STEPH DEROSA: I MADE IT TO AUSTIN >>>

I arrived late last night in Austin, but was greeted warmly by my friends Allison and Matthew.  The only thing that kept me sane the en route to Austin was being able to kick the back of Matt Driscoll’s seat the entire flight.

Fortunately, Matthew and Allison live somewhat close by to the SXSW conference, and warmly opened their floor for me to crash on.  Let me just tell you: no amount of sleeping bag padding is soft enough to take the hardness out of a floor.  I ache, I’m tired, but hell yeah â€" I’m in Austin, baby!

Riding the Capitol Metro bus system here in Austin gave me much appreciation for Pierce County transit.  Luckily my dear friends had told me exactly what bus stop to go to and where to stand for me to make my way downtown, otherwise I would’ve gotten lost.  There are no maps at the bus stops, no directional keys, nothing.  You really have no idea where you’re going and in what direction.

So, I make it downtown, grab my badge, and learn that Matt Driscoll took the wrong bus.  So while I’m waiting for him to take his own personal tour of Austin, I go check out the vendors in the exhibit hall.

One of the first things that grabs my attention are the Pirates for the Preservation of New Orleans Music.  Arrrrrgh!

An awesome indie music production had one of the greatest marketing tools.

I ran into Juniper Jackson of Inner Child/Paul Rivers Bailey.  Inner Child does something that I can proudly support: they give back to the community by enlightening and inspiring youth in the streets.

I totally dug Uncensored Interview.  What a great sight, with great interviews.  You should check It out. 

Live from Daryl’s House had me so excited.  For 30 minutes Daryl Hall invites artists to jam with him, and it’s video fed via his website. They play a couple of Hall & Oates songs, a couple of the bands songs, then a few other covers.  It’s free, and I can’t wait to check it out.

If you’re a musician who wants to connect with other musicians from around the world, check out www.indabamusic.com

OK, I’m fucking starving, and Matt finally made it here, so we’re gonna go grab some of this amazing Austin food.

MATT DRISCOLL: SLURRED WORD ON THE STREET >>>

Craziness and Lone Star Beer. So far, for this slack-jawed journalist at least, this has been SXSW.

My morning (afternoon, thanks to Austin's two hour time difference) started with an adventure. Being the Greener I am, not to mention broke as a joke, I decided to travel downtown via public transit. This seemed easier and cheaper than a cab, and surely would have been if I'd gotten on the bus going the right direction. As it turned out I headed north instead of south, which in addition to chewing up an hour of my day, gave me a first hand look at the real Austin. Downtowns always look nice. The outskirts of any major city tells the whole story. The outskirts of Austinare filled with rickety fences, empty kid pools, and dilapidated homes. The air is muggy and front yards are brown. Barbecues sit unused and bums sleep on the bus. At least that fact made me miss Tacoma.

SXSW is a zoo. Literally. Once I finally arrived downtown and picked up my "platinum" badge, I couldn't help but be struck by the enormity of it all.

SXSW will take anyone's money. Make no mistake. Anyone can be a platinum badge holder. But the strange thing is, with the exception of the bearded indie guitarists, drummers, and bassists, for some reason once everyone gets her they all think they're something. Everyone here is important. Ask them and they'll tell you. For every scruffy rock band, there are four fancy smelling white guys with designer jeans and flat fronted leather shoes.

SXSW is about the music, and so far it's been amazing. Kilroy, from  Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a fine example. They played a loud and frantic set at the Velveeta Room. The foursome ranks high on the early list of jaw dropping bands I've seen so far. And I got a free t-shirt, trucker hat, and two free beers to boot. This is the beauty of SXSW.

Tonight, Steph D and I are headed to catch Kimya Dawson, and then probably soak up more free shit. That's what SXSW seems to be all about - and being important. At least Steph and I realize the truth. Here, amidst the madness and mayhem, we're nobodies. Happy, drunk, free beer and music swilling nobodies. I, for one, feel comfortable with the status. I'm from Tacoma, after all. 

STAGE
Nightmare of a Married Man
Centerstage Theater presents Nightmare of a Married Man, which Alan Bryce wrote while he was a fixture of London's fringe theater scene.

The four-person show takes place in the dining room of a mildly upper-class suburban house somewhere in modern America as the thriller takes turns few scripts can boast. On its face, the play is about two sets of neighbors who are otherwise civil as they secretly plan each other's downfall.

