As if I needed more reasons to feel like a jerk for being on an airplane (albeit with Method Man) instead of staying a few more hours and going to this party and shotgunning Tecate with Bill Murray: live footage of Sir Bill helping out The Like! A big hitter, the Lama.

SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage

Craig Finn of the Hold Steady / all photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

Footage and photos from the rare non-musical moments of my week in Austin for SXSW 2010. More after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

Crayon Fields were the last band I shot at SXSW 2010, and I’m glad I closed with them — the indie-pop band’s sophisticated 2009 release, All The Pleasures of the World, has been in heavy rotation ever since. (The last band I saw that night was Best Coast, completing the L.A. girl-group triumvirate after catching Dum Dum Girls and Pearl Harbour earlier in the week. I’ll put it this way — “Best” is a word they should’ve thought twice about using in their band name.) I talked up the Crayon Fields (who record for Guy Blackman’s Chapter Music label) on Hype Machine Radio earlier this month; more photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

Following iLL-Literacy’s Lego-headed set, Truthlive — backed by a live funk band — offered a more traditional but no less energetic set of thumping rap at the Cokemachineglow co-sponsored Audible Treats showcase. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

As the evening set in on the last day of SXSW, I dutifully arrived at the Independent for the Cokemachineglow co-sponsored Audible Treats showcase at the Independent — an evening of hip-hop that, surprisingly for twee-lovin’ me, was as undeniable as any of the fest’s rock acts. It didn’t hurt that ill-Literacy came out in Lego heads. More after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

After Ben Gibbard’s cuddly set, I walked across town in the surprising Austin chill to the Kung Fu Saloon for Piano’s day party and ARMS, the revived solo project of Harlem Shakes’ Todd Goldstein. With his old band, creators of one of last year’s best pure indie rock records, no longer shoo-soo-shakin’ (Ed. note: Sorry. That said, miss you so bad, Rooney!), Goldstein’s new trio is touring on the strength of a new, free EP and the rumblings of an album on the way. It would be hard for the guitarist-turned-singer to top Harlem Shakes’ exuberance, and at ARMS’ patio show, he didn’t try—instead, the band’s new material was as downcast as the weather, driven by guitar arpeggios and Goldstein’s crisp falsetto and punctuated by bursts of noise that he managed to summon from his axe, numb fingers and all. (Via my CMG review.) More after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

At Stereogum’s Range Life showcase at the Parish, Ben Gibbard ignored a provided stool and launched into acoustic takes on some Death Cab oldies: “Title Track” followed by “405,” arguably DCFC’s finest effort and a song close to my heart given the vast stretches of life I’ve lost forever on that maddening excuse for a freeway. (Via my CMG review.) Odds are good he’ll trot out the same (excellent) set during his show at Largo this Saturday, by the way. More photos of the Gibster after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

At Stereogum’s Range Life showcase at the Parish, a few comedians lightened things up before Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard (swoon!) took the stage. Kristen Schaal, an indie rocker by association by virtue of her role as the Flight of the Conchords’ only groupie, Mel, on the now defuct show of the same name, arrived with Kurt Braunohler for a set of brief bits. After that, The Sarah Silverman Show writer Chelsea Peretti riffed about her romantic troubles and sometime-VH1 talking head Pete Holmes earned actual LOLs for his musings on Facebook-as-government-conspiracy. (Via my CMG review). More after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »