South by Southwest Festival

The Worst of SXSW

Security and Cops Gettin' Wild: Look, I get it. Every drunken dickhead in town "knows someone" or thinks he has pull at the door, but that doesn't mean the hammer goes down on everyone. I was stopped by two cops who didn't want me to walk 50 yards from where the Smashing Pumpkins would be playing an ... More >>

How Easy Is It to Bang at SXSW?

By Kiernan Maletsky "All the single dudes put up your phone. Now all the single ladies put up your phone. Turn to the nearest person with a phone up. Now type in your phone number. Now you have something to do after this." That was Chuck D, talking from the Doritos Main Stage. Or at least I think ... More >>

The Biggest Sellouts at SXSW

SXSW is not a music festival so much as it is an experiment in excess. In honor of the world's most bloated city this week, we present the five biggest sellouts at SXSW. 1. Best Coast Psh, I remember when you were all cool and tweeting as your cat. Now look at this, all done up in fancy lights an ... More >>

Five WTF Examples of Marketing at SXSW

See also: *The Worst Moments of SXSW 2012 *The Best of SXSW Music: Saturday 3/17/2012 By Audra Schroeder During SXSW, and especially in the last five years or so, Sixth Street turns into one long, strange sensory overload. People nearly give you eyeball papercuts trying to get their fliers in your ... More >>

Ten Awesome Concert Posters at SXSW's Flatstock 33

By Nick Rallo See also: SXSW: Ten Things Your Outfit Says About You Flatstock is a dangerous place to be with a credit card. This year, Flatstock 33 (presented by the American Poster Institute) featured over 100 artists with enough completely badass concert posters to drain your checking account d ... More >>

Cloud Nothings, Bleached - SXSW - 3/15/12

See also: *The Best of SXSW: Wednesday 3/14/2012 *Five Attractive Strange People Working for Tips at SXSW Yesterday it was sticky, but Consequence of Sound threw a day party with a killer lineup that let us cool our heels and laugh at the East coast kids who were marveling at how awesome the weath ... More >>

Fuck SXSW: 10 Ways to Re-Create It in Los Angeles

South by Southwest (or just "South by" if you're cool and/or in a fake hurry) is well under way, with the interactive and film portions kicking off last weekend and the biggest draw, the music, just beginning. Couldn't make it all the way to Texas? Fuck it. For those of us left behind, we bring you ... More >>

Alert: SXSW Coverage Ahead

"What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area." -- Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive You don't have to spend much time at South By Southwest to know that all of the above building ... More >>

Like SXSW, but Gayer: Gay Bi Gay Gay Fest (Plus Saturday Chill Out with REM's Peter Buck and Steve Wynn, Meat Puppets and Roky Erickson and JEFF The Brotherhood)

photo by J. HettwerGayBiGayGay​ One last post about the 2011 edition of SXSW: In its 6th year, the SXSW spin-off Gay Bi Gay Gay Fest packs in enough merrymaking and debauchery to hold everyone over until Gay Pride in June.

SXSW: Top Ten Wackiest Gig Posters at Emo's

​ Between its two stages, the black lung lounge in the venerable Emo's is wallpapered with some of the most grotesque, eye-popping and wonderfully weird graphic art, all chronicling the club's history. Here are the Top Ten Wackiest Gig Posters at SXSW's Emo's:

Wu-Tang Clan Headline Village Voice Media's SXSW Party

Nate "Igor" SmithNot to be confused with the Wu-Tang Clan.​Last night Wu-Tang Clan, Yelawolf, Wild Flag, Fishbone, Trae Tha Truth, Marz Lovejoy, Rocky Business, Trouble Andrew, Ume, Times New Viking and DJ Erykah Badu all provided music for the Village Voice Media/Frank 151 SXSW Showdown at th ... More >>

