 "Photo: The Accent")
Ah, South By Southwest. That magic time of the year, when the first hints of spring hit the air and downtown Austin becomes a roiling pit of congested crowds, booming sound systems, and obnoxious out-of-towners. With so much going on, it can be pretty hard to get one's bearings. Luckily, Accent has got you covered.
Inside this issue, we kick things off with our preview coverage of all the films, free shows, and other events that have caught our eye. We also run down a list of the essential supplies every adequately prepared attendee is going to be packing.
Then, we introduce you to our star staff of bloggers who will be fighting their way through the mobs, staying awake during the films, and rocking out at even the most hastily assembled venues, all to give you that insider glimpse into the Austin phenomenon that is South By Southwest.
Now in its 24th year, SXSW has grown into the premier music, art, and media conference in the United States. Austin's tourism department loves to brag about being the "Live Music Capitol," and this is where we put our money where our mouth is.
Though our live music gets the most lip service, Austin is also home to an incredibly vibrant film community. From star directors like Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez, to an impressive and prolific crop of up and coming filmmakers, Austin's cinema scene gets bigger and better every year.
Though we're wary of Twitter after last year's catastrophic crash, we're still going to be live blogging harder than an Iranian dissident this year. Expect photo updates, primo video footage, and first person accounts of what secret surprises, and over hyped let downs, we find at this year's festivities.
So open up the Accent, and get acquainted with our intrepid reporters for 2010. They'll be out in the trenches giving you the cutting edge coverage you deserve. And if you happen to be out and about enjoying the fun yourself, don't hesitate to say hi and maybe buy them a drink or two.
Hola amigos, this is Sarah Vasquez checking in. When I'm not clocking campus news for the Accent, I also moonlight as a professional music writer at Austin Vida. This is my sixth SXSW, so I've got the experience, the knowledge, and the stamina required to tackle a festival of this magnitude. While all you amateurs are suffering from heat stroke and blown ear drums, I'm going to be front and center, taking video and photos of the hot acts descending on Austin's downtown. From off the map parties to wild and raw day shows, I'll be proving that, here at the Accent, we don't need no stinking badges (though I will have a full music badge).
Hi, I'm Devon, Life & Arts editor and all around great guy. Even though this is only my second SXSW, I'm chomping at the bit to get out there and revel in every second of it, from the fantastic film premiers to the anything goes after-parties. My coverage is guaranteed to be different from all that hyperbolic nonsense being broadcast out of downtown. You won't find any paraphrased press releases or buzzy gossip on my blog. No sir, here at the Accent we're dedicated to keeping it real, and so that's why I will be going gonzo this year, reporting live from the subjective experience. So come along dear reader as we take journalism where it's never gone (nor wanted to go) before.
Hey, I'm Christopher Smith, the Accent's assistant editor. This is my first SXSW film festival, but it ain't my first rodeo. Unlike my sidekick Devon, I don't really know much about these so-called "buzz bands" and "hot films." I'm a down to earth Texan, and so I plan on using my own eyes and ears to evaluate these things, rather than listen to some city boy blogger. But if I do happen to come across that elusive hipster troll who dictates what's hot and what's not at SXSW, you can count on me lassoing, hog tieing, and branding the Accent logo on the side of that ugly beast's hairy hide.
Music to Watch
Finding something to do is never the problem at SXSW. The real difficulty lies in sorting through the information overload to pick the events you're most interested in. Even without a high faluting badge or wristband, the vast amount of open to the public events can be overwhelming, That's why The Accent did that dirty work for you, and picked out eight of our favorite SXSW events for 2010. Be warned, information is liable to change so check always check online to confirm details.
1. Night of Rage II - Night of Mayhem,
The second annual Night of Rage jams an astounding amount of rough shod, lo-fi, cutting-edge punk and noise acts into its impressive line up. Grrl power gets a 21st century kick in the pants from acts like The Carrots and Explode Into Colors, while the city that gave birth to feisty post-modern feminism, Olympia, Washington, gets its day in the sun with sets from Gun Outfit, White Boss, and Broken Water. March 18 3 p.m., Baby Blue Recording Studio, 1522 East 12th St.
2. Terrorbird and Forcefield
Indie rock power brokers Terrorbird Media and Forcefield PR step out from the shadows with this stunning Wednesday day show. From the lethargic haze of acts like Toro y Moi and former Austinite Neon Indian to the southern fried country roots rock of Those Darlins, this show is the perfect way to get yourself in the SXSW spirit. March 17 12 p.m., Red 7, 611 East 7th Stree
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