Some pics...

Destroyer at The Parish for the Merge Showcase.

This show ended up being Badge Only by the time I got there. He kept stopping to tune his guitar or get another one completely, and complained about the heat a lot. But they sounded really damn good so it was worth it, they changed up the set quite a bit too. There was a horrendously annoying ugly girl in the front that was loud and wouldn't shut up. They ignored her but I wish she had gotten kicked out.

I volunteered for SXSW this year so I could get a badge (an experience in and of itself really, SXSW volunteers are like weird Renaissance Fair people or Burning Man people, except with better tastes in clothing and music, and not as much acid or STDs). This means that by Thursday I was really freaking exhausted from cramming the better part of 60 hours into five days. I definitely didn't get to see as much as I usually would but I feel like a lot of SX is hanging out with your friends downtown, which is strangely lively 24/7, and going around getting free stuff. You know, the usual taking for granted of living in this city thing. I think in that way we succeeded.

Destroyer at Volume for the Stereogum/PASTE/Dell Lounge Free Day Show

This place was small, hot, smelly with terrible sound. Super crowded. Free drinks and food though. Dan Bejar was crabby as usual and I've never seen his mop of hair that insane. The first song was rocky but by the last song it was so totally sweet and tight.

HEALTH at the Panache Showcase at Flamingo Cantina
I have never seen HEALTH play. I thought it was interesting, very dramatic. Some members lying on the ground at the beginning of the set and then flying up and crashing around. I don't know, it's different and I like that. Vocals were nearly non existent though, I mean even worse than on the record. Still strangely pretty.

Old Time Relijun at Flamingo Cantina for Panache Showcase.

Old time Relijun was way awesome, tight, possessed and energetic. It was strange seeing them play at Flamingo Cantina. It is a rare instance for that place to be packed with people. I think it would have hit capacity were it not that Cool Kids and N.E.R.D. were playing that very moment. I wish they played our after party.

Santogold at the JellyNYC garage Day Party. I think this was the IHEARTCOMIX vs. MAD DECENT one.

I hadn't heard of Santogold before but Cody (DJ Coutier) said he was going to this (he flaked out on me though). He has good taste so I went. She was so awesome! She had this sweet pink jumpsuit on and her militant dancers were SO TIGHT. Like Public Enemy, Coutier says. Maybe one day she will play at KVRX but she will probably blow up soon and then we can't play her anymore.

The garage parties were kind of nuts. Lots of people sitting around not knowing what to do and not wanting to leave due to so much free stuff but at the same time, stuff you didn't really want. Like DeWaurs mixed with Ginger Beer and Keystone Light. There were also Saucony headbands but I lost mine :(. Actually they were pretty fun, I mean they had waterguns and uh, beachballs. It was weird but I wish they had more parties on garage rooftops nontheless.

Mika Miko at the Legation Museum.

Yes she is singing into a phone. That bass player was awesome!

Jens Lekman
I got to see Jens Lekman three times because I am creepy and obsessive. Also, while volunteering for SXSW I got to put his wristband on (I AM SO CREEPY). First was at the Parish for the NPR recording. There was a huge line around the block. Then at Emos for a SXSW showcase. Then at Club Deville for some $3 dayshow (but they gave you free beer, hence the picture of me). I missed his showcase at the Mohawk because I was helping at the KVRX Afterparty (that the drummer from Motorhead came to because he wanted directions to the Playboy Party, but then started playing with Mika Miko and grabbing party goers round parts, consensually I guess). I thought they were all incredible performances, where he reaches into your chest and rips out your heart, but he seemed really into it at Club Deville, probably because it was the last one. It was nice.

Mermaid Blonde at La Luz Day Show

I love these guys! There was a lot of free beer.

I also saw Atlas Sound, awesome awesome awesome. Black Ghosts were pretty good. The Blow, um... Missed out on a lot of stuff due to Birthdays and Friends but it was a lot of fun.