The show has played to relatively full houses since it opened last month and is set to close this weekend. That means it is now or never for you to see the show that folks are talking about around the South Sound. â€" Steve Dunkelberger

[Knutzen Family Theatre, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $8-$25, 3200 S.W. Dash point Road, Federal Way, 253.661.1444]

FOLK ROCK
Veda Hille
Veda Hille’s latest CD is called This Riot Life. Before it’s even one minute underway, the Vancouver, B.C., folk rocker has already dropped two monster inside references on the listener. The first song, “lucklucky,” draws its title from a fantastical little bit from Hugh Laurie playing the stupid Prince George in the third season of Rowan Atkinson’s BBC historical comedy Black Adder (if you’ve seen it you’ll get the reference immediately, and if you haven’t I could never explain it). Then the song begins and the plucky strings come in all syncopated and harkening to the opening plucks of XTC’s last multi-release, Apple Venus vol.1. That might be an academic or even pointless connection to draw if This Riot Life weren’t being released on XTC frontman Andy Partridge’s Ape Music label, but in light of that connection this musical nod sings like a salute from one clever artist to another. It’s kinda sweet. â€" Andras Jones
[Art House Designs, Friday, March 14, 8 p.m., all ages, $10-$12 available at Rainy Day Records, 420 B Franklin St. S.E., Olympia, 360.943.3377]

LINK: Forced Elegance and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: St. Patrick’s Day parties begin.
LINK: Worthy films open today.
LINK: Let’s eat Greek.

COMMENT: Everyone’s talking about the dumped guy.

STEPH DEROSA: BAD SXSW VENUES >>>

After catching an all-star cast of singing artists promoting the indie documentary Body of War last night at Stubbs (an amazing venue), the Weekly Volcano made its way down the craziness that was 6th Street.

Bar after bar, lined up next to each other and from across the streets you could hear bands busting out their stuff, hoping to lure you in and discover that they were your new favorite sound.  My ears rose left, right, up, and down, trying to pick up on a sound that would let me stop and dance a little.  And I did â€" I heard it.  But where was that coming from?  I backtracked passed a few bars and listened again.  We rounded the corner, listened again, passed a few more bars, and we could still hear it.  But where the hell was it coming from? 

Then down a dark street, around the back of a building, and in a parking lot next to a taco stand stood a three-piece wonder band playing for a line of porta-potties.  They were the Josh Tatum Band and their sound had traveled around a block to lure me in.  I was impressed both with their music and the fact that they said “fuck the system!” and made their own damn venue!

After we had enough of Josh and his band, we footed it over to the Austin Music Hall, which seemed to be located in Houston seeing as how it was so damn far away.  It was a beautiful venue, and My Morning Jacket was about to play. We sat inside, rested our weary dogs, and took it all in.

What we noticed about the interior of the building: it was entirely concrete, metal, and raw.  No padding on the floors, walls, or anywhere.  The ceiling was exposed metal ducts and pipes.  I could tell the look they were going for, and I dug it all right, but was it going to sound very good acoustically in there?  No, no it wasn’t.

Typically My Morning Jacket is a solid live band, but this was by far one of the most painful sound experiences I’ve ever heard.  The reverb killed the sound of what would be the lyrics, and today my ears are still ringing.  I told my friends who lived here about the experience and they agreed â€" Austin Music Hall was the second worst venue for music in Austin.  Why the hell would Austin spend so much money on such a beautiful music hall if it was there just for beauty and that was it?  Its sole purpose of being a music hall had been over- looked in the designing portion of the development.  Oh well, lessoned learned: no more shows at Austin Music Hall.

You wanna know what they said the No. 1 worst venue in Austin was? Emo’s.  That’s where we’re catching the Supersuckers tonight.  Wish us luck!

LINK: SXSW

BOBBLE TIKI: BRUNCH WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

WORD OF THE DAY
Bedizen \bih-DY-zuhn\, transitive verb:
To dress or adorn in gaudy manner.

USAGE EXAMPLE: In to the party, out of nowhere, came McGyver, dressed in blue jeans bedizen with rhinestones he'd fashioned himself out of walnut shells and duct tape.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Goldfish falls on hard times

OLYMPIA: Politicians call it a wrap

SEATTLE: MySpace Seattle

WORLD: New terminal for Heathrow

THINGS TO DO TODAY
MOVIE TIMES: Look here.
SWEEP THE HOMELESS UNDER A RUG: Here's how T-Town does it.
MUSIC LISTINGS: What's playing tonight.

MATT DRISCOLL: WHAT IS SXSW? >>>

My second full day of SXSW is just starting, and I'm moving significantly slower today than yesterday. Fifteen beers over 12 hours can do that to you.  Plus, it's 90 degrees in Austin today, which is enough to slow any cotton-mouthed scribe to a crawl.

Admittedly, this is my first SXSW.  I've heard plenty of stories, but as for firsthand experience yesterday was the first I've seen. Realizing that many of you back home in lovely Tacoma are in the same boat, an overview may be in order.

The first SXSW was held in 1987, designed as a vehicle to shine a spotlight on Austin's diverse and robust music scene. It has certainly worked.  This year's festival has drawn thousands and thousands of people from all around the world. Of course there are bands, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Music industry folks of all shapes and sizes converge on Austin for SXSW, which is what makes the festival the highest public money making event the Austin economy has. The dollar driven ripples of SXSW are astounding, and the boom stretches far and wide. Even the bilingual IHOP next to my hotel rakes in the money during SXSW. I know for a fact they've gotten at least twenty bucks from me.

