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The South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival held yearly in Austin, Texas is an absurd orgy. Every March a mind-boggling and ever-growing mob converges on SXSW: bands, managers, members of the press, record labels, PR people, booking agents, groupies, and even a few average music fans all cram into Texas' capital for one of the biggest music industry elbow-rubbing and contact-making hoedowns in the history of mankind.
SXSW is craziness, creativity, excess, and hype all in the purest sense.
There are also a lot of free drinks.
But don't get me wrong. The craziness and absurdity of SXSW makes it all the more fascinating - which is exactly why the Weekly Volcano is packing its bags and heading to Austin, March 17-21. Personally, I'll be ceasing regular working hours and heading to Texas - to report back on the mayhem from a South Sound perspective. A number of local bands are making the pilgrimage to SXSW, and the Weekly Volcano will keep you updated at weeklyvolcano.com and via Twitter - @weeklyvolcano.
Matt Driscoll's SXSW Twitter Feed
Follow Weekly Volcano Editor Matt Driscoll at #SXSW in 140-character bursts:
Sunday, March 21
@mattdriscoll Closing out our #SXSW experience with barbecue at Stubb's. It's weird to see Austin not swarming - but nice.
Saturday, March 20
@mattdriscoll Current temp at #SXSW: 39 degrees. Current most overheard proclamation: "Fuck it's cold."
@mattdriscoll The scene at #SXSW: A bunch of underdressed scenesters looking very, very cold. Not even a $700 badge can keep you warm.
@mattdriscoll Whoa boy. The blues garage rock set of The Ohsees has to be on the #SXSW highlight reel.
@mattdriscoll The Oh Sees unleash the garage rock on Mohawk's patio. #SXSW http://yfrog.com/28k5ij 12 minutes ago via Tweetie
@mattdriscoll Cello action classes up the always entertaining Visqueen at #SXSW #Seattle http://yfrog.com/4bekhj
@mattdriscoll And Visqueen is ready. #SXSW http://yfrog.com/jmzgfj
@mattdriscoll Visual proof of Visqueen setting up right now at #SXSW http://yfrog.com/5gd5thj
@mattdriscoll Flotard is all bundled up, setting up for Visqueen's final #SXSW show. Crowd is swelling. #Seattle
@mattdriscoll People at #SXSW should know #Olympia indie rock WILL keep you warm - as Gun Outfit is proving at Barberella.
@mattdriscoll Small crowd for Gun Outfit, which has a lot more to do with the ridiculously cold temps outside than the band's skill. #SXSW
@mattdriscoll #Olympia 's Gun Outfit on stage right now at #SXSW http://yfrog.com/jwwlkj
@mattdriscoll Sought refuge from the 40 degree weather inside the most crowded Mexican restaurant I've ever seen. #SXSW. http://yfrog.com/6tcqcj
@mattdriscoll #SXSW Visqueen's Flotard: "Best thing about the festival is that it exists. Worst thing about the festival is my jeans are too loose."
@mattdriscoll Caught up with Visqueen's Rachel Flotard today, representing #Seattle. Visqueen plays #SXSW tonight.
@mattdriscoll Mid-50s today and rainy at #SXSW - not really something I packed for. Oh well. We'll just have to drink enough so it doesn't matter.
Friday, March 19
@mattdriscoll Final thought of the night: When exactly did Courtney Love become an Olsen Twin? http://yfrog.com/55bp4j
@mattdriscoll In the band's defense, I was in the minority #SXSW
@mattdriscoll Sure to disgust people whose musical taste I appreciate, but I still don't get The XX. And I really tried. #SXSW
@mattdriscoll I'm not at all sold on The XX, but felt obligated to see what the fuss is about. Hopefully it shines through in a Presbyterian church. #SXSW
@mattdriscoll Just entered the church of The XX. Very strange scene - but also pretty cool. #SXSW http://yfrog.com/4ra8lej
@mattdriscoll Electro/disco/punk of Dead Sexy Inc will definitely get the party going. Band dancing, on the other hand, is questionable at best. #SXSW
@mattdriscoll Stage spewn sexual innuendo sounds classier with a French accent: Dead Sexy Inc. #SXSW.
@mattdriscoll France's Dead Sexy Inc take to the Wave rooftop... almost. Five minute break for band drugs and makeup. #SXSW http://yfrog.com/17e90uj about 9 hours ago via Tweetie
@mattdriscoll Quite a contrast going from Atomic Outlaws to Quasi. Different rock worlds. No skanky strippers at Quasi, thankfully. #SXSW
@mattdriscoll Janet Weiss is a top 10 drummer, at least in my humble opinion. Quasi has the crowd in their hands right now. #SXSW.
