South By Southwest 2008 has come and gone, and with it over 50 great bands under my belt. (I think my dad got double that! Oh well, what can you do? Last year (which I was too lazy to blog about) was my first SXSW, and a totally overwhelming experience - I didn't know what I was getting myself into. This year I had it way more under control. I was on top of the day show schedules thanks to austinshowlist.com and donewaiting.com. I made schedules for each day with hourly breakdowns and left multiple things per hour on the schedule to allow for last minute decisions based on venue capacity and location. I was on top of that shit.

Last year was a great year though, and had way more bands that I saw that were HUGE for me to see. I had been waiting to see bands like Simple Kid and Bic Runga for a long time, and had been wanting to see new favorite artist Chris Garneau. This year didn't provide any bands that came near the level of must-see as those bands. However, this year was overall a better year, with a higher percentage of bands that I really loved (last year had a lot of stinkers). Below you'll see my rating system as well as a comprehensive list of the shows I saw at SXSW 2008 after the break!

Ratings:
+1 = I hated it. I would do anything in my power to avoid having to endure this again
+2 = I adamantly didn't like this. I would be disappointed if this band were opening for a band that I wanted to see.
+3 = I was pretty neutral about this band. If I must see them again it wouldn't bother me, but it wouldn't tip the scales in a positive way either. I won't be looking the band up when I get home Also known as the "my mind is wandering" rating
+4 = I enjoy this band. I will check them out online, and if they were opening for another +4 or +5 that would be exciting.
+5 = I loved it. I will be buying their CDs and going to see them live again.

Tuesday

I kicked off my SXSW experience on Tuesday evening at Emo's, with a line up that featured a lot of my hometown bands, as well as a good number of bands I'd never seen or heard of.

Oliver Future +4 - Emo's
I had never heard of this Los Angeles band before, but they were a fun way to start off the festival. Plus, they are Obama supporters!

The Last Vegas +3 - Emo's
This Chicago band definitely isn't my favorite type of music, but they play it well enough. I won't be getting their CD or seeing them live again, but I do want to play every single one of their songs on Guitar Hero (one song is available on Guitar Hero II).

Sybris +3 - Emo's
I saw Chicago's Sybris some time ago and really disliked them. Which is an understatement. I don't know if they have gotten better, my tastes have changed, or I just had the bar set so low for them, but I enjoyed them more this time.

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir +4.5 - Emo's
Chicago's "chambery folky punky" The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir is always a pleasure to see. Love the strings and the lesbian shout out. This is a great gay friendly bad - check out "I never thought I could feel this way about a boy"

Home Video +4.5 - Emo's
This New York indie electro band was my favorite of the first set of bands. They had a bit of a Thom Yorke, The Eraser feel.

Catfish Haven +3 - Emo's
Another group of Chicago boys - Once again, not necessarily my favorite style of music, but still pretty good. I think I might prefer their recorded stuff - which has a bit of an old school Will Hoge vibe to it.

Tigercity +3.5 - Emo's
Tigercity has some catchy music - the vocals might be a bit too falsetto for my tastes, but still catchy.

Wednesday

Headlights +5 - Emo's
Last year Champaign's Headlights were a big highlight at SXSW. Their new album, "Some Racing, Some Stopping" came out recently and at first I didn't like it as much as "Kill Them With Kindness" but after repeat listens I have to say it is a must buy. Some slight sound issues couldn't ruin this performance.

Foreign Born +3.5 - Red Eyed Fly
Pretty good live sound - I think this LA band is the kind that I'd need to consume their album before being able to connect live.

Two Gallants +5 - Red Eyed Fly
The Saddle Creek signed Two Gallants rocked with their great strained vocals - I had been listening to a couple of their tracks for a while, so I was excited to see them live. The bartender at the venue agreed - he asked me enthusiastically what the band's name was, and then scribbled it down on a piece a paper.

