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Scott Hutchison of Glasgow, Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit, at Emo’s Annex during a day party performance. He remarked that, at 1:45 in the afternoon, it still felt like morning to him. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

Singer-songwriter Matt Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel have teamed up for She & Him. Ward, Deschanel and their band played a “day party” (read: free!)badge or wristband required!) hosted this afternoon by Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current (FYI: Red River and 7th Street).
DJ Mark Wheat asked Deschanel how many shows the new band had […]

En route to our failed attempt to get into the Austin Children’s Museum to see a grindcore act:

Last night was this Soundcheck staffer’s third straight night of clubhopping here in Austin. For the most part, I’ve decided to wander around without a clear itinerary of bands to see. The result: lots of good shows, a few stinkers, and a few excellent ones. But there’s a problem: I often don’t have the foggiest […]

I left the R.E.M. show a bit early to get some shuteye before a big day on the show tomorrow. And as I walked to the car, I passed by Emo’s and heard a ’90s siren song: “It’s a shaaaaaaaaame … about Raaaaaaaaay!”
Oh, Evan. So good to have you back.

OK, so it seemed doubtful that I would make it into the R.E.M. show at Stubb’s. Lots of factors working against me: first album in four years, big preview show at SXSW, first time festival attendee who doesn’t really, truth be told, know how to weild a badge.
My evening starts badly — I gamble on […]

Check out Soundcheck’s first of two special broadcasts from the South by Southwest music festival! Today we welcomed a slew of awesome guests to talk about the festival, including Amy Phillips of Pitchfork Media and John Kunz of Austin’s Waterloo Records (Visa, beware)
Plus, two locals came on the show to talk about their adopted city […]

[Photo credit: The cell phone of John Schaefer]

If you have a badge at SXSW, you’ll get a canvas tote bag full of stuff. It’s not on the “gift bag” level of events like the Oscars, however. Instead of cellphones and jewelry, SXSW’s bags contain a log of magazines, promotional publications, and the (very appreciated) pack of chewing gum.
Irene snapped this shot […]

The Soundcheck staff ventured to Sixth Street last night, to check out bands before the music portion of SXSW starts officially tonight. I caught the ultra-80s electronic rave-up outfit Tiger City and the Stoogesy group The Hands at Emo’s.
The Hands (pictured above) kicked it off the right way. “We just spent 32 hours in […]