMark SultanHerman DuneHorse Feathers Stuff I hated:Deer TickThese Are PowersWavves Quote Link to post Share on other sites
euthe Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 pretty much delivered all it promised, but I think my 7th sxsw will be my last, for a while anyway. Passed on the big stuff (metalica, west) as i they're pretty much besides the point of the festival. saw good stuff every night, the Hold Steady ripped my head off, M Ward, A Bird, Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, Haley Bonar, more. but when you add it all up (flight, badge, hotel), you're not getting real good bang for your buck, even with free day shows. sxsw...what a great setup! Saw okkervile river backing rocky erickson I'd have to say the best set though goes to The Heartless Bastards, the chick can wail! 2 of the best things about SXSW 09: No Leslie or Beatle Bob sightings!!! They're working on their set for ACL! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThisIsNowhere Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I would really like to see the Hold Steady sometime. Sounds like they were awesome there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 2 of the best things about SXSW 09: No Leslie or Beatle Bob sightings!!!Hilarious. I've seen "Leslie" before and once was enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JerseyMike Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 It was my first SXSW since moving here last May, and what a blast. Gigs were just coming out of the woodwork, so I didn't get to see any bands, but what a time we did have. I had old bandmates in from NJ, we played a bunch of shows and turned my house into a recording studio and made half a new record. Great week. I'm just returning to normal now! No Leslie or Beatle Bob sightings!!! Good for you. You should come with me to get coffee on my way to work every morning. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 My partner went to SXSW without me (I got Andrew Bird and Heartless Bastards a few days prior) and his highlight (and the one that induces the greenest envy in me) was Andre Williams. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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