Joseph Arthur +4.5 - Creekside Lounge
I've seen Joseph play before, and was a fan of some of his older hits - "In the Sun," "Honey and the Moon" and such. I hadn't checked out his most recent CD(s), but the new stuff seemed pretty good. Plus, the venue suited him pretty well.

Why? +5 - Emo's
I hadn't heard of Why? but caught the end of their set while waiting for The Blow. What a treat - very catchy music. This is what SXSW is about - stumbling onto great bands you haven't heard of.

The Blow+4
I was really excited for the Blow based entirely on the power of the song "Hock It." The Blow is Khaela Maricich from Portland. She was a bit more awkward on stage than I had figured - I had assumed she would drip sex. Regardless, she was amusing in her banter, if not awkward. In the end I think I prefer her recorded to live.

Spinto Band +5 - Creekside Lounge
Delaware's"The Spinto Band" has been one of my favorites since I heard them softly playing on a radio in Scotland and then bought their CD in South Carolina. Their new songs sound great, and some of them even have a Weezer b-side vibe to them, at least live. Can't wait for the new album to come out.

Jesca Hoop +5 - Buffalo Billiards
The first showcase band I saw at SXSW was Jesca Hoop, at the KCRW.com showcase. I got to see one of my personal heroes, Morning Becomes Eclectic's Nic Harcourt, introude Jesca, who was also his choice for number 1 CD last year. She was lovely - and while she has a voice you have to get used to a little bit, she was definitely a winner. Jesca ads to my collection of LA bands that I've seen so far.

Carlis Star +3 - Smokin' Music Lounge
After seeing the crazy line at Antone's for the Domino showcase - the place to be apparently - I headed over to make sure I had a good spot for Ed Harcourt, one of my most anticipated shows of the week. The band playing was my first UK band of the week, Carlis Star. I thought they sounded okay, but I wasn't really that into them... they had a very special episode of One Tree Hill feel. Like, maybe a band hired to play a sitcom Prom. Maybe I just wasn't digging the fact that the venue was sponsored by a cigarette company and had cigarette selling kiosks everywhere.

P.S. The Domino show featured - Simian Mobile Disco, These New Puritans, Lightspeed Champion, Sons & Daughters, The Kills and White Williams.

Ed Harcourt +5 - Smokin' Music Lounge
One of my most anticipated shows of the weekend - Ed is a London bloke, and despite some sound problems and the fact that I think the drummer got in a fight with the sound guy, I was really happy with the show. He played one of my two favorite of his songs (played Visit from the Dead Dog, didn't play This One's For You)

Walter Meego +4 - The Parish

Chicago's Walter Meego put on a great electronic pop show. Plus, it was nice to sit down on the Parish's benches.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? +3 - The Parish
This UK band did less for me... I was fading fast by this point in the evening, and the music wasn't engaging enough to keep my attention. If it were in the background at a club, or my soundtrack to a cleaning spree, I think I'd have liked it more. Let's Make Out is a pretty hot song though.

Duke Spirit +4 - Buffalo Billards

I started out the evening at the KCRW showcase, and ended the night there as well, for the UK's Duke Spirit. By this time I was falling asleep at the wheel, despite my near front row spot. While it sounded pretty good, it wasn't good enough to keep me from drifting. What an exhausting day!

Thursday

Thursday had a lot of really competitive day parties - all from cool groups with great line ups. The Onion and Schubas were just two of the great choices. However, I decided to camp out for the NPR showcase at the Parish, and because of it's great line up which crossed a lot of must see bands off my list and the fact that it would be impossible to get back in after leaving, I decided to camp out there all day (and enjoy their free BBQ and rice dishes.

The Lost Brothers +5
Wednesday morning I was walking and a couple of guys I passed by asked if it looked like they had just woken up - I told them it didn't. They asked where I was playing (?!?) and I said I was just a spectator. I asked if they were a band and where they were playing. They said they were The Lost Brothers and were playing B.D. Reiley's Thursday morning. Since that is an Irish bar, I asked if they were from Ireland and when I found out they were we had a discussion utilizing my limited Irish Gaelic.

