PJ Harvey at SXSW 2009

Print Media’s Demise: Fact or Fiction? pg. 32

Registrants Reveal Platinum Advantages pg. 38

INSIDE: my South-By: 2009 Highlights and Stories May 2009 / $4.95 pg. 12

g sxsworld Contents Volume 3, Issue 5

Publishers: Roland Swenson, Nick Barbaro, Louis Black Editor: Andy Smith Art Director: Jamie Miller Advertising: Una Johnston, Katie King, Hiliary Kerby, Luann Williams SXSW Contributors: Rebecca Feferman, Hugh Forrest, Una Johnston, Hiliary Kerby, Katie King, April Litz, Tracy Mann, Lizzy Newton, Janet Pierson, Cathy Ricks, Matt Sonzala, Ron Suman, Amy Wanke, Stacey Wilhelm, Luann Williams SXSW 2008 Logo Design: Sibley Peteet Design Contributors: Jason Cohen, Lissette Corsa, Jim Kolmar, Ryan Mihm, Patrick Nichols, Thomas Purves, Jenny Smith, Alison Tickell

SXSW Headquarters vi d M ingus

PO Box 4999, Austin TX 78765 US D a ke r K im Wal Sl e dd Mary Tel 512/467-7979, Fax 512/451-0754 Primal Scream at SXSW Music 2009 SXSW 2009 Film poster kiosk The gorilla and the banana interact Email [email protected] www.sxsw.com SXSW Headquarters Sales Department IN EVERY ISSUE MUSIC: Luann Williams, [email protected] FILM: Hiliary Kerby, [email protected] Taking Care of Business to Business...... 2 INTERACTIVE: Katie King, [email protected] News from companies who are part of the SXSW world SPONSORSHIPS: Scott McNearney, [email protected] News & Notes...... 6 Sales: www.sxsw.com/sales Updates from the SXSW Interactive, Film and Music events SXSW Music, U.K. & Ireland Una Johnston, Cill Ruan, Back Page: The Tyranny of Virtual Distance...... 44 7 Ard na Croise Thurles, Co. 2009 finds SXSW vet missing the real action Tipperary Ireland Tel & Fax +353-504-26488 [email protected]

SXSW Music & Film, European Continent FEATURES Mirko Whitfield, Einsiedlerweg 6 Tuebingen-Pforndorf 72074 Germany 2009 IN REVIEW: my South-By...... 12 Tel & Fax +49-7071-885-604 [email protected] The photos and stories from the frontlines of SXSW SXSW Music, Asia On the Edge of the Precipice...... 32 Hiroshi Asada, c/o Rightsscale Inc, Interactive panels examined print publishing’s perilous position 3F EBISU-WEST, 1-16-15 Ebisu-Nishi Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021 Japan Looking Back...... 34 Tel +81-3-5428-3923, Fax +81-3-5428-3962 SXSW Film had something for everyone [email protected]

SXSW Australia, New Zealand & Hawaii Video Innovations...... 35 Phil Tripp, 20 Hordern St, Newtown Tapeless technologies saving time and money NSW 2042 Australia Tel +61-2-9557-7766, Fax +61-2-9557-7788 Green Plan for U.K. Music Industry...... 36 [email protected] Steps to reduce music’s carbon footprint SXSWorld is published by SXSW, Inc. five times per year in It Pays To Go Platinum...... 38 February, March, May and November at 1007 East 40th Uncovering Benefits of the Full SXSW Experience Street, Austin, Texas 78751. © 2009 SXSW, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Subscriptions are provided annually with paid Facing Future...... 40 registrations to the SXSW Conferences. Subscriptions are Hawaiian Artists Cross the Geographic Divide available to the general public for $20 per year. Application to Mail at Periodicals Rate is Pending at Austin, TX. “SXSW” and Cumbia and Beyond...... 42 “South By Southwest” are registered trademarks owned by Colombian Rhythms Make the World Dance SXSW, Inc. For inquiries, email [email protected].

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cover Photo: PJ Harvey performed with John Parish at SXSW 2009; photo credit: Brian Birzer SXSWorld PO Box 4999, Austin TX 78765

Printed with vegetable based inks.

SXSWorld / May 2009 1 Taking Care of Business to Business A look at companies who are part of the SXSWorld

Business Roundup Here is a collection of some recent news for people and companies who do business with SXSW. To be a part of future SXSWorld business news roundups, contact your SXSW sales representative or send your updates to [email protected].

Florida film workers descended on The Recording Academy Wilco has teamed up with Souldier, Over 11,000 people have signed Tallahassee to speak with members elected leaders and staff came who will hand-make limited edi- ASCAP’s Bill of Rights for of the Florida Legislature about the together to service and spread the tion signature Songwriters and Composers. Show sudden drop in feature film pro- word about the benefits of mem- guitar straps your support and sign now at www. duction in the state since funding bership to SXSW artists and bands and drumstick ascap.com/rights. for the current tax incentive was at the Artist Village & GRAMMY bags in con- reduced. “We had an unprec- Garage. junction with edented number of groups and Wilco’s new individuals representing a cross sec- The International Film Guide album and tour tion of Florida’s production industry Inspiration Award was offered coming in June travel to Tallahassee, and there is at SXSW to the winner of the 2009. no doubt that our voices and our Lone Star message were heard,” said Graham States cat- Blue Microphones, the pre- Winick, President of Film Florida. egory. There senting sponsor of Studio SX, are plans to introduced the music community Koss Stereophones is still taking present the to their latest consumer product, B-Side Entertainment, based in entries for their SXSW 2009 give- award at MIKEY - the new Austin, has announced the first film away. Simply join the Koss mailing nearly a dozen award-winning to be released through its distribu- list at www.koss.com/sxsw to enter international audio recorder tion arm, RiP: A Remix Manifesto. to win one of 10 Pro4AAAT Studio film festivals for iPod. B-Side will handle the U.S. theatrical Stereophones. in 2009. release while Disinformation will

2 SXSWorld / may 2009 live.create.

Thanks to the ﬁlmmakers, digital creatives, bands and fans who dropped by for a taste of the arts. Discover how our 19 inspired ﬂavors are inspiring tomorrow’s artists with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. And how every purchase can support the cause and score you sweet prizes. live.create.contribute. at ZonePerfect.com.