If You Can't Join 'Em, Block 'Em: "There Is No SXSW" Twitter App

​Judging from the chorus of preemptive groans heard (RT!) round our Twitter timelines this weekend, many of you not going to SXSW are dreading the takeover of Twitter by those who are. But thanks to Lanyard, a directory of conferences, now you don't have to make like a kindergartener and squ ... More >>

Five Must-See L.A. Rappers at SXSW

Pac Div​ We know Odd Future's SXSW show will be swarming with ... everybody, and admittedly, we add to that mass media feeding frenzy with our special spread in this week's print issue, out tomorrow. But we like being able to breathe a little bit (which is why we live in this sprawling, sparkl ... More >>

SXSW Bands from A-Z: I - L

​ As SXSW gets ever closer, we figured we'd continue being servicey and give you a guide to some of the highlights of the official showcases, alphabet style. Yesterday we gave you E - H, today it's I - L. So here we go: five more awesome bands to see in SXSW's official lineup.

SXSW: Gone to the Masses

Yet fest still has fresh, experimental edge

SXSW Highlight Reel: Top 5 Wasted Musician Moments

Erin BroadleyBottoms up​SXSW is equally known for the amount of alcohol people consume as it is for music. Let's put it this way: we came, we saw, and some of them puked. Here are our "Top 5 Wasted Musician Moments at SXSW," including GZA, Death Set and an honorary nod to Bill Murray.

Last Word on SXSW: Drew Tewksbury's Top 3 Picks (LA Band, Coming Soon, Wild Card)

Last Word on SXSW: Drew Tewksbury's Top 3 Picks (LA Band, Coming Soon, Wild Card)

10 Headlines You Will Never See After SXSW

Craig Hlavaty"SXSW Attendee Doesn't Want That Free Beer" 1. "Random Guy With Guitar On Street Signed To Major Record Label" 2. "AT&T Makes Up For Past SXSW Coverage With Zero Dropped Calls, Lightning-Fast Connection" 3. "Wristband Holders Have Nothing But Love And Respect For Badge Holders" 4. ... More >>

Over the Weekend: L.A. Takes on Austin

Last week, L.A.'s music (and music journalist) community headed to Austin, Texas for South by Southwest. The annual music event brought together up-and-comers with rock veterans for days and nights of concerts. Check out what our team saw over the weekend. Courtney Love Is Back Erin Broadley​ ... More >>

SXSW Wrap-Up: L.A.'s Signals Road Album, Featuring UFOs, Motel Bedspreads, and Jaeger Shots!

Road to SXSW: L.A.'s Signals investigates UFO's, motel bedspreads, and Jager Shots

Beardos, Bloggers, and 'stache girls: SXSW by the Numbers

Beardos, Bloggers, and stache girls: SXSW by the Numbers

Feel Like Shit After SXSWi? You Might Have a Case of the SX SARS

​A new epidemic has taken over Austin, TX and is currently making its way to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and a multitude of other cities filled with tech heads. The SX SARS first infiltrated the geeks of South by Southwest Interactive last week. Now that the music portion of SXSW i ... More >>

Top 10 Tweets of SXSW Day 4

Networking, learning, connecting, deal making, and tail-chasing are all popular activities among SXSW Interactive attendees. But a tech event isn't truly technological without spawning some excellent Twitter fodder. We rounded up another top 10 batch of rude and ridiculous tweets from SXSW. You're ... More >>

7 Questions with @ScrewYouSXSW

​There's a new tweeter in town and she's mad as hell. In the last week, @ScrewYouSXSW, the self-proclaimed pissed off wife of a SXSW attendee, has been tweeting about happenings she's been learning about from her husband via text. A number of people at SXSW think this enigmatic person is of ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Star Warz, SXSW, HARD 13, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Despite the legions of Angelenos headed to Austin for this year's South by Southwest, the city hasn't slowed down one bit. We started the weekend with Devil's Playground's latest Star Warz show and finished with fist-pumping jams at Hard 13. Devil's Playground Presents Star Warz Josh "CuriousJosh" ... More >>