Luckily, B.D. Reily's has windows that open from the stage onto the sidewalk, so I got to see and hear a good number of their songs while camped out in line waiting to get into the Parish's NPR show. And they sounded great! Beautiful and mellow. Probably the first band of the week to really tap into that vibe for me. What a great way to start the day.

Shout Out Louds +5 - The Parish

Because of the humongous line, I didn't get inside the Parish to see Sweden's The Shout Out Louds until they only had a couple of songs left - luckily one of them was my super jam "Tonight I Have to Leave it All Behind." They sounded AMAZING, crisp and tight. A sweet, lighter, modern Robert Smith sound.

Jens Lekman +5 - The Parish
The number one artist of last year of a good number of my friends, Sweden's Jens Lekman took a while to grow on me - he's kind of got that Rufus orchestral vibe to him. Very quirky sound and often times lyrics, but with an undercurrent of heart it is hard not to get swept away by. A very good set by Jens Lekman.

AA Bondy +5 - The Parish
The only artist of the morning I hadn't heard of, and was least excited about. Despite this, and his sometimes random banter, he still rates +5 - that shows how great this NPR did putting this lineup together. AA Bondy is bound to be the next Ray LaMontagne/Amos Lee (or Joe Purdy/Alexi Murdoch, if only they had been the next Amos/Ray's themselves) , with his beautiful, raspy/folksy voice.

Yeasayer +5 - The Parish
For some reason I always think of Yeasayer in the same thought as MGMT and Destroyer. I've not really listened to any of them and am sure they are really different and all pretty great. All three were at SXSW, but sadly I only got to see Yeasayer, so I can't compare the 3. Luckily for me I can't imagine the other two being anywhere as good as Yeasayer (I look forward to being proven wrong though.) They came at a perfect time in the set as well - just different enough to keep things interesting.

Bon Iver +5 - The Parish
Bon Iver - probably my favorite set of this string of +5 bands. There music is, frankly, what I imagine you hear as you ascend to heaven. Angels open their mouths and this music radiates forth. Sure, I wreck my "too much falsetto for me" argument from above, but the abundance of falsetto from Bon Iver is heart breaking, cold and warm at the same time, and dripping with solitude.

Vampire Weekend +5 - The Parish
Vampire Weekend was probably the most hyped buzzed band of SXSW - this year's Peter, Bjorn and John. I have to say, they were very impressive - believe the hype. They were a well oiled machine, churning out catchy song after catchy song laced with New England charm. Not too challenging music as to shut out the mainstream listeners, but still really interesting - there upcoming run of sold out shows indicated that people agree.

Sia +5 - Bat Bar
Last year I spent a lot (too much) time at the free DirectTV sound stages to see bands filming for DirectTV performances. The stage is cool, it is fun seeing the filming and the sound system is top notch, but it just is a little too polished - I prefer being crammed into a lot of interesting venues. This year, Australia's Sia was the only artist who I took the opportunity to see at the Bar. Her Six Feet Under ending "Breathe Me" may be one of my favorite songs ever, but for some reason I always thought I would be into the rest of her music. In fact, she was great with a host of beautiful songs and a fun and quirky stage presence.

Islands +5 - Cedar Street Courtyard
Islands became the only band that I saw 3 times at SXSW. At this show they only played one song from their first album, which was sad. But not that sad. Because the songs from their upcoming album are unbelievably good. They stepped it up and the maturity and scope of their new work is breathtaking. They have now been bumped up to my "most anticipated release of the year" spot - which has some stiff competition, to be sure.

Phosphorescent +5 - Mohawk Patio

Phosphorescent is another band I stumbled upon. I hadn't heard of them, but caught the end of their set while waiting for Bodies of Water. Within one song I was scrambling to find out who they were and why I hadn't already fallen in love with them.