ZONE10248_FullPgBleed4c_SXSWorld_FA.innd.indd 1 4/13/09 3:30:25 PM Taking Care of Business to Business release on DVD. The doc’s pro- On April 20, Kodak invited the GoTV Networks, the premier Entertainer’s Secret Throat ducers, Eye Steele Productions, and film industry to check out the new mobile media network, teamed up Relief exhibiting at SXSW for the the National Film Board of Canada, KODAK VISION3 250D Color nega- with 5Gum to host their first show- first time was a good decision with will additionally partner with B-Side tive film 5207/7207, the newest case at SXSW on March 21. The great exposure, new contacts and on the release. The film premiered member of the VISION3 film lineup featured some of the indus- positive feedback related to the at SXSW. platform. Kodak hopes this new try’s hottest artists including Shiny sample size bottles of Entertainer’s product will help filmmakers push Toy Guns, Asher Roth and Janelle Secret in each BMI expects U.S. sales of ringback the boundaries of filmmaking even Monae. SXSW Music bag. tones to surpass $235 million this further. Many faithful users year, up 15% from last year’s esti- stopped by to mated $235 million and 68% from The Institute of Production thank us and share the company’s 2007 projection of and Recording’s Music and their “stories” of $140 million. Entertainment Business students how ES saved their who attended SXSW hosted an on- careers, plus many campus panel about their SXSW comments from folks who said experience. The students shared they would convert to Entertainer’s Secret. Several distributorship deals “Thousands of artists get screwed Janelle Monae are in the works as a result of the everyday” was the message show! We will certainly be back delivered in shocking fashion by SESAC has announced the launch next year! ArtistForce at the “Village Voice of its newly redesigned website. SXSW Showdown.” Solutions to SESAC has created a uniquely serve and protect performing artists upgraded, innovative and infor- are available at ArtistForce.com. mative site that showcases the depth and variety of the company’s Modulus Studio, a carbon-neu- growing family of songwriter and The Texas Film Commission, tral audio and video post production what they learned from the SXSW publisher affiliates. a division of the Governor’s Office, studio, recently moved to a newly panel discussions, their experience is proud to announce the launch of renovated facility. If you happen to at the trade show, and the array of Savannah College of Art and the new Texas Production Directory be in the Boston area, be sure to call interviews they conducted during Design celebrates its 30th anniver- on the commission’s Web site. With them for a studio tour. the conference. sary of the finest arts education in hundreds of listings, the new online the world. SCAD celebrated with directory showcases the talented TouchTunes interactive digital a 30th Anniversary Lecture Series Texas crew personnel, companies, network rocked SXSW with the with Michael Kimmelman, chief art and organizations from the film, BMI/TouchTunes DEVO showcase. critic of The New York Times. television, commercial, video game, The company pre-promoted the and animation-related industries. Indaba Music’s Studio Access showcase on Barfly screens in 34 http://www.governor.state.tx.us/ campaign with Canadian hip- locations throughout Austin. filmdirectory/ hop innovator, K-OS just finished with the first release of a digital Minneapolis band Catchpenny’s lead companion album also put out by singer, Christian Schauf, accepted Universal Music Canada. The top Armed Forces Entertainment’s remixes of each track by Indaba SXSW enabled BandStock.net‘s first-ever Entertainer of the Year Music members are available on introduction to the masses, and award at the SonicBids Official iTunes with the studio release of the feedback was phenomenal. SXSW Party at Maggie Mae’s on Yes! out April 14. One new connection has since Friday, March 20. USAF Colonel Ed interviewed us and can be heard Shock presented the band mem- WorldSings.com, a new music on WomansRadio.com in the near bers with a custom-crafted bronze and social networking concept, is future. Thank you Austin and statuette. organizing the World’s Best Song Pictured here d-evolving are: Ron SXSW! Competition with $1,000,000 in Greenberg and Vicki Saunders, prize money, officially launched at TouchTunes. SXSW on March 19, 2009. Hot Docs pays tribute to Sphinx Productions’ Ron Mann with this Massify and Killer Films (Boys year’s Focus On retrospective, an Don’t Cry, Kids, Far From Heaven) Entertainment Partners, a annual program showcasing the have joined forces to create a provider of payroll and production work of a mid-career Canadian provocative and humorous short management services to the enter- filmmaker. For over 25 years, Mann film developed entirely through tainment industry, has launched has been creating award-winning the Massify production network. (l-r) Col. Ed Shock, Zachary Schauf, the “Broadcast EP” channel on documentary features that focus on Massify members should pitch their Alec Roeser, Mark Charles Kelly, YouTube. The channel offers alternative and dissident cultures. concept by May 14. Christian Schauf informational videos on both international and domestic production incentive services.

4 SXSWorld / may 2009

2010 SXSW Panel Ideas: Programming Proposals Accepted June 1-July 10

Do you feel that the current trends in web design are all wrong? Got an alternative vision for the future of mobile technology? Is it your belief that the Obama Administration should be making better use of social networks? Remember the bulk of our programming comes via suggestions submitted by smart and creative people such as yourself. So, if you have a great idea for a panel or a solo presentation at the 2010 SXSW Interactive Festival, then we want to hear from you!

The submission process for next year’s event opens on Monday, June 1, and closes on Friday, July 10. All proposals will be posted to the SXSW Panel Picker (see panelpicker.sxsw.com) where they will be evaluated by the online community and analyzed by the Advisory Board and SXSW staff. Stay tuned to the SXSW Interactive website for more information on the 2010 submission process or subscribe to the e-mail newsletter at sxsw.com/newsletters. Be sure to mark your calendar with next year’s SXSW dates: Friday, March 12 INTERACTIVE through Tuesday, March 16. Web Awards, Accelerator, Game Design Competition: NEWS/NOTES 2010 Entry Process Begins in September

Shedding light on new ideas and new talent is one of the New for 2009: most important roles of the SXSW Interactive Festival. Extended Content The event does this through three different competitions:

Debuts on the • The ScreenBurn at SXSW Game Design A dr i a n Za m ora Competition spotlights the brightest new minds tthew W e d gew ood

SXSW Interactive in the video game industry. Ma

Website • The SXSW Web Awards honors the best new ‘09 Game Design Winner, ‘09 Web Awards Emcee Gwen Murray for Sloppy Ice Baratunde Thurston online creations and destinations in more than 15 Click on sxsw.com/interactive different categories. to check out the inaugural season • SXSW Accelerator showcases the most innovative

of SXSW Extended Content. business models and entrepreneurial ideas in the new C h r is L a ng Created by members of the online media industry. community, these 10-to-15-minute The submission process for these three competitions audio podcasts cover everything will commence on Monday, September 7. Stay from the validity of free pricing tuned to the SXSW Interactive Festival website for more models to the future of social information. ‘09 Accelerator winner Popcuts networks to running remote new with hosts Brad King (l) and Guy Kawasaki (r) media teams in the Far East. These are original podcasts and have Free Podcasts of 2009 Panels and Presentations not been broadcast in any other format before appearing on the Now Available Online SXSW website. Want to have your The 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival featured more than 200 panels and presentations covering everything from presentation considered for the content management systems to new media business models. If there were sessions that you were not able to 2011 Extended Content program? attend in March (or if you were not able to be in Austin for the event), the SXSW Interactive website now fea- Then be sure to submit your idea tures FREE audio podcasts of most of this programming. Find this content at 2009.sxsw.com/ to the SXSW Panel Picker (see taxonomy/term/44. FREE video clips from the 2009 event are also available on the SXSW panelpicker.sxsw.com) between YouTube channel (see youtube.com/sxsw). The audio and video pages are updated daily, so June 1 and July 10. check back frequently for the most current offerings.

You Talk, We Listen: Please Tell Us How We Can Improve SXSW! The SXSW Interactive Festival reflects the intellect, energy and passion of the most intriguing personalities in the online community. But we need to hear your wild new ideas, your brilliant brainstorms and your constructive criticism. We also enjoy learning what went right (and what went not-so-right) with the 2009 panel programming. Please email your suggestions on how we can improve the event to [email protected]. We read and discuss everything you write to us, so please do not be shy in expressing what you liked about the event, and what we can do to make the SXSW Interactive Festival better in 2010. All ideas are good ideas!

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© 2009 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band 2 and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., an MTV Networks company. Rock Band 2 developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. MTV: Music Television, MTV Games and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. EA and the EA logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the US and/or other countries. FENDER™, STRATOCASTER™, PRECISION BASS™ and the distinctive headstock and body designs commonly found on the STRATOCASTER and PRECISION BASS guitars are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. The ratings icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2009 SXSW Film Festival Award Winners

The jury and audience award winners of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival were announced at the festival’s closing Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 17. Films receiving jury awards were selected from the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature categories. Films in these catego- A r i a n Br umb y ries as well as the Emerging Visions, 24 Beats Per Second and Lone Star States categories were also eligible for the 2009 SXSW Film Festival Audience Awards. 24 Beats Per Second and Lone Star States Audience Awards were announced Made in China, Narrative Feature winner on Friday, March 20. SXSW also announced the jury prizes in shorts filmmaking as well as these special jury awards: SXSW & AIGA Movie Poster Award, the SXSW Chicken and EGG Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award and the SXSW Wholphin Short Film Award.