SXSW engulfs downtown Austin.  Music pours out of every bar and alley, and people flood the streets â€" many of which are shut down for the event. Those with enough importance, money, or lucky enough to have a boss willing to pop for such things, are all wearing SXSW badges.  The badge is what gets all us industry folks into shows before commoners. It can make you feel guilty if you think about it, so I've chosen to stay drunk.  There's a big gap between average music fans at SXSW and industry types.  The festival is designed for industry types, which often leaves average fans out of luck.  Thus was the case last night for the Body of War show at Stubb's.  A line of badge holders wrapped around two city blocks for a chance to see Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Tom Morello, Kimya Dawson, Ben Harper, Billy Bragg and others play acoustic anti-war songs and promote Body of War the movie â€" the story of Tomas Young, who was injured serving in Iraq and has come home to speak out about the injustices of the war.  Eddie Vedder played a large part in crafting the film's soundtrack, and rumors ran amok in line last night that Pearl Jam's frontman would be making a special appearance (he didn't). 

An equally long line of badge-less fans waited for all of us with badges to make it inside before being allowed in â€" for a $25 cover. Though I was inside Stubbs clasping a Lone Star beer between my hands, my guess is not all who lined up got in.

The show, for all intents and purposes, was memorable more for the lineup than the music.  The impressive list of performers took turns busting out acoustic based anti-war tunes, giving the evening a grass roots folk vibe that was enjoyable, but musically somewhat average. The evening's highlight came when Morello invited everyone on stage for a rendition of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land."

Shortly, I'll be headed back downtown for more music, lines of badge holders, and beer. It's nice feeling important, but it helps to keep the truth in perspective. SXSW is an industry frenzy, and just because you're in the industry doesn't make your shit smell like roses.  I'm just a scribe from Tacoma trying my best to take it all in and keep my head above the madness. It's a daunting task.

SUZY STUMP: YUMMY ART >>>

Tacoma Art Museum says “Let them eat art!”

As part of the Tacoma Art Museum’s Building Birthday Bash: It’s our 5th Year at 1701 Pacific Avenue! free community festival May 3, they will serve cake â€" non-edible birthday art cake. Artists of all media are encouraged to create said cake.

“This five-hour party will be reminiscent of the twenty-four hour party hosted on May 3, 2003, featuring many of the same performers and activities from the museum's inaugural event,” states a press release.

“Registration is free, but required for participation. Visit www.TacomaArtMuseum.org to view guidelines and download an application. For more information, call 253.272.4258 x3007 or email mmcknight@TacomaArtMuseum.org,” the release continues.

What kind of cake will you make?

BRAD ALLEN: TOO GANGSTA >>>

As reported yesterday in the Weekly Volcano, the E-40 show tonight at the Pantages is canceled.  Read the full scoop here.

STEPH DEROSA: TONS OF MUSIC, MISS MY FRIENDS >>>

The floor was just as hard as it was last night to sleep on, but the music here in Austin is worth every weary bone.

I headed out today ready to stroll around 6th Street and sweat away the 92 degree day.  I’ve mastered the bus system, and know exactly where to hop off and start my day.  The first person I run into is Eddie Spaghetti at the Cedar Door.  He has the crowd singing and flipping him off.  What a great performance by a great guy.

Eventually I find myself drawn toward the sound of the Bleedin’ Bleedins playing in the Friends Bar.  Berklee College of Music is hosting this venue, and all of the artists are either alumni or students.  Bleedin’ Bleedins happens to be the staff members of Berklee, and this makes me admire their charm that much more.  The fun they are having on stage makes it fun to watch.  As every performance should be, right?

Madi Diaz steps up on stage next, a Berklee alumni.  Who can resist a girl with a banjo?

I stumble into Spill where I catch Cochino, a rock band with a very small hint of old school punk.  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but parts of their sound are reminiscent of The Cure.  I’d like for someone else to listen and tell me what it is I hear because it’s killing me.

Kirkland is tearin’ up the stage at the Dizzy Rooster, and the crowd loves it. I really enjoyed their sound, and their stage presence.  This is one of those kind of bands my friends and I were talking about where you hear them first live, you really like them, but you are afraid their studio CD will not do them justice.  So you don’t buy it.

I know I’ve said it before: Live music is the tell-all as to whether a band truly has talent. 

As you walk by Agave, you have to pass through the crowd of people on the street gathered to hear Rocket, an all-girl punk band.  The stage is located next to open windows, and the lead singer is toying with the crowd, both inside and outside of the venue.  I step in to take more pics and she totally poses for me.  I love it.  And I love this band. Yay girl-punk!

All of this is terrible fun, yet it makes me miss my friends at home, and makes me really wish they were here.  KAke and BanditoBetty would be the best partners in crime right now.  Also, its Bandito’s birthday today â€" Happy Birthday, lady!

SUZY STUMP: SO MUCH BETTER THAN MINE >>>

Architectural photographer Toby Weiss toured Hotel Murano with her friend â€" and one of the designers behind the hotel â€" James Staicoff of CorsoStalcoff.  Check out her review here. 

Weiss also attended the Museo gala and wrote about it here.  It's so much better than my take.