Bodies of Water +3.5 - Mohawk Patio
I was really excited to see Bodies of Water, as I enjoyed their track "Doves circle the sky" - which they didn't play. The set just fell kind of flat for me. Sad day.

Mona De Bo +2 - B.D. Reilys
Yeah, I really didn't like this band. I had stopped in to get an early spot for Black Before Red (after not being able to find where Anathallo was playing after tons of searching - as far as I could figure, they weren't where they were supposed to be). I listened to a couple of songs and then left because I just couldn't stand it - I went and got something to drink and then came back and disliked the last part of their set too. I talked to a photographer from a Latvian publication, who informed me they were from Latvia and were popular there. So, more power to them for coming from Latvia. Hopefully their US fans appreciated it.

Black Before Red +3.5 - B.D. Reily's

I was so excited to find out that Black Before Red had been added to the schedule at the last minute, but in the end was a bit disappointed. I just don't think the venue was well suited, and the fact that the schedule wasn't even advertised - they just didn't have a great crowd. It was mostly people who wandered in off the street out of curiosity and a small table of the band's college friends. The band itself didn't match what I figured it was going to be - it was a little older... I had assumed it was going to be a young hip energetic band. Regardless, it just didn't thrill me... I'll stick with their recorded songs, like Matagorda.

Islands +5 - Emo's
So, I was going to go check out commercial hit makers Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson at the Hotel Cafe showcase at The Parish (of which I attended in full last year) but I just couldn't stay away from Islands - I had to see them again. I'm glad I did... it produced one of the most Rock and Roll moments of the week. They apparently were given a late start due to a band before them. When they reached the end of their alloted time, they said that they were going to keep playing, because they deserved the full 40 minutes they were promised. They proceed to play their epicly long song, Swans, and just kept playing and playing and playing it, until finally a worker from the venue cut into the audio and said "that's it" but still they kept playing. Then someone came out on stage and made the signal to cut the speakers, which the venue did, but they kept playing anyway, to the cheers of their fans, until finally the power to their amps were cut and workers started pulling their equipment from the stage. Somehow the singer got them to turn his mic back on for a second where he proclaimed "fuck Emo's and fuck SXSW - we hope to never play this festival again" which got a huge applause. Of course, they played more day parties the next day :) It was a great time.

Boyz Noize - Beauty Bar and Black Mountain - Mohawk Patio +3.5

At this point in the evening, there wasn't really anything on my plate, so I just wandered around with Spencer, a buddy I met in line for the NPR show, and hit up a couple of venues. Nothing was good enough or interesting enough (to me) for me to really absorb it, or to break through the exhaustion that was creeping in.

Friday

Fanfarlo +5 - Emo's Annex
Fanfarlo was probably the band I was most excited to see at SXSW. Unfortunately, due to getting a late start and having the cab I called taken by someone else, I didn't get to the venue until right at the end of the Fanfarlo set at the Soundcheck magazine party.. What I heard sounded great though, including my favorite track "You Are One of the Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us."

Anathallo +5 - Emo's Annex
I love Anathallo, and am so glad they have moved from MI to Chicago. I'm pumped to hear their new stuff, and from the sounds of it live, it is going to be right on par with the best of the rest of their music. Definitely worth sticking around the venue for after Fanfarlo.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin +4.5 - Volume Night Club

I had a track or two from SSLYBY but it wasn't until I was looking through the SXSW line up and decided to check out their myspace that I got really excited about the chance to see them live at the Paste/Stereogum concert. Unfortunately the venue smelled strongly of BO (it was the hottest day of the fest, reaching 96 degrees). Also the four piece was a three piece today, as one of the members had had a hand broken (by another band member). Regardless, they still sounded very good.

I took a break at this point in order to check out the trade show and Flatstock. It was tough taking a break when so many great shows were going on - but I wanted to check these two things out at some point.