The 2009 SXSW Film Festival Juries consisted of: Narrative Feature Competition: Scott Foundas, Ted Hope, Kim Voynar; Documentary Feature Competition: Anne Thompson, Basil Tsiokos, Lois Vossen; Reel Shorts: Emma Gray Munthe, Dan Nuxoll, Caspar Sonnen; Experimental Shorts: Spencer Parsons, Luke Savisky, Sean Williams; FILM Animated Shorts: Chris Eska, Steve Mack, Lars Nilsen; Music Videos: Stefan Arni, Siggi Kinski, Francis Preve, Adam Yauch; Texas High School Shorts: Bob Ray, Garret Savage, Bart Weiss. NEWS/NOTES For the 2009 SXSW Film Festival, 133 feature-length films, including 57 world premieres, were selected from 1,511 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,220 U.S. and 291 international feature-length films.

Feature Jury Awards 24 Beats Per Second Shorts Jury Awards Music Videos Documentary Feature Winner: Iron Maiden: Flight 666 Reel Shorts Winner: Thunderheist, “Jerk It” Winner: 45365 Directors: Scot McFadyen & Sam Dunn Winner: Thompson Directors: That Go-Noel Paul & Director: Bill Ross Director: Jason Tippet Stefan Moore Lone Star States Honorable Mention: The Way We Get By Special Jury Award: Special Jury Award: Fleet Foxes, “White Winner: Over the Hills and Far Away Director: Aron Gaudet Happy 95 Birthday Grandpa Winter Hymnal” Director: Michel Orion Scott Director: Gary Huggins Director: Sean Pecknold Narrative Feature Special Jury Awards Jury Special Mention: New Pornographers, Winner: Made in China Animated Shorts SXSW & AIGA Austin “Myriad Harbor” Director: Judi Krant Winner: Shaman Director: Fluorescent Hill Movie Poster Award Director: Luc Perez Special Jury Award for Best Best in Show: The Dungeon Masters Texas High School Competition Ensemble Cast: That Evening Sun Director: Keven Macalester Special Jury Award: Sweet Dreams Winner: Performance Evaluation Director: Scott Teems Designer: David Plunkert, Director: Kirsten Lepore Director: Breannah Gibson Spur Design, LLC Audience Awards Experimental Shorts Special Jury Award (TIE): Fresh Fruit Emerging Visions SXSW / Chicken & EGG Winner: Cattle Call Directors: Edward Kelley & Brenden Cicoria Directors: Matthew Rankin & Winner: Motherland Emergent Woman Award AND Director: Jennifer Steinman Mike Maryniuk Winner: Made in China A Hospital Bathroom Director: Judi Krant Special Jury Award: The Idiot Stinks Director: Miguel Johnson Documentary Feature Director: Helder Sun Winner: MINE SXSW Wholphin Director: Geralyn Pezanoski Short Film Award Winner: Sister Wife It’s Not Too Early To Think About Next Year! Narrative Features Director: Jill Orschel The dates for SXSW Film 2010 are March 12 - 20. Winner: That Evening Sun Film submissions accepted starting August 3, 2009. Director: Scott Teems

Panel Highlights for SXSW Film 2009… Car en H i ll This year’s panels took the festival by storm, with some truly high-profile participants. Jeffrey Tambor returned to SXSW for another awesome acting workshop, receiving well-deserved adulation from an eager audience. If you missed it, you seriously missed out! Producer Jan Harlan discussed the life and work of his brother-in-law and longtime collaborator Stanley Kubrick, Robert Rodriguez and Henry Selick at their SXSW panel while UT Film Professor John Pierson moderated a lively conversation with indie distribution guru Bob Berney to discuss the state of modern cinema and the future of distribution. Directors Henry Selick (Coraline) and Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids 3D: Game Over) also joined forces for a “Conversation from the Third Dimension,” discussing the potential offered by the 3D movie experience. Also, indie mavens Richard Linklater and Todd Haynes made a formidable team as they made it through their conversation without, as Haynes put it, “bitching about how fucked-up the industry is right now!”

8 SXSWorld / may 2009

Stay in tune all year with SXSW.com/music and Youtube.com/sxsw!

• Read the latest music news in The Daily Chord and on the SXSW Music Blog. • Watch videos from SXSW 2009 panels that you may have missed. • Listen to some of the great artists who performed at SXSW 2009. • Check out our Trade Show presenters. • Keep in touch with agents, managers, publicists, artists and label registrants with our Online Registrant Directory. • Order exclusive SXSW gear including T-shirts, hoodies, caps and posters. • Watch music videos and live performance from some of your favorite artists at SXSW 2009.

Want to be a part of SXSW 2010?

music Next year, SXSW Music happens from March 17 – 21, 2010. We start accepting showcase applications in August, with deadlines in mid-October for international artists and the end of October for artists based in the NEWS/NOTES U.S. Once again, the entire process, from the initial online application to uploading MP3s and press kits, will be electronic. Check sxsw.com for details and updates.

Reeperbahn Festival On Tour! Stars come together to honor Texas legend Doug Sahm You may have noticed their “street signs” posted all over the 6th Street It was a magical night at Antone’s on Thursday, March 19. Jimmy area, as the Reeperbahn Festival crew came and made their mark on SXSW Vaughn, Dave Alvin, Sarah Borges and new Yep Roc signees, the 2009. Presenting a successful showcase with an eclectic line up of artists at Gourds all contributed heartfelt interpretations of Doug Sahm’s most Habana Calle 6, Reeperbahn brought a little piece of their festival to ours. beloved tunes, while backed by Sir Doug’s son’s band, Shawn Sahm’s Reeperbahn 2009 happens in Hamburg, Germany, September 24-26. Tex Mex Experience. Sahm’s career spanned 40 years, and he is cred- Go to reeperbahnfestival.de for more info, including a full report ited as being a pioneer of the Tex-Mex sound. Though he died of a heart from SXSW 2009. attack in 1999, as this event proved, his legacy and music will live forever.

A Few Highlights from SXSW 2009…

Beauty and the Beats Empire Isis made a splash at SXSW with not only her showcase, but also Clad in only bikinis and by filming segments for Canada’s MusiquePlus with a wealth of artists. The playing trombones, Japan’s response to hip-hop at SXSW was overwhelming as crowds flocked to mul- Futomomo Satisfaction led tiple venues each night to see what is new and hot in the world of hip-hop. a procession down 6th Street ni Ka ush l esh B i ya that turned heads and ended Touch & Go Records Showcases Its Final Artists up packing their Saturday night Just weeks after announcing that it would no longer release albums by new showcase at Opal Divine’s. At artists, Chicago-based landmark indie label Touch & Go Records presented a first glance, you might see these last hurrah of sorts at the Flamingo Cantina. Crystal Antlers, Sholi and Futomomo Satisfaction three beauties in bikinis as a All The Saints all represented for this legendary and groundbreaking label gimmick, but musically they are a funk, rock and soul powerhouse. that, like many others, has succumbed to the woes of the ever changing music industry. Headliners and Newcomers Mark Heightened Urban Music Profile Hip-hop’s presence continued to grow this year with stars such as Bun B, Independent Publicity Firm Dead Prez, Mr. Lif, Camp Biz 3 Presents Yet Another Lo and Al Kapone performing Packed Show at SXSW Sara h Lim alongside new buzz artists a ncic Focusing on emerging acts from like Bobby Ray, Charles all genres, Chicago based Biz Hamilton, Asher Roth, Blu, 3 Public Relations presented

Kid Cudi and Mickey Factz. H utt o n Sa p another killer show at SXSW The international urban music 2009. This year, they brought presence grew as well with artists some of the hottest new artists Asher Roth from Canada, Mexico, Colombia, at SXSW. Asher Roth, Cage, Bun B Norway, England, Netherlands, Amanda Blank, Chin Chin and These Are Powers all put in heavy sets and New Zealand representing hip-hop and R&B. Breakout world soul artist in front of the Club De Ville crowd.

