SXSW SATURDAY, MARCH 20 ITINERARY >>>

I realize the last thing people at home in the South Sound want to hear me do is complain, but a check of the trusty iPhone reveals it's beautiful today in T-town, and Austin is currently mired in the 50s with an ever-constant threat of rain. It's literally COLD at SXSW today - which considering the suitcase full of warm weather clothes I packed - is thoroughly fucked, at least in my humble opinion.

But never fear, the Weekly Volcano trudges on. Wherever there's a drink and a band to keep us warm is where we'll be - or, specifically, the shows below:

BIG WHEEL STUNT SHOW: The Tacoma band plays the Electra Music Showcase today at 5 p.m. They've been on my radar all week, and I have yet to catch up with the band. This simply must change today. As soon as I leave the comfy (warm) confines of the Convention Center, I'll be in hot pursuit of the BWSS.

GUN OUTFIT AND BROKEN WATER: Two Oly bands play within 15 minutes of each other tonight. It may be a tall feat, but I'm going to try my best to catch a song or two from both - or at the very least catch up with them post show. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes.

VISQUEEN: With the release of the acclaimed Message to Garcia, Seattle's Visqueen - led by the always-awesome Rachel Flotard - firmly cemented itself. While the band might have initially garnered buzz because it included Kim Warnick of Fastbacks fame - those days are long over, but the appeal of Visqueen is stronger than ever. Flotard has more than enough chops to carry the band, and with partner in crime drummer Ben Hooker, the band is simply unstoppable. As fun as it is pure, Visqueen will play tonight at Habana Calle 6.

THE OH SEES: I've been a fan of Cali's The Oh Sees since seeing the band in Portland. A garage-rocky creation of John Dwyer (see: Coachwips), the Oh Sees are always entertaining live - and it's been a while since I've had a chance to see what they're up to. That all changes tonight.

JAY MACIS: Dinosaur Jr. Enough said. Maybe Thurston Moore will join him on stage again tonight? I'm expecting epic guitar.

PEELANDER-Z: If we make it long enough, Japan's Peelander-Z - no strangers to Hell's Kitchen - take the stage at Headhunter's tonight at 1:15 a.m. Is there a better way to close out SXSW than Japanese anime-rock? Probably not. ...

SXSW FRIDAY ITINERARY >>>

If we learned anything from yesterday's experience, let it be that these early schedules I provide for the Weekly Volcano's SXSW 2010 coverage are VERY flexible. Depending on how much booze I've consumed, and how far I feel like walking at any given moment - coupled with most bands playing multiple nights in Austin - things are subject to change ... just as they did yesterday.

Even so, here's a look at what I'm planning to check out today:

ATOMIC OUTLAWS: Just like SweetKiss Momma yesterday, Tacoma's Atomic Outlaws will take to the outdoor parking lot that is the Texas Rock Stage. Somewhere, the Crüe is no doubt beaming. I'll make checking out the show a priority, as it's 10:30 p.m. kickoff should go down far before I'm completely beligerant - not that it would matter.

QUASI: Janet Weiss and Sam Coomes have made bassist Joanna Bolme an official member - meaning Quasi is now a threesome. With a new record out, getting the typical Quasi rave reviews - the Portland band will be at Antone's tonight. The last time I saw Quasi was at the Doug Fir in their hometown - simply an amazing show. I'm expecting nothing else tonight.

THURSTON MOORE: It's not every day you have a chance to see Thurston Moore, right? I'd have to be ridiculous to miss this one - or just get distracted by a taco, a beer, or something else insanely cool. We'll see what happens.

DEAD SEXY INC: They're French, for goodness sake - and they play a disco rock hybrid that's certainly worth its weight in croissants. What's the intrigue of SXSW for a band of French rockers already making a name in their homeland? I'll aim to find out. In the meantime, Google the band.

THE  xx: We missed them last night, but it won't happen again. Mark my words.  Or don't. Promises from Austin and SXSW - especially from media folks with a pocket full of free drink tickets - don't mean much.

LINK: Matt Driscoll's Twitter log at SXSW

PUYALLUP'S SWEETKISS MOMMA REPRESENT >>>

On the ride to our hotel late Wednesday night, the cab driver, a middle age Jamaican American, told us SXSW seems to have returned to its old form this year - after a down year last year thanks to the shitty economy. It makes sense, of course. Last year at this time I was stockpiling cans of baked beans, potato guns, Oliver Stone films, bloody Mary mix and water in my family's basement - firmly preparing for post econo-apocalyptic life (or at the very least questioning my decision to love newspapers so much).