British Sea Power +4.5 - Mohawk's Pation
I've heard a lot of great things about British Sea Power, so I had to go and check them out. I actually figured they'd be more mellow and weird - instead they rocked. I got a seat up in the balcony area and listened to them - I might have rested my eyes a little too. I wish I had had the energy to enjoy them like they were meant to be enjoyed.

Bear in Heaven +3 - Antone's

I saw this band while I was waiting around for Basia Bulat to start. I don't really remember much about them though. They didn't do much for me.

Basia Bulat +4
When I saw Basia Bulat at Schubas a few weeks before SXSW I was only familiar with a handful of her songs. Since then I bought her CD, so I wanted to see her again after having given it some good listens. Unfortunately this performance was super plagued with sound difficulties (and annoying people talking). Still, love the songs and her feisty voice.

Phantom Planet - La Zona Rosa +5
I am a big fan of Phantom Planet and had never seen them before. I really figured I wouldn't get a chance to see them during SXSW - La Zona Rosa is pretty far off the beaten path and I figured I'd have to wait in line for forever to get in. As it worked out, the band before and after Phantom Planet that I wanted to see were in the same neighborhood, and there wasn't a line to get in at all. The show rocked - I felt like such a teenager, but I was pumped that they played a good mix of their old stuff and their new album, which sounds good to me (a mix of their past two albums maybe?)

The Sumbarines +5 - Momo's
I was really pumped to see the Submarines - a group I hadn't seen before. The theme of SXSW is shaping up to be bands with both male and female vocals Rock (Headlights, The Submarines, Georgie James). I was a little sad that they only played one or two songs from their last album and stuck with new stuff, but I LOVED the new stuff, so it's not much of a complaint.

Fanfarlo +4.5 - Wave Rooftop
I headed back to see Fanfarlo for a second time, since I had missed most of their morning set. Sadly, due to severe technical difficulties, they didn't start until they only had about 10 minutes of their set left! A bunch of sad fans (including Sound Opinion's Derogatis, who I saw at the show) stuck around to see. To apologize for having to wait and getting a truncated and still technically impaired set, they gave out some free CDs. I gave the show a 4.5 at no fault of the bands - they overcome their obstacles as well as they could. Afterwards I bumped into Sarah, who I had friended at the hostel I stayed at for SXSW 07, and also chatted with one of the Fanfarlo guys, who said he was going to head over to see Tilly and the Wall.

Headlights +5 - Habana Calle 6 Patio
I hadn't intended to see Headlights again, but I figured I'd have need to show up early to make sure to get into Tilly & The Wall. I'm glad I did, because their shows was 10x better than their Emo's show earlier on (which was already rated a 5.) It was great - I just wished they had played January, one of my fave of their new tracks. It is such a chilly song though, that it probably would have been out of place.

Tilly & The Wall +5

This time slot had a lot of stiff competition, but I had to chose Tilly (even though I was scheduled to see them when I got back to Chicago). I just needed to fun happy energy that Tilly brings - and they brought it. This was the only night of the festival that I wasn't totally exhausted during the last set - that is the energy Tilly brings. I don't know how sold I am on their new stuff - I'll have to wait till it comes out so I can really get a good listen, but regardless, Tilly was a great ending for the day.

Saturday

Jay Clifford +5 - Momo's
The singer of one of my former favorite bands, Jump, Little Children, was in town supporting his new solo album, so I had to make it out to see him at some point. I figured that there could be no better way to start my last day at the festival than by checking him out in small space of Momo's. There were only a handful of people there, which made the show really intimate. He played Know When To Walk Away and Waltzing Past the Grave from his new album, and then Mexico from the last full length Jump studio album. After that, he decided to come sit down at one of the tables and play Cathedrals. It was one of the best and most intimate moments of the weekend.