10 SXSWorld / may 2009

Friday, March 13

Alex Bogusky delivered the “Can An Ad Guy Bring Bike Sharing to America?” presentation. arian brumby I Love You Man Q&A. From left: Director John Hamburg, Producer Donald DeLine, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones and Jon Favreau. laura lea nalle my South-By Nash Edgerton, Director of The Square. mary s ledd mary

SXSW i s l i k e s u m m e r c a m p marked by setbacks and triumphs rare ability to listen closely to We h a d f i n i s h e d e d i t i n g o u r for grown-up children who are both large and small. Listening new, compelling and provocative documentary just three days addicted to film, music, video to the guys from Dogster talk ideas without glancing around for before the festival and were elated games and internets. I wouldn’t about how they manage people a better conversation. Openness not only to be finished, but that miss this festival for all the BBQ through the ups and downs in made it possible for me and my our main character, an 80-year- you can eat. their business helped us prepare co-founder, Jared Richardson to old hermit, had agreed to come Scott Weinberg to do the same. Learning how connect with so many interesting to Austin for the world pre- Jason Black thinks about his and interested people. Those rela- miere! But as our first screening St a r t i n g u p a n i n t e r n e t c o m - company’s culture has inspired tionships are what we’ll take away approached, we started getting pany is a lonely, ego-bruising us to adopt our own set of core from SXSW, and what we’ll look nervous. It was our first time affair. At SXSW I learned not values. But the best part of forward to nurturing as gliider we’d be showing the film to an to take it all so personally. The SXSW wasn’t on the schedule. enters its infancy. audience beyond our friends, and path to creation is a bumpy one, It was, in a word: openness, that Jordan Stolper - CEO gliider we had no idea who would show Sarah L im N ari mann Kau s hle h biyani

Film Opening Party at Buffalo Billiards. From left: Richard Louis Black, Catherine Hardwicke, Morgan Spurlock Linklater, Catherine Hardwicke, Jaime Pressly on the I Love You, and Robert Rodriguez at the Troublemaker Studios Monnie Wills and Bob Ray. Man red carpet. Filmmakers Welcome Lunch, sponsored by Babelgum. Je ss e Kni s h

ExTerminators. From left: Suzanne Weinart, Sam Lloyd, Eloise Dejoria, John

Inwood,12 Farah White, SXSW Jay Michaelson,orld / andFebruary Lokesh Dhar. 2009 SXSW Interactive Mix at Six. B rent lavelle Saturday, March 14 C HU CK H W heather k ennedy heather

Troll 2 survivors Darren Ewing, Jason Steadman, George Hardy and Michael Paul Stephenson at the Best Worst Movie premiere. Interacting at the Dorkbot party. sc ott mel c er w edge ood matthe

SXSW Interactive Opening Remarks from Amy Seimetz, Barlow Jacobs, and Jess Weixler of

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos. C HAD HARDY Director Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell at the Moon Q&A. Alexander the Last.

up or what they’d think of the I h a d h e a r d a b o u t Za p p o s because they felt that giving their and consultants, keeping your movie. What happened exceeded and their relentless pursuit of employees a regular indication personal brand in front of your our wildest expectations—-there customer satisfaction but hearing of progress would make them peers and clients is a daily effort. was a line of people around the Tony Hsieh speak at SXSW happier. There’s no doubt that the digital block, and our screenings were really brought the message home. Mike Teasdale, Harvest Digital/ generation is making as much packed with distributors, festival They like to talk about Zappos UKTI Digital Mission media as it’s consuming, and it’s programmers and press, along delivering “happiness in a box,” crucial that they keep their story with enthusiastic audiences. For but they have clearly gone beyond At SXSW t h e r e w a s a s t r e a m front and center in their commu- our indie doc, SXSW was the sloganeering and thought hard of photographs, Flickr streams, nity. So why is the mood so up best premiere we could have about the science behind happi- blog posts, and tweets. Everyone, at SXSW? Because for the folks hoped for. ness. One simple example: they it seems, wanted to be on-camera who are members of the new era Ben Steinbauer, Producer/ split their promotion process into at SXSW. For the new class of of Digital Natives, everything Director - Winnebago Man six six-month modules, simply self-employed media makers is indeed coming their way. W LEY S ARAH LIM DANIELLE DA j enni f er brad ord

Jess Weixler and Mark Reeb join Jeffrey Tambor for his acting worshop. Director Ben Steinbauer, and star American Prince, from left David Cash, Stephen Prince, Jack Rebney of Winnebago Man. Tommy Pallotta and Josh Cramer. C HAD HARDY ARIAN BRUMBY ANNE MARIE C AR S ON

Filmmaker Michelle Esrick, Wavy “Comedy on Television and the Web” panel. From left: Ricky Van Veen, Gravy and wife of Saint Misbehavin’: Meredith Scardino, B.J. Novak, Keith Richman and Avner Ronan. Interactive Opening Party hosted by frogSXSW design.orld / FebruaryThe Wavy 2009Gravy Movie . 13 Saturday, March 14 R i ck k ern RANDY HO

John Pierson (left) moderates a conversation with Bob Berney at the SXSW Film Conference.

TRIMPIN Director Peter Esmonde (right) moni c a e k with musician Trimpin during SXSW FIlm. L iz G ra c ia-Sabala “Creative: Show the Path, Not the Destina- tion” featured Jim my South-By Coudal. From left: danah boyd, Judith Donath, Alice Marwick and Siva Vaidhyanathan ask “Is Privacy Dead or Just Confused?”

Brands are beating down their media makers and consumers, geeks from every area of the Interactive Trade Show Floor door to learn how to play in the there’s little doubt about the state web. As a nonprofit consultant Never, ever is a bore social media space. Technology of their industry. SXSW 2010? who bridges the nonprofit and Panels on Social Media are great is making it easier to build Sign me up. for-profit world on a daily basis, Listening to experts expostulate businesses and revenue without Steve Rosenbaum - magnify.net I am already attracted to the Film screenings are a must-go overhead or investment. Because, idea of “Robin Hood” learning We even previewed the film Bruno even as newspapers, record SXSW h a s b e e n p l a y f u l l y (as Katya Andresen might call Bands are playing day and night companies, book publishers, and d u b b e d “spring break for geeks” it), but I couldn’t have imagined Cary Brothers, Greg Laswell, aww auto makers are suffering, digital and having gone this year, I can the mental fireworks that are set that’s right film, news, eBooks, eCommerce, totally see why. The interac- off when you put programmers, Came home tired yet elated software and social media plat- tive conference was a unique fundraisers, gamers, designers and Book us for 2010 we stated! forms are all growing. Standing opportunity for cross-industry entrepreneurs under one roof. Jennifer Winger and Heidi amidst ten thousand digital learning among 11,000 web Ali Cherry - frogloop.com Dailey, Sun Microsystems

Sunday, March 15 moni c a e k mary s ledd mary

k arl c apelli Jared Spool and an audience volunteer during the SXSW Interactive panel: “Journey to the Center of Design.” Gary Vaynerchuk shared his passions at his “Video Blogging: Turn Wine into Gold” presentation.