This year is different, though. Things are still VERY FUCKED in our world - don't get me wrong - but perhaps we've all just learned to live a little better with the insecurity. Maybe our stress tolerance has grown as strong as Tacoma's PBR tolerance. Or, maybe, things have just gotten a little better.

Either way, the crowds, packed hotels, packed restaurants and cab drivers all seem to agree - SXSW is in full effect this year.

We registered for SXSW late (and by "we" - I mean my wife and me). We also live south of Sixth Avenue in Tacoma, meaning shelling out ridiculous amounts of cash for "the finer things" doesn't have much appeal for us. We're simple, T-Town folks.  What I'm getting at is this: With the lateness of our registration, mixed with our thrifty streak, our hotel (a very strange operation - having previously been an apartment complex before recently becoming a hotel/condo development) is WAY THE FUCK out there - nowhere near downtown Austin. We may actually be staying in Houston, I'm not entirely sure. All I know is the water smells funny and housekeeping doesn't take no for an answer.  Our Jamaican American friend told us it'd be a $30 cab ride from downtown, but then he also offered us a deal as we exited his yellow minivan - passing us his number on a torn piece of notebook paper. All of Austin hustles SXSW, so this is to be expected. My wife and I briefly tried to estimate how much money the entire SXSW machine brings to Austin (Interactive, Film and Music), but we lost steam somewhere around, "a whole shit-ton." Then we ordered a couple more $8 margaritas.

We rode the bus downtown Thursday morning; it took almost as long as it did to fly from Denver to Austin. It was real, though, and showed a slice of this town you don't see from the Hilton lobby. There seems to be a church on every corner of this place, and bizarre restaurant chains like Luby's and Whataburger rule supreme. And, of course, things are BIG here. It's Texas, after all. The stereotype is true.

After picking up our badges, grabbing press credentials and smuggling a tote bag full of peanut butter bars and Diet Pepsi out of the press "lounge," we headed out to see what we came for: the music.

Although I provided an itinerary yesterday of what I thought would be Thursday's schedule, this - of course - got skewed almost from the get go. Here's a look at musical highlights (witnessed by the Weekly Volcano, at least) from Thursday at SXSW:

THE MIDDLE EAST

After lunch (including the aforementioned margaritas), we wandered into the last leg of one of a few Paste Magazine parties this week in Austin. Australia's The Middle East was just taking the stage, and we were lucky to have been in attendance by chance.

Read more...

@MATTDRISCOLL >>>

Thousands of people descend upon Austin at this time each year. Musicians, artists, record-label executives, publicists and media types flock from all parts of the globe, unified by the universal language. No, not love - music (well, and business, but that's another story ...). Oh, and film and the Web are now components - big components - at the festival, too.

Anyway, our esteemed editor Matt Driscoll is also at SXSW. And he's Twittering the shit out of it. Click here for his Twitter log.

SXSW 2010, THURSDAY, MARCH 18 >>>

A marching band just passed by my wobbly table inside the Austin Convention Center. It's 1:56 p.m. - Tacoma time - and I've already had three drinks. Hipness and mustaches are everywhere.

In other words, SXSW 2010 is in full effect.

After arriving in Austin last night and making our way to the hotel - which is anywhere but right downtown - we woke up this morning a bit jetlagged, but energized by the prospect of Texas sun and Texas hospitality, which at SXSW (if you're a badge holder, anyway), means gobs and gobs of free drinks, T-shirts, CDs, stickers and guitar picks - among other things. There are probably even free drugs around here somewhere, but I have yet to find them. Perhaps at tonight's Stone Temple Pilots show?

For those playing at home, here's how today's Weekly Volcano SXSW 2010 itinerary is shaping up. (Note: Plans are subject to change as I consume more and more alcohol.)

BIG WHEEL STUNT SHOW: The Tacoma rockers play the "Whoops Party" at Trophy's tonight at 9:30 p.m. Austin time. If all goes as planned, I'll be catching the Big Wheel Stunt Show set and reporting back. Although, if I get so drunk that I end up face down in a pool of Lone Star Beer on some Texas barstool, luckily the band has several more SXSW appearances lined up.