@mattdriscoll Quasi is killing it at Antone's at #SXSW. I heart Janet and Sam. http://yfrog.com/5jecajj
@mattdriscoll Waiting for #Tacoma 's Atomic Outlaws at #SXSW. Ran into I Defy's Jason McKibbin They're having fun, but not sure how they're getting home.
@mattdriscoll Thurston Moore @ Studio7 with 12 string. Asked for more light. Says he depends on "the dots on the guitar." #SXSW http://yfrog.com/9gebnj about 13 hours ago via Tweetie
@mattdriscoll A Washingtonian band won a Doug Benson CD. @DougBenson Congrats @heymarseilles, you won a CD! But you knew that already, didn't you? #sxsw
@mattdriscoll In line for Thurston Moore at # SXSW http://yfrog.com/jc6hhj
@mattdriscoll Joey G just rolled by us in a golf cart, sporting one of his Black Ice shirts. He's so important his golf cart has a horn. #Tacoma #SXSW
@mattdriscoll According th Dead Sexy Inc's Stephane H, the appeal of the States is "The American dream." Looking forward to their patio show tonight #SXSW
@mattdriscoll Finished with Dead Sexy Inc interview. Very polite cand. New album in preproduction and they plan on hitting the states w/ it. #SXSW about 15 hours ago via Tweetie
@mattdriscoll Bacon and taquitos in a waffle cone. #SXSW genius. http://yfrog.com/9g8eij
@mattdriscoll Preparing for an interview with France's Dead Sexy Inc. Think electro/disco/punk. They play a rooftop at midnight tonight. #SXSW Thursday, March 18 @mattdriscoll Packed house at Emo's for Rogue Wave. Not convinced yet the band is worth the ruckus. They're sugar sweet though. People love sugar. #SXSW @mattdriscoll In case your confused, The Soft Pack used to go by The Muslims. This name allows them to fly, Im guessing. #SXSW @mattdriscoll The Soft Pack just shifted into another gear. The first gear was good, but this one is better. Crowd seems to agree. #SXSW @mattdriscoll At Stubbs. Just got slowly pummeled by Besnard Lakes, now waiting on the Soft Pack. #SXSW @mattdriscoll Visual proof of Sweet Kiss Momma tearing up #SXSW http://yfrog.com/49zdij @mattdriscoll Puyallup's Sweet Kiss Momma on stage at #SXSW right now. Their rock was made for Texas. They sound at home. @mattdriscoll The Middle East - sounds like at least 6 people playing percussion. Decieving, because I think it's only 5. #SXSW @mattdriscoll The Middle East - Solid band, solid melodies - beautiful songwriting. #SXSW Definitely worth checking out. They utilize a flute with skill @mattdriscoll The Middle East tried to end after 3 songs (another engagement), but coerced into one more by applause. #SXSW @mattdriscoll The Middle East is preparing to go on stage at the Paste Magazine party - or one of the many Paste parties. #SXSW. @mattdriscoll Is the announcement that Robby Krieger of The Doors will play with STP tonight at #SXSW enough to intrigue me? Possibly... @mattdriscoll First drinks of #SXSW http://yfrog.com/9fqpmj @mattdriscoll On the #SXSW docket today: Dr Dog, #Tacoma 's Big Wheel Stunt Show, Rogue Wave, Adam Green, Jaguar Love and STP if I'm feeling nostalgic. @mattdriscoll #SXSW outside Convention Center action http://yfrog.com/dy8jfj @mattdriscoll #SXSW Just ran into #Tacoma & #Olympia 's Eddie Sumlin in Austin. Small world. Now on to tracking down more locals and free drinks. @mattdriscoll One nice thing about covering #SXSW for @weeklyvolcano: Austin is 2 hrs ahead of #Tacoma & #Olympia. Makes it look like I'm up & at 'em, when really it's 10 am here. Snug. In search of Bloody Mary.... Wednesday, March 17 @mattdriscoll Just touched down in Austin. Waiting for my massive suitcase full of Weekly Volcanoes. #SXSW is officially on. @mattdriscoll The Washingtonian in me is caught off guard by the 12 yr old boy, but whatever. He looks like a future smoker anyway. @mattdriscoll Halfway to #SXSW, in Denver and smoking and drinking in a lounge. It's a beautiful thing. about 3 hours ago via Tweetie @mattdriscoll Too bad I hate flying. Need to have a contract with @weeklyvolcano like Madden - get a bus and a 2 week roadtrip out of #SXSW. @mattdriscoll Tomorrow's Volcano is in the bag. Leaving on a big jet plane for #SXSW in mere hours. #Tacoma & #Olympia represent in Austin.