Nate Silver, Sunday’s SXSW Interactive Keynote. k arl c apelli c ourtney dudley j ohn pe s ina

Elvis Mitchell (right) Made in China premiere. Director Judi Krant with presents Jan Harlan during Co-Screenwriter Dan Sumpter, Producer Bronwyn Four Boxes premiere, from left, cast members their SXSW Film Conference Cornelius, unknown, Executive Producer Monnie 14 SXSWorld / February 2009 Sam Rosen, Justin Kirk and Terryn Westbrook. discussion. Wills and actor Jackson Kuehn. THANK YOU SXSW, WE HAD A

ANOTHER TALENT EXPLOSION PROMISED FOR CANADIAN BLAST 2010

WWW.CANADIANBLAST.COM Sunday, March 15 o sc ar s ilva matty greene matty greene matty

Emcee Baratunde Thurston at the 12th Annual SXSW Interactive Web Awards Presented by Adobe.

Adventureland Director Greg Mottola and star Bill Hader during the premiere’s Q&A. o sc ar s ilva

Web Awards winner Michael Galpert my South-By Double Web Awards winners Lost Zombies. (Aviary) jumps for joy.

I w a s a s p e c t a t o r , a m o v i e g o e r , community at SXSW? And if witnessed the SXSW community to foster the real-life connection a filmmaker and a panelist so we built it, would anyone come? “giving back” in some very cool that drives our understanding of I was able to experience it all. When “The Beacon, Lounge with ways. For five days in March, The market trends, creates new busi- Breakfasts with other filmmakers, a Conscience” opened at SXSW Beacon glowed with an energy to ness opportunities and enhances video games at lunch, panels in 2009, that dream became a reality. fuel social change that can only the products and services which the afternoon, movies at night Part funky café, part wifi zone, come from the best and brightest we develop. For me, there was and music into the early morning, part calming oasis, The Beacon in our industry. no better place to find that what more could you ask for? was the central hub for socially Eve Simon - Beaconfire community on display at this Suzanne Weinert conscious types at SXSW wanting Consulting year’s festival than in the TechSet to connect, share, or just relax. Blogger Lounge sponsored by It s t a r t e d a s a s i m p l e q u e s t i o n : Each day, a different nonprofit SXSW In t e r a c t i v e i s f u e l e d b y Windows Mobile. The blogger could we create a unique meeting raised awareness and funds the strength of the community. lounge was a non-stop hub of space for the growing non-profit for their organization, and we We make this annual pilgrimage creative activity and networking. j e ss k ni s h MEGAN GRADY w edge ood matthe

My Suicide premiere. From left: Director David Lee American Violet premiere. From left: Paul Guilfoyle, Nicole Beharie, Sam Raimi and SXSW Film Festival Director Janet Miller, actors Gabriel Sunday Writer Bill Haney, Will Patton and Director Tim Disney. Pierson at the screening of Drag Me to Hell. and Brooke Nevin.

Gwen Murray and Seth Smith, ScreenBurn at SXSW Game Game Design judges: Harvey Smith (left) Design Competition winners. and James Portnow. sc ott mel c er n C HAHANOVI H RYA

Women in Trouble premiere. From left: Carla Gugino, Rya Kihlstedt, Marley Shelton, Director Sebastian Gutierrez, Isabel Gutierrez, Connie Britton, Adri- anne Palicki, Cameron Richardson, Sarah Clarke and Emmanuelle Chiqui. 16 SXSWorld / February 2009 adrian Z amora

Monday, March 16 sc ott mel c er j o s e gonzalez c ourtney dudley

“Presenting Straight to the Brain” speakers included (from left): Kathy Sierra, Cliff Atkinson, Jared Goralnick and Craig Ball.

Observe and Report cast and crew. From left: Collette Wolf, Danny McBride,

Jesse Plemmons, Anna Faris, Seth Rogen, Director Jody Hill, Michael Peña, brent lavelle (kneeling): Producer Donald DeLine, the Yuan Brothers.

Alejandro Escovedo (left) and David Kitchen play my South-By Bruce Sterling talked about the death of print. for the PBS Interactive Social Media Video Studio.

The Austin Suite on the 3rd floor of my favorite such moments this through all of our heads; we were lunch at Troublemaker Studios. I of the convention center served year occurred at the Alamo Ritz, about to see a movie.” met so many brilliant storytellers as the local town square and just as the lights were dimming David Lowery from all over the world and the everyone stopped in! for the premiere of Scott Teems’ camaraderie amongst the film- Stephanie Agresta - Co-Founder wonderful That Evening Sun. A In t h e w e e k s p r e c e d i n g t h e f e s t , makers was the best unexpected of the TechSet quiet mechincal whirring sound I was super stressed; I practically treat of the week. I realized that filled the air, and then the curtains ground my teeth down to nubs the week was not just about my So m a n y o f m y s t r o n g e s t m e m o - on the screen opened up - and at night while suffering through anxiety-riddled screenings; it was ries from SXSW take place before kept opening, turning that square a series of classic anxiety dreams a great opportunity for me to do and after movies: the preludes, the screen into a beautiful cinemas- about our premiere. On the one of my favorite things in the aftermaths, the in-betweens, all of cope frame. And people in the first official day of the festival, world: see movies! which nonetheless are uniquely audience clapped! I’m pretty sure however, I was saved from my Connecting with so many cinematic in their own right. One the same thought was rushing self-obsession by the filmmaker fellow indie moviemakers, and gary miller gary ni kk i s no D gra ss k ratz ru ss ell pan

That Evening Sun. (from left) Barlow Jacobs, Anthony Reynolds, Director Scott Teems, Dixie Carter, Hal Holbrook and Raymond SXSW Film Festival Director Janet McKinnon. Robert Rodriguez and Henry Selick. Pierson and Director Mike Judge on the red carpet for the Office Space The Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator competition at SXSW Interactive. Guy Kawasaki and Brad 10th Anniversary screening. King emceed the event. Winners included Weardrobe.com, Popcuts.com, TubeMogul.com and Ribbit.com. a s hley dalton j ohn pe ss ina

Richard Linklater at the surprise Attendees learned to “Change Your screening of his new film Me and World in 50 Minutes: Making Break-

Orson Wells. throughs Happen” with Kathy Sierra. k ennedy heather 18 SXSWorld / February 2009

Monday, March 16 ay w e s t j ay mary s ledd mary gary miller gary

James Gee, Henry Jenkins and Warren Spector at the THANK YOU FOR COMING TO “What Can We Learn From Games” panel. Whrrl Fusion party band featuring ’ Illeana Douglas. SMOKIN MUSIC randy ho matty greene matty The Slammin’ Salmon premiere, Monday’s Keynote Conversation (from left) Kevin Heffernan, Erik for SXSW Interactive spotlighted Stolhanske and Steve Lemme. James Powderly.

IMDB Founder Col Needham is inter- my South-By viewed at the SXSW FIlm Conference.

having an opportunity to share smothered in queso! time. We invest in each other and and hence that we should run a our work with each other was a Judi Krant - Director of Made harvest the fruits of our collabora- Brit-focussed panel about using euphoric experience. The film in China tion and interconnection. the web to achieve social aims program was fantastically diverse, Brian Solis - briansolis.com, rather than just “how to monetise and the stories I was told at SXSW SXSW i s a b o u t t h e e m o t i o n a l future-works.com Twitter”. have really stuck with me. The and psychological connec- The next morning, Richard festival is everything it’s hyped to tion between people, and our My h i g h l i g h t w a s u n d o u b t - found us an empty room, be: compelling films from a broad investment in the personal traits edly the now-infamous #kebab nagged me into facilitating it, rage of unique voices, an enthu- that others find irresistible. session. In the pub with the and we somehow persuaded siastic and diverse audience that Relationships count for every- other Schoolofeverything.com Mike Butcher and others to actually show up in great numbers thing, and they’re measured by co-founders and Richard Pope on announce it. By 2 pm, we had a (even at 10 am on Sunday), all the mutually beneficial rewards Saturday night, we decided that room full of people waiting for wrapped into a kick-ass city and that all parties experience over the conference needed stirring up us to do something interesting.