After that I headed to Beauty Bar to check out Rachael Ray's party and get some free food. However, the line stretched all the way down the street and around the block. No thanks! I decided to stop in Side Bar to check out Summerbirds in the Cellar, but they weren't on yet - so I checked out a band that was playing in the back. They were great - however I must have written down the wrong band name, because I thought it was Kings of Prussia - but it definitely wasn't after listening to their myspace page. Oh well, I decided to leave before Summerbirds came on and meet up with my dad at Maggie Mae's for some free food - I didn't get a chance to really listen to the music that was going on there, but I am pretty sure Chicago's The Nadas and Dick Prall were playing.

Georgie James +5 - Emo's IV

I ran into Georgie James on the street at one point during the festival (it is common to see artists milling around during the festival) and I chatted with them and told them I was a huge fan of Cake Parade and told them I would check them out. They sounded great!

Blitzen Trapper +5
Afterwards I headed basically next door to the Paste/Stereogum stage, which smelled less stanky Saturday. I was IN love with the Blitzen Trapper song Sci-Fi Kid, but judging from what more I had heard of their studio stuff online, I wasn't a huge fan. However, they were great live, and really surprised me.

The Acorn and A Place to Bury Strangers - Mohawk +4

I heard bits and pieces of these two bands while waiting to see David Bazan, and was pretty happy with what I heard.

David Bazan +4.5 - Mohawk

I had never seen Pedro the Lion, so it was nice to see David Bazan, although he didn't play many Pedro songs, opting more for his solo stuff and some new tunes. Of course, he is the voice of Pedro the Lion, so it doesn't sound much different!

Peelander-z +2.5 - Mohawk Patio
I guess Japanese Action Comic Punk is just too weird for me. No thank you.

White Rabbits +5 - Club de Ville

Love them! If you like Vampire Weekend but want to try something that hasn't gotten as much press, you might want to check them out. The Plot is a killer song.

Islands +5 - Mohawk
Fantastic as always.

Yael Naim +5 - Brush Square
I'm sure you know this French-born Israeli singer from her Macbook Air commercial song "New Soul." I checked out her set at the Chop Shop party, and it all sounded just as good.

The Virgins +5 - Brush Square
Sarah, my friend from last year's SXSW hostel say, said I MUST check out the Virgins. I took the opportunity to check them out at the Chop Shop party and I agree - if they don't blow up I'll be shocked. They fit right in there with that Tapes N Tapes, Cold War Kids, Kooks kind of group. NYC boys with a Brit mindset.

Deer Tick +5 - Mohawk Patio
I had been trying to catch this twangy countryish band all week, and took this last chance to see them during the festival - they were a great twilight band, and were a great audio pallet cleaner - a little something different. I highly suggest "Art Isn't Real aka City of Sin."

Jim Noir +4 Maggie Mae's Roof
Jim sounded good, but I'll be honest by this time I was just about at the end of my concert going rope. Not much juice left to run the music car. I was only about 3/4ths there.

Nada Surf +4.5 - Maggie Mae's Roof

Nada Surf is one of my favorite bands and I really wanted to make sure I checked them out sometime during the festival, since they played so much. I took it down to the wire, checking them out at their last show. I was really excited to hear some of their new stuff, but the show itself was a bit of a letdown. They played an acoustic gig, which would have been awesome had their sound not been having technical problems. Add on to that the fact that some band from another roof or venue nearby was hardcore drowning them out (something I didn't think was as big of a problem this year as I found it was last year.) When all is said and done though, they are Nada Surf and they still kicked some tail.

Bound Stems +5 - BD Reily's

I stopped by BD Reily's to say hi to Chicago's Bound Stems. Even though there was no line to get in, I opted to sit outside on the ground and listen in through the windows for a few songs. It was nice to relax and get a nice breeze, watch the people walking by and enjoying the occasional dancing to the band's music that started spontaneously on the sidewalk

Hypernova +4 - The Wave
I ended the week by checking out a band that my dad was interested in seeing - a group of musical pioneers from Iran, and they were pretty decent. There were a lot of bands that I could have gone to see instead, and more that played after this set, but this was the breaking point for me - I was done. Stick a fork in me. It was a great year.