Kyle's Note: Of course, I took a months long break recapping SXSW 09, so now I don't really remember much of anything about it, yet I am still going to give it a shot and add a couple of little notes.

Kiernan McMullan - 3.5
Lisa Hannigan - 5
I had a great Irish breakfast at B.D. Reilly's and stuck around for a few songs from the lovely Lisa Hannigan (and got a photo with her!) I took off a little early to catch the last few songs of...

The Wrens - 4
Still didn't hear the songs I know, but it sounded good anyway. I reeeeally need to invest some time into listening to The Wrens more and getting into their whole catalog.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - 5
I had heard TRAA from one of my colleagues in Chicago, and had been anxious to hear them live. They have a sound like a more mainstream Neutral Milk Hotel, perhaps. Very nice.

Bishop Allen - 5
Bishop Allen is always a lot of fun - and definitely another person I really need to purchase more of so I can know more than a handful of songs.

Handsome Furs -5
Man, I had been anticipating seeing Handsome Furs big time! I was discouraged to see the HUGE line to get in (people already piling in for headliner the Hold Steady), but I got in without too much hassle, and had one of the most fun shows of my SXSW. Everyone dancing in the hot sun - just brilliant. Love every song. (also, I have to point out the hilarious promotion that Saucony was putting on with their game... pin the Crystal on the overused band name (and a picture of a bear, deer, and wolf).

Adam Stephens - 5
I was reeeeally looking forward to seeing Adam Stephens too. A singer from Two Gallants, I had downloaded a bunch of his solo stuff and LOVED it even more than Two Gallants - it was prettier stuff, with a bit of a Conor Oberst vibe. They were having some technical problems with the piano at the venue, Friends, and the sun was SCALDING my head, but it was worth it, just to see leaves showering down from the trees during favorite song "Lead In Our Lungs." Here is the video of that performance (check out the person's profile for the rest of the show too!) Too bad that later that day I insulted Adam's shoes... don't ask.

Ra Ra Riot - 5
I saw Ra Ra Riot a few years ago at SXSW and had really enjoyed them, but had only recently fallen head over heels for their most recent album. Upon arriving to the venue I was saddened to see the line stretching and stretching - but I waited anyway, and was rewarded by getting in near the beginning of their set. However it was INSANELY crowded and hot in the little tent, and I was at the very back. Still, a great performance where I heard basically every song I wanted to, capped off my one of my favorite songs - Dying is Fine.

Future of the left - 4
Fanfarlo - 5
Youth Group - 5
In a happy accident I wandered into a set by Youth Group at the Australian BBQ. I was amused at how the Australian and New Zealand BBQs were back to back - very Flight of the Conchords.

My Disco - 2
Ceci Bastida - 3
Hey Negrita - 3.5
This evening I decided to scorn my expensive badge and stick to one place all evening - Central Presbyterian Church. Waiting outside I even got to chat with the former manager of My Lastest Novel and current manager of a lot of other cool Scottish bands. However, after a couple of songs from Hey Negrita, which was okay, I decided to flee momentarily to see if I could catch a little Ed Harcourt at another nearby venue. Upon getting there I found that the schedule had been shifted a bit, so after a couple of tracks of so so other bands, I returned.

Fanfarlo - 5
Fanfarlo Fanfarlo Fanfarlo. Last year I was SO excited to see them and was so sad when I A) didn't get downtown in time to catch most of their early set one morning and B) saw only a very small set later that day because of techincal issues. I saw a couple of songs of their set early this day, but was ready to see a full set in this intimate venue. Other than the fact that there was some percussion reverb in the church to be sorted out, it was basically perfect. The lead singer, in his cute little boytie, may have been my crush of the week - Adorable. And all of their songs were GREAT. They had a number of their new CD in the back which everyone snapped up quickly. Luckily I got one before they sold out. My love of them was recently endorsed by Sigur Ros who sent out and e-mail blast telling people to buy the album... and that the cover features Sigurrós and her cousin Disa on the front cover in a pic by Jónsi's other sis Lilja! I love it even more now!

The Low Anthem - 5
I had just been introduced to the Low Anthem a couple of weeks prior in Chicago when they opened for Lisa Hannigan, and I had fallen in love. Okay, so in all honesty, this show tied The Decemberists (or maybe was secretly even better) for my favorite show of the week. It made me wish that I had said screw it and just saw every performance by the group all weekend. It was haunting, beautiful, uplifting, soaring - just one of the most beautiful venues to see one of the most beautiful shows ever. From the chill inducing falsetto of "Charlie Darwin" to the soul wrenching upright bass of "This God Damn House" there was not a note out of place. If I ever thought that I could never have a religious experience in a church again, I was wrong. And, according to twitter search, a LOT of other people considered this the breakout performance of the festival. It's not often as a music lover that I get to experience something this special.

Lisa Hannigan - 5
Lisa Hannigan is just beautiful, and both strong and fragile. This venue was the perfect spot for her and she was spot on - she has truly risen up from second fiddle to Damien Rice and holds her own and more. Sadly, a gentleman sat in front of me during this performance who was clearly pulled there by his friend and he DIDN'T want to be there - he was shifting and sighing, and shaking his fat fucking head with disdain right in my line of vision for the whole performance. Definitely the most aggravated I have ever been at a SXSW.

Laura Marling - 4.5
I have to be honest, maybe it was because she had to follow up a few of the best performance I have seen, but this performance from Laura didn't live up to my love of her album or even the other times I have seen her live. A bit boring and just a little off - but still loved favorites "Ghosts" and "Alas I cannot swim"

Jason Lytle -3.5
I stayed for a few songs from Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, and then headed off to see what else I could find. I stopped in to see Au Reviour Simone, but they were having some pretty serious techincal problems so I decided to leave... as I was walking out they started their set. Oh well. So I headed to see Cursive and was let into the venue before being shuffled off to some other room - apparently the Cursive room was filled to capacity. Well, thanks for telling me before I entered. So, just let me out? No... I couldn't even exit through the front entrance because they wouldn't let me back into the sold out room to leave. So I had to go through this back room, through another room where an AWFUL band was playing, and then down some sketchy back alley. There were other bands playing that I was considering checking out, but figured it was best just to turn in for the evening.

Keep reading to compare to 2008

2009 vs. 2008

Oh, it is close. Clooooooose. Each year had some awesome moments and some disappointments. I'm going to give the edge to 2009, just because of the Low Anthem and the free Irish Breakfast.

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.