Operation Work as Little as Possible: SXSWi Parties That Don't Suck

We got through day one of "Operation Work as Little as Possible: (a.k.a SXSW Interactive) and now after a relaxing massage in the press room and a not so relaxing false alarm we're ready to continue on our quest to ignore as many P.R. emails as possible. Because alcohol is great for killing producti ... More >>

Plancast at SXSWi: Nothing Says Body Shots Like a Bar Full of Tech Reporters

Photo by Laughing Squid/ Scott Beale​ By Irene McGee It's that time again: the annual liquid re-union that is SXSW has begun. While the more massive crowds show up for the music festival on the 17th, SXSW is also home to the world's biggest tech-fest, SXSWi, which run ... More >>

LA Weekly at SXSW: Party with Us at La Zona Rosa with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The xx, Superchunk and Surfer Blood

Well, we're going to be very popular in Austin come South by Southwest time. The reason? Our annual SXSW fete, held each year at La Zona Rosa, will feature -- get this -- the xx, Superchunk, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Surfer Blood. It will take place on Friday, March 19, from 12pm - 5pm. ... More >>

Yo, Procrastinator! SXSW 2010 Application Due Tomorrow Night

Sid Vicious never filled one of these​Tomorrow at midnight is the deadline to submit your application for you and/or your awesome LA band to play at the 2010 South By South West conference/festival/music-biz-clusterfuck. Yeah, we know. Part of the reason you got into music was because you don ... More >>

Vote or Die: Ultimate Guide to SXSWi Panel Picking

'Tis the season for SXSW panel Twitter deluge, or as one attuned tweeter put it, "How to Annoy Your Friends with Social Media Pestering to Vote for Your SXSW Panel." Because we've also spent the better part of the morning slogging through the SXSWi panel goat rodeo (moment of Internet Zen: Yoga For ... More >>

Over the Weekend: SXSW Music, Metallica's "Not So Secret" Show, Mad Tea Party, Puppet Up! Uncensored For Adults Only

After 10 long days (and nights) we can finally say South by Southwest 2009 is a wrap. Though we still haven't unpacked, we've dragged our road weary and hungover bodies out of Austin, Texas and back into the office to bring you a play-by-play of this year's SXSW Music and Interactive. But just becau ... More >>

SXSW Snapshot: Kosha Dillz Choked by Boa Constrictor

Last night I posted a "SXSW Notes from the Road" update courtesy of rappers Yak Ballz and Kosha Dillz who are keeping me updated on their SXSW experience via e-mail. Today Dillz sent in this SXSW snapshot of him walking down what appears to be 6th Street with a boa constrictor around his neck. Yes, ... More >>

Notes from the Road: Yak Ballz and Kosha Dillz Survive Root Canal, Arrive at SXSW

Though I just returned to L.A. from Austin, Texas after a week working SXSW Interactive with the top players in tech and social media, it doesn't mean I'm not rocking SXSW Music in spirit. When I found out that my early return home meant I'd be missing hip hop acts like Yak Ballz, Kosha Dillz and Ca ... More >>

Weird Things We Found at SxSW

It speaks volumes for the nature of a media industry event when, along with the requisite Diet Sodas and veggie plate, there are mini Colgate wisp toothbrushes given out at the concessions table. While we'll leave you to consider the implications of why you would need a mini toothbrush at a tech con ... More >>

Over the Weekend: SXSW, Absinthe Tasting, L.A. Fashion Week, Comedy is Dead

Whether you were in Austin, Texas for the kick off of the SXSW Film and Interactive Festival and Conferences or in Los Angeles for the madness that is Fashion Week, it is safe to assume you didn't get much shuteye over the weekend. L.A. Weekly worked overtime in both cities Thursday through Sunday t ... More >>

