EAR FARM :: music information helps grow ears: EAR FARM South by Southwest Roundup

As we take today to recover from our massive road trip (and watch a little basketball, perhaps... maybe play some Rock Band) we thought everyone could use a bit of a quick recap of EAR FARM's South by Southwest experience. Check out lists from each of us as well as links to all of EAR FARM's SXSW coverage/content below.

--Top three shows attended--
Matt
1. Islands, Man Man @ Cedar St. Courtyard – 13 March (+)/(+)
2. Torche @ Red 7 – 14 March (+)
3. Dead Confederate, R.E.M. @ Stubb's – 12 March (+)
Mike
1. Man Man, Islands @ Cedar Street Courtyard – 13 March (+)
2. British Sea Power @ The Mohawk – 13 March (+)
3. Tapes 'n Tapes @ The Cedar Door – 14 March

--Top three SXSW disappointments--
Matt
1. Not having enough time to see all of the shows I wanted to.
2. The dead time between day shows and night shows when there's no music and it's as difficult to find a spot for dinner as it is to hail a cab in Manhattan during the 4:30pm cab driver shift change.
3. So many bros and girls gone wild wannabes and people yearning to find "cool"; off-the-charts levels of douchebaggery on the streets. People disgust me.
Mike
1. The Lemonheads canceled TWO shows on Friday, the first of which I stood in line for a half hour beforehand and the second I walked a good 20 minutes to see.
2. That strange "witching hour" in between day shows and night shows where it seems like none of the bars serve alcohol and you're forced to walk around 6th Street like a zombie waiting for things to start up again.
3. Waking up early to see the Ting Tings on Thursday, only to have them stand there for a while and decide not to go on.

--Top three shows I wish I could have cloned myself for, in order to see--
Matt
1. My Morning Jacket @ Austin Music Hall - 13 March – (instead I saw Islands and Man Man, I'll see MMJ in June) (+)
2. Any of the shows The Dodos played (their new record is totally doing it for me, instead I saw other bands)
3. Any of the many British Sea Power shows (instead I saw other bands, I'll see BSP three times in May)
Mike
1. My Morning Jacket @ Austin Music Hall - 13 March - (I was at Man Man @ Cedar St. Courtyard) (+)
2. Thurston Moore, J Mascis @ The Mohawk - 14th March - (I was at Tapes 'n Tapes @ The Cedar Door)
3. Graveyard & WITCH @ Encore Records - 13 March - (no cloning necessary, just a car; this show was 15 miles away from downtown and I couldn't make it in time)

--Three revelations from the past week--
Matt
1. SXSW > CMJ by a loooong shot.
2. EAR FARM is going to have to have a SXSW show next year just to get all of the bands I want to see in one place at one time.
3. Seeing shows every day/night, one day after another, leaves very little time for writing about said shows in a timely manner. All play and no work makes Matt a dull boy?
Mike
1. Michael Stipe eats BBQ?
2. You don't have to drink it even though it's free
3. This year's trend in bands: forget dealing with a second guitarist, just use a loop pedal!

EAR FARM videos of SXSW 2008 performances:

EAR FARM posts about SXSW 2008:

Obviously, it’s impossible for two people to slay the SXSW beast on their own, and that's where you come in. What were your favorite shows, disappointments, revelations and regrets from the week that was South by Southwest?

Holler at us about your SXSW experience, or lack thereof, and we'll see you back here next week. Oh and look forward to more exclusive EAR FARM SXSW content in the near future!