DR. DOG: If you follow all things hip, you know Dr. Dog definitely fits the bill right now. The Philadelphia indie rock group has two shows lined up today, and the Weekly Volcano will be at one of them - either in a little over an hour inside the Austin Convention Center, or later tonight at Lustre Pearl. Will we be cool enough to fit in? The odds aren't good - but we'll give it a go anyway.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: I'm torn on this one. When hunkered down at a total music spectacle/orgy like SXSW, one should not waste their time on has-beens. There's simply too much going on, and your time is more valuable than that. Still, STP holds a warm, gooey, early ‘90s space in my guilty-pleasure-loving heart - and there's just something about the band's return to the stage after so many years that seems intriguing - in a "I wonder if Scott Weiland will be all drugged out?" sort of way. Plus, word on the street is Robby Krieger of the Doors will be joining Weiland and Co. on stage. Should I take a shot on this show? I'm taking votes below. ...

ADAM GREEN: The former Moldy Peach is in Austin (so is Kimya Dawson, by the way - though they're unrelated appearances) - and I've been moderately enamored by the singer/songwriter since seeing the Peaches open for the Strokes at the Temple Theater back in the day (yes, that happened). STP may be a tossup, but Green seems like a no-brainer - especially toting a new record.

JAGUAR LOVE: With the Cave Singers also in town, the opportunity to see just about ever former member of Pretty Girls Make Graves is abound. We'll start with Jaguar Love, featuring not only members of Pretty Girls, but also (of course) former members of The Blood Brothers, tonight at Habana Calle 6. Hitting the stage at 1 a.m., it should be quite a nightcap.

LINK: Matt's SXSW photos from Thursday, March 18

STEPH DEROSA: BITCH >>>

I was in Austin. I was at SXSW.

You know it, you've read it, you might even be sick of hearing about it. I don't know if you really are sick of hearing about it, but I do, actually, somewhat care how you feel. And the last thing I would want to do is lose any of my five readers.

So, while I  was in Austin, I took the time to squat in the bathroom of Jaime's Spanish Village. I loved this potty for the simple fact that you could voice your inner graffiti-ness however you liked, thanks to the handy dandy chalkboard they provided.

Being legally permitted to write whatever the I wanted on a bathroom wall, reminded me of something I strongly support: individualism and being true to you. You are entitled to say what you want to say, feel how you want to feel, and do what you want to do. I truly believe this, except I do have one condition: as long as it's not physically hurting anyone, not insulting anyone, and as long as it's legal.

While I was standing in line at the airport to have my bags checked on my way to Austin, I waited patiently and observed. I observed that one line was maybe moving quicker than another, or that one line was clogged with international flyers emptying their suitcases in order to meet the 50-pound weight limit. I noticed my line was not moving very quickly and that I had the option to either A.) Wait it out in this line or B.) Move to another line. I decided to move. Not always a smart choice, but it did pay off for me seeing as how I quickly moved up and was finally ready to check my baggage.

In the line next to me stood a middle-age woman who was also ready to have her bags checked. As the very pleasant airline employee was about to take my information, the middle-age woman in the next line began to create a scene. She let the entire airport know that she had been waiting the longest and that someone needed to help her¬" and not me. Wait, what? Lady, you're crazy. I very easily could've busted out some attitude back at her, but seeing as how they frown upon violence at an airport, I decided to keep my cool. Besides, she had the same options to move lines as I did; yet she just happened to choose the shittier one. It was her fault.

Then she says it¬" her excuse as to why she's a raging bitch¬" she actually says: Sorry, I can't help it, I'm from New York.Ah, yes, now it makes sense. It's a horrible thing to stereotype, but hey¬" if you're going to call it, I'll play along. Yes, you're a bitch, you fucking Yankee. Being raised in Texas, we're bred to have very narrow-minded thoughts about Northerners. Generally, they're all called Yankees,and we hate them all.

Since I did eventually escape the polluted Texas education system at the age of 26, I've had 10 years to decompress. I've realized the stupidity, the arrogance, the racism, and the generalizations Texans raise their children with. I believe it's actually made me a more accepting person. And made me less likely to judge people based solely on their appearance, what they do for a living, where they are from, or how they talk. Although, just as the lady used them from New York excuse, I can admittedly say that I still have that Texas girl's attitude that makes my mouth cause trouble quite often.

Now let's say I have a job. Let's pretend someone hired me to write. Pretend my job is to voice my opinion, thoughts, daily actions, or any weird shit that happened to run through my tiny brain that day. That's my job, that's what I do.

You may not like me, and you may not like what I have to say¬" but as my friend KAke would say:Look, here's the deal¬" you don't have to read it. The glorious thing is that you have a choice. It's OK to have an opinion, and it's OK not to like me, but you don't have to lash insults. That just shows me that you are ignorant. You know what the smart thing would be to do? Look up at the top right corner of your screen. There's a little red X in a box. Click it.