SXSW Design of the Day: The Periodic Table of Twitter

SXSW Design of the Day: The Periodic Table of Twitter Victor Broadley We've stumbled across some cool gadgets thus far at SXSW Interactive (like the Poken) but this Twitter avatar design, created by Interactive and Film participant Victor Broadley, is our pick of the day. We LOL'd and wished we wer ... More >>

Chasing the Party Van: From RVIP to Gawker to Facebook - SxSW Parties

View more photos in the SXSW Games and Girls slideshow. Courtesy of Mashable.com and Wm. Marc Salsberry, @wmmarcJulia Allison behind the decks at the Facebook partyAfter a full day of paneling and working hard to bring you fresh SXSW daily, we decided that it was time to play hard. Convening in the ... More >>

SXSW Random Photo(s) of the Day: Procession for the Future: March 14, 2009

SXSW Interactive Random Photo(s) of the DayWhat: Procession for the Future Location: Congress and 7th Street, headed towards the Texas State Capitol BuildingWhy We Stopped and Watched:Proof that locals still rally to "Keep Austin Weird." Plus, George W. Bush gave us a thumbs up while wearing priso ... More >>

SXSW Life in the Lobby: Wavy Gravy and Pet Fish at the Hilton

SXSW Life in the Lobby: An L.A. Weekly Moment with Wavy GravyErin BroadleyWho: Wavy Gravy - Peace Activist, Comic, "Official Clown" of the Grateful DeadLocation: Lobby on the ground floor of the Hilton on 4th Street, across from the SXSW convention centerQuote: "You! I used to have a desk at the L.A ... More >>

SXSW Interactive: Twitterati, iPhone Socks and a Don't Mess With Texas Breakfast

SXSW convention center full of LA Weekly issues... even the old ones LAWeekly.com's first day at SXSW started early as I couldn't wait to get up and start my morning with a huge breakfast -- which of course led to the requisite dash for Pepto-Bismol because my body isn't used to a Texas "small," ba ... More >>

SXSW Random Photo of the Day: The Evacuation Chair: March 13, 2009

SXSW Interactive Random Photo of the Day What: The Evacuation Chair Location: Inside the SXSW Convention Center, third floor hallway near women's restroomTop 5 Reasons Why You Might Need It:5) The TechSet Lounge's open bar ran out of beer and wine4) You realize your business card doesn't hold a can ... More >>

How to Rock SxSW Without Getting Lost or Losing Your #Skittles, iPhone, and Dignity

Erin BroadleyUser generated SXSW fortune cookie After getting lost in the cavernous Conference Center and desperately seeking help from one of the SXSW volunteers in order to find the inconveniently located Room C (thank you so much Natalie Shanks), I attended my first panel of the day, "User Genera ... More >>

F Yeah Fest Releases Partial List of SXSW 'Mess With Texas' Day-Party Line-Up

Last year one of the most buzzed about parties at South By Southwest was the big-ass Mess With Texas party at Waterloo park. Organized by Sean Carlson and Keith Morris of the F Yeah Fest, along with Austin promoter Transition Transmission Entertainment (which does the great fall Fun Fun Fun Festiv ... More >>

SXSW Flashback: Even Jandek is a SXSW whore

It's quite possible that Jandek -- more than any artist in history -- has milked the obscurity thing for all that it's worth.

A Guide To the LA Bands At SXSW

So I'll be covering SXSW next week for the LA Weekly. I have never been nor do I have any idea of what to expect. I'm pretty excited to go though. I've been asking around and have generally been met with the boiler-plate response that "SXSW is awesome." However, one friend did tell me to expe ... More >>

Super Fun Music Hour Podcast #11

Magical Mystery Tour

SxSW journal

Crank that Crunk

Got in last night. Don't even ask about the airplane flight. OK, ask. Horrible, horrible drunk musician-esque type guy sitting behind me, using f-words muchly, trying to impress the unimpressed female next to him. He was under the unfortunate impression that everything he thought, and then said, was ... More >>

Nightranger at SXSW

Hot Movies, Cool Scene

The eighth annual South by Southwest film festival