Tuesday, March 17 greg broo ks there s a ba ss OURTNEY DUDLEY C

The Hurt Locker premiere with Director Kathryn Elvis Mitchell moderates the Observe and Report SXSW Film Conference panel Bigelowe, actor Brian Geraghty and writer Mark Boal. with Seth Rogan, Anna Faris, Jody Hill, Michael Peña and Danny McBride. Try Natural American Spirit with $20 in Gift Certi cates SXSW Interactive Panelist Doc Searls discussed “Rebuilding the World With www.TryAmericanSpirit.com or call 1-800-872-6460 ext. 99793 SXSW Film Festival Director Janet Pierson Free Everything.” and Spike Lee at the premiere of his film Offer for two $10 Gift Certificates good toward any Natural American Spirit products of greater value. Offer restricted to U.S. smokers 21 years of age or older. Limit one offer per person per 12 month period. Offer void in MA and where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires 12/31/09. Passing Strange. Paul Lamere of The Echo Nest leads the SXSW Interactive panel: “Help!

k en hit c h o ck My iPod Thinks I’m Emo.” k en hit c h o ck k arina j a c que s

Daisy Whitney moderates the “Collabotition: Can 20 SXSWorld / February 2009 Smoking our “light mellow taste” ltered cigarettes does not reduce or eliminate the health risks of smoking. Natural American Spirit® is a registered trademark of Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. © SFNTC 2 Companies Work With Their Competitors?” panel. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SMOKIN’ MUSIC

Try Natural American Spirit with $20 in Gift Certi cates www.TryAmericanSpirit.com or call 1-800-872-6460 ext. 99793 Offer for two $10 Gift Certificates good toward any Natural American Spirit products of greater value. Offer restricted to U.S. smokers 21 years of age or older. Limit one offer per person per 12 month period. Offer void in MA and where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires 12/31/09.

Smoking our “light mellow taste” ltered cigarettes does not reduce or eliminate the health risks of smoking. Natural American Spirit® is a registered trademark of Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. © SFNTC 2 Tuesday, March 17 gary miller gary mi c hael don k k en hit c h o ck

Spike Lee surprises Richard Linklater (left) and Todd Haynes (right) before their SXSW FIlm panel.

SXSW Interactive Closing Party sponsored by Michael Penn my South-By MediaTemple.

We ended up running “Not reason) the hashtag: #kebab. By Ab o u t 10 y e a r s a g o , a f r i e n d w a s Scorsese’s lost documentary Another Social Media Panel,” an the end of the session, the entire building an addition on her house American Boy. We were both living improvised “panel-slam” event panel had been replaced including in Austin, and she told me that I in Austin at the time, so it was fit- where anyone on the panel could me; the room was packed and should meet the contractor who ting to premiere the film at SXSW. instantly replaced by a member “kebab” had trended fifth on had made movies with Martin Having Steven there to present of the audience. Be interesting, Twitter. There is some video Scorsese. I told her he was lying both films was great, he said “Ya, be knowledgeable, or be replaced footage kicking around in the to her. After months of prodding, it was a great experience. First by someone who has something Twitter stream, and we also ended I agreed to go over there. As soon of all to see American Boy on the better to say! The result was a up on Techcrunch, the Guardian as the contractor turned around big screen and such a very good pleasing array of organized chaos, and even in Wikipedia. Not bad and spoke I recognized him. It copy was fantastic. Then American including user-generated name for a little idea we had in the pub. was Steven Prince, AKA Easy Prince put that time period of labels and a live Twitter-stream Andy Gibson, sociability.org.uk, Andy, the gun salesman from Taxi American film in clear perspec- for the event following (for some schoolofeverything.com Driver and the subject of Martin tive.” It was a great return to home erin han s on s tephanie bla ck

Drew Curtis of Fark.com and Alexis Ohanian of Reddit.com discuss “Building Guy Kawasaki talks to Wired Editor Chris Anderson during Tuesday’s SXSW Interactive Strong Online Communities.” Keynote.

Below left: 45365 wins for Best Documentary Feature. Below right: Stefan Moore wins for Best Music Video for “Jerk It” by Thunderheist. arian brumby f ran c e s ruzada

SXSW Film Festival Awards ceremony. 22 SXSWorld / February 2009 Wednesday, March 18

The Decemberists at Stubbs. Karina j a c que s

Juliette Lewis & the New Romantiques at Emo’s. Maya Azucena at the Mohawk Patio. c i hutton s upan

Boys Noize at Elysium.

Ladyhawke at Stubbs. c hu ck h w Gallows at Emo’s. Cut Off Your Hands at Vice. w taplinger matthe du s tin do w ning laura lea nalle sc ott mel c er

for both of us, and we were both could hope for from a live show. exhilarating feeling for a while. be on the front end of a youth very proud to be part of a festival Their manic energy was engaging. Jason Gross - Perfect Sound music movement. In the past year with so many talented filmmakers. They knew how to work the Forever or so, organizations catering to Tommy Pallotta - director of crowd, not just joining us off the young musicians in Austin have American Prince stage but also tossing out a huge If a s t r a n g e r h a d w a l k e d u p t o synthesized, coinciding with the parachute to cover all of us and me when I was 16 and told me development of several strong Th o u g h SXSW i s m o s t l y a hold up. They played little more that I would be playing SXSW in young Austin bands. 375 people wonderful blur now, the stand- than a half-hour, but it felt like fewer than three years, I would packed Momo’s for the first SXSW out show for me had to be by an eternity. It was also draining to not have believed them. Nor official underage day party, and L.A. art-punks The Mae Shi. watch them, but in a good way. would I have believed that when nothing can describe the euphoria Describing it to a friend later, all I You felt like you just bungee- my best friend and I put together of taking the stage in front of a could think of was that they were jumped off a bridge and wanted a group and began recording in packed SXSW venue. the best example of what you to remember that amazing, an old ranch house, we would Aaron Miller - The El Guapos randy ho T here s a ba ss

Robb Reiner and Steve “Lips” Kudlow premiere M en s ah aylor- their documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil at the SXSW Film Festival. Rye Rye at La Zona Rosa. Glasvegas at Vice. Candi c e T

Wayna on the Mohawk Patio. B rian irzer brent lavelle k ratz ru ss ell pan k arina j a c que s

Deer Tick at Club DeVille. St. Vincent at CentralSXSW Presbyterianorld Church. / FebruaryEcho & The 2009 Bunnymen at Emo’s. 23 Wednesday, March 18

Oxé at The Rio. w c omer matthe

Valiant Thor at Emo’s Annex. Fran c i s Cruzada c hu ck h w

my South-By k ratz ru ss ell pan Phosphorescent at Club DeVille. The Circle Jerks at Emo’s.

Th i s y e a r a t SXSW, m y a t t e n t i o n made the trek to Austin. I even award winning pitmaster to cook panels (especially the enthralling focused on my hometown: ran into a group of students from their barbecue Memphis style. conversation between Google’s Memphis, Tennessee. My city on the Memphis College of Art who Pat Mitchell Worley - Memphis Nicole Wong and Jeffrey Rosen), the Mississippi had a remarkable drove all night to make the Music Music Foundation various Interactive chinwags showing as the Memphis Music Foundation showcase. Memphis (music delegates really should Foundation led a delegation of culture was offered through SXSW i s a l w a y s m y b i n g e - have got there early to check over 30 Memphis bands and special giveaways, an impressive gigging trip of the year. Between out Chris Anderson’s keynote more than two dozen music busi- trade show booth, and unique daytime parties and night-time which dug deep into the eco- nesses to SXSW. The Memphis day parties sponsored by Music showcases, you can see dozens nomics of free), and a hop to showcases had standing-room- Memphis, Ardent Studios, MTV’s and dozens of acts who want to the cinema to see the truly only crowds and made this $5 Cover, Goner Records and rock your world or steal your awesome Sin Nombre at Memphis girl feel right at home the Memphis Music Foundation. heart away. Other highlights this SXSW Film. as numerous Memphis fans also The foundation even brought an year were the Platinum Track Jim Carroll - Irish Times

Thursday, March 19 anne marie c ar s on

Director David Hartstein and Kinky Friedman at the world premiere of Along Came Kinky... Texas

A nne M arie Car s on Jewboy for Governor. erin f oto s Wesley Pentz (Diplo) and director Leandro HBL at the Quincy Jones gives the keynote address at the SXSW Music Conference. Devo panel moderated SXSW Film Festival premiere of Favela on Blast. by Nic Harcourt. Big Boi at the Austin Music Hall. erin f oto s Dallas Austin at the Austin Music Hall. mi k e don w edge ood matthe greg broo ks Little24 Boots at Emo’s SXSW Annex.orld Black/ F ebruaryLips at Cedar 2009Street Courtyard. j e ss k ni s h Wednesday, March 18

His name is Mud... Oxé at The Rio. w c omer matthe

Valiant Thor at Emo’s Annex. Fran c i s Cruzada c hu ck h w

my South-By k ratz ru ss ell pan Phosphorescent at Club DeVille. The Circle Jerks at Emo’s. Photos: Ryan Immegart

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The Webb Sisters at Creekside. ni kk i s nodgra ss ri ck k ern w ley Matt and Kim at Opal Divine’s. danielle da

Blitzen Trapper at Radio Room Patio. s arah lim mi k e don

Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli + Hi-Tek) mymy South-By South-By Passion Pit at Emo’s. at the Scoot Inn.

Th i s y e a r ’s SXSW b r o u g h t knows where, who were laughing experience to be in a place where a slightly younger counterpart, Oxé to the USA for the first while tripping over their feet in people from all over the world to see gents who were still 30, time. As soon we got onto the attempts to follow along. The come to watch and play music! 40 and even 50 years on, caring airplane in Sao Paulo, all of the next day, instead of spending Oxé - Sao Paulo, Brazil deeply about the independent visa, petition, equipment and the day parking ourselves on our scene, the ethic and most money nightmares that plagued friend’s couch, we got dressed SWSW w a s a b l a s t t h i s y e a r . importantly, the music. This us were quickly forgotten. Our and painted again and took the a highlight was appearing on a filled me with warm feelings Brazilian Night showcase was rhythms of maracatu, samba, and panel (History of British Indies) and to hear Geoff Travis talk amazing as the semi-crowded frevo to 6th Street. Armed with with Seymour Stein, Peter Jenner about music is something we event turned into huge dance our Brazilian drums, we spent and Geoff Travis. It was a great all should experience as often floor. The Brazilians at the show hours on the streets dancing and privilege to be part of such as possible. cracked out all the traditional singing with the huge crowds an esteemed group, but it was Simon Raymonde, Managing dances next to people from who that gathered to watch. What an especially refreshing for me, as Director - Bella Union

Elvis Perkins in Dearland at Auditorium Shores. Peter Murphy at Elysium. Primal Scream at Cedar Street Courtyard. there s a ba ss w edge ood matthe

Tori Amos at

La Zona Rosa. j ohn pe s ina Bomba Estereo at Speakeasy. Chu ck H W laura lea nalle

erin f oto s Arkells at Cedar Street Courtyard. w edge ood matthe

BEAST at Maggie Mae’s.

Ben Harper

k a grant tami at Stubbs. 26 SXSWorld / February 2009Grizzly Bear at Central Presbyterian Church. greene matty laura lea nalle Andrew Bird at Stubbs.

Friday, March 20

DEVO at the Austin Music Hall. k arina j a c que s c hu ck h w erin f oto s

my South-By Metallica at Stubbs. Silversun Pickups at Stubbs.

Go i n g t o SXSW, I g o t t o LAX We t r a v e l l e d t o SXSW w i t h and Ireland on the same stage, so We k n o w t h a t i t ’s h a r d t o b e and waited patiently in the support from Ministério da for us it was a great experience to recognized in the middle of the line for security. Finally when I Cultura (Brazilian Government) play this gig and watch the shows multitude of acts and events that got to the gate and sat down, I and had two official showcases of these other bands, who gave us fill the program of SXSW, espe- realized that I was sitting right at The Rio for Brazilian Night, positive feedback about our work. cially if you come from an exotic next to Ben Harper’s band. We and at Lamberts with bands from The most amazing thing about place like Catalonia. Therefore, had just finished the sessions around the world. There were so SXSW is the cultural diversity this time we decided to bring a for his new record. The day many options of shows all around and the interest of the public in great display that explained that after SXSW, Ben was back Austin, and we were very glad that meeting new artists, no matter Catalonia is neither a band nor in the studio again, this time there were lots of people to see us, how big they are like Devo, Ben music label, but a country with with Ringo Starr. Great way to especially at Lambert’s. It is not Harper or a new independent its own language and culture. Of bookend the best SXSW ever! everyday you have bands from band like Canja Rave. course, the thing changes when Jeff Greenberg - Village Studios Brazil, Japan, UK, USA, Spain Canja Rave - Porto Alegre, Brazil we explain that we are from ay w e s t j ay c i hutton s upan J. denni s . thoma

New York Dolls at Smokin’ Music. Tinted Windows at Pangea. Lord T and Eloise at Prague. c aren hill BROO KS GI S T PETE PERREAULT w taplinger matthe

28 SXSWorld / February 2009 Niña Dioz at Fuze. King Khan & the Shrines at Emo’s Main Room. Honey Sac at Elysium. Bedouin Soundclash at Cedar Street Courtyard. aff sxsw:Layout 1 2/26/09 5:41 PM Page 1

Lord T and Eloise at Prague. Friday, March 2017 Saturday, March 21 MILLER GARY brian birzer Bobby Bare Jr. at mi c hael don k Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room.

Little Steven at the Austin Convention Center. Dinosaur Jr. at Cedar Street Courtyard.

Perry Farrell at Pangea. c hri s led f ord c aren hill

Explosions in the Sky at Auditorium Shores. K ARINA J A C QUE S The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Emo’s Jr. ri ck k ern j ohn c arri o PJ Harvey and John

my South-By j ohn c arri o Parish at Stubbs. Beach House at Cedar Street Courtyard. Doctor Krapula at Dirty Dog.

Barcelona; this is a magic word, Yo r k s h i r e i s t h e l a r g e s t Puddings. Aside from our song as a statement and ques- indeed! It was even more heart- c o u n t y in the U.K, and it has Yorkshire gig it was good to chat tion, so at SXSW, I decided

ening to see how many people long been an ambition to see with Akon, Sheffield legend to flip the script and call for a Ca ss ie Wright remembered us from last year a Yorkshire gig at the British Jarvis Cocker, be blown a kiss at peace march where everyone all and looked for the new editions Music Embassy. Seen so many by Juliette Lewis at her gig and wore green camouflage, and we of our compilations of Catalan good bands there over the last to see healthy electro and hip- gave out a few hundred “Love music. Of course, it was even few years, so for this year, much hop influences this year. Fatigue” camouflage shirts. I Solange and the Pat Fulgoni - Timeless Music Hadley Street Dreams more satisfying to experience the of the SXSW experience was did not get a peace march on at Buffalo Billiards. warm response to some of the working towards this idea. And Project 6th Street but maybe next year; Catalan bands playing at SXSW glad to report the event was a it takes time and patience to this year. good one, at times it was even In Ba r b a d o s , i t i s i l l e g a l t o change the world. Xavier Cester, Catalan! “one in - one out.” People w e a r camouflage clothing. I David Kirton - Bridgetown, Music ICIC even loved the mini Yorkshire wrote my “Green Camouflage” Barbados The SXSW Comedy Showcase. From left: Janeane Garofalo, Josh Fadem, SXSW comedy programmer Charlie Sotelo, Marc Maron, Todd Barry, Matt Braunger, Eugene Mirman, Scott Aukerman, Michelle Biloon, Natasha Saturday, March 21 Leggero, Andy Kindler, Chris Fairbanks and Matt Ruby. j ohn c arri o Ken hit c h o ck Stephanie B la ck s arah lim Doug Sahm’s Mendocino panel. From left: Augie Meyers, Harvey Kagan, Jonathan Demme at the SXSW Film Margaret Moser, Bill Bentley, Jan Reid and Shawn Sahm. Justin Townes Earle Festival premiere of the Neil Young The Duke Spirit at Antones. Bun B at the Austin Music Hall. The Strange Boys j e ss muniz anne marie c ar s on at Red Eyed Fly. ni kk i s nodgra ss Trunk Show. Erykah Badu and the Cannabinoids Stereo Pony at at Beauty Bar Elysium. at Auditorium Shores. Asher Roth at Vice. Kissy Sell Backyard. Out at La Zona Rosa. B.o.B. at the Mistah Fab Austin Music at the Hall. Austin Music Hall. A nne M arie Car s on

The SXSW Film Festival premiere of 500 Days of Summer. From s on at left: Matthew Gray Gubler, writer Scott Neustadter, writer

Michael Webber, director Marc Webber and Joseph Gordon- han s w j ohn c arri o A nne M arie Car s on

s arah lim j o s e gonzalez Levitt. Front: Zooey Deschanel.

30 SXSWorld / February 2009 c hri s led f ord Saturday,Saturday, MarchMarch 2117

Bobby Bare Jr. at Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room.

Perry Farrell at Pangea. c hri s led f ord

Explosions in the Sky at Auditorium Shores. ri ck k ern j ohn c arri o PJ Harvey and John

j ohn c arri o Parish at Stubbs. Ca ss ie Wright

Solange and the Hadley Street Dreams at Buffalo Billiards.

The SXSW Comedy Showcase. From left: Janeane Garofalo, Josh Fadem, SXSW comedy programmer Charlie Sotelo, Marc Maron, Todd Barry, Matt Braunger, Eugene Mirman, Scott Aukerman, Michelle Biloon, Natasha Leggero, Andy Kindler, Chris Fairbanks and Matt Ruby. j ohn c arri o Ken hit c h o ck Stephanie B la ck

Doug Sahm’s Mendocino panel. From left: Augie Meyers, Harvey Kagan, Margaret Moser, Bill Bentley, Jan Reid and Shawn Sahm.

The Strange Boys Erykah Badu and the Cannabinoids Stereo Pony at at Beauty Bar at Auditorium Shores. Elysium. Backyard.

B.o.B. at the Mistah Fab Austin Music at the Hall. Austin Music Hall. A nne M arie Car s on s on at han s w j ohn c arri o A nne M arie Car s on SXSWorld / February 2009 31 Spotlight On Print Publishing’s Uncertain Future at SXSW Interactive

By Thomas Purves

f you are reading this, then print media must not be dead yet, but it is hard not to notice that its heartbeat is getting slower and slower. The global econo-clipse I has hastened the demise of the already shaky founda- tions of many an old-media business model, which often operated on thin margins to begin with. You might think it strange for a conference packed with web geeks, but angst for the fate of old media was a common thread through many of the sessions at this year’s SXSW Interactive Festival. On Monday, March 16, Bruce Sterling’s presentation played out like a spot-on Irish wake for books and fiction, complete with drinking and chips on stage. “Look. These are what we used to call books,” said Sterling, pulling out a stack of copies of his most recent novel, The Caryatids. “I know that you’re sort of unused to seeing them. Let me explain to you how these devices work because I’m not sure a Web 2.0 crowd follows the structure anymore.” At Penguin’s near-disastrous “New Think for Old Publishers” panel, the packed house audience turned surly when it became clear there wasn’t any “new think” to offer. The publishers had come to SXSW to ask the geeks for advice. Aghast attendees queued at the microphones to offer a variety of good suggestions, but with a tone of “Did you not know the internet was coming? What the hell have you been doing for the last 10 years?” What is crazy is how much the geeks seem to lament the plight of publishers, even as they are the very ones killing them. It’s like: “Oh woe to old media! Why are you dying? I’m so angry with you for not having more foresight. Hey guys, who wants to kill an hour t n e y D udl watching a ripped torrent of Helvetica on my 13-inch MacBook?” But at SXSW, there also emerged some hope for authors. According to Sterling, and echoed by Chris Anderson and Guy Kawasaki’s keynote conversation on Tuesday, March 17, it is about being (to borrow from Hugh McLeod) a personal micro-brand, Bruce Sterling not about being someone tied to just the medium of “the book.” Cour PH O T C R E D IT: This personal brand model is easier for authors than publishers Of course, “writing and charisma” is a whole other bag of tricks than to comprehend. The model also works better for nonfiction writers or just being “a writer.” In the worst case, this transition might echo the for authors who are talented speakers or bloggers or consultants or pun- shift from silent film to talkies when talkies wiped out the stars who dits or charismatic enough to lend recognition/respect/authorial-aura to couldn’t make the switch. You might also worry about how good books will be if their primary “What is crazy is how much the authorial motive is self-promotion. What will happen to real literary writers appreciated by a more rarified audience? What about those tal- geeks seem to lament the plight ented writers who refuse to go out in public to promote themselves? We, as a society, could just fund some of these dead media outlets of publishers, even as they are the directly. Thank goodness for charity, government grants and public broadcasting. The implication here, for literature at least, and maybe very ones killing them.” even for journalism, is that it we rethink it as “high art.” Public dollars have long helped sustain cherished traditional old media, even if appre- other projects that the likes of Sterling, Malcolm Gladwell or Richard ciated by few or otherwise totally uneconomical in a market economy. Florida might. Think of ballet, national poet laureates or the domestic car industry. If But how do you align the interests of the publisher with these other we can treat GM like a nationally-protected art form, then surely print revenue steams? What would be needed is a new 360-degree publishing media deserves equal treatment. n model where the “publisher” is able to represent the author across all Thomas Purves is a technologist and innovation consultant based in Toronto, aspects of his or her career. Canada.

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SXSWorld / May 2009 33 Diversity Characterized SXSW 2009 Film Program

By Jim Kolmar

rom those first tentative steps into the Austin Convention Center, through picking up that precious badge to flipping down the seat at the first F screening, anticipation runs high from the start at SXSW Film. After poring over the program, it was hard to ignore the sheer diversity of films on offer as Iron Maiden butted heads with “The Angriest Man in the World.” While it was clear that the new Seth Rogen movie would generate plenty of attention, still the star-studded red carpet reception and packed auditorium that greeted Jody Hill’s Observe and Report threw everyone for a loop. The film itself surprised a lot of people with an unexpectedly twisted strain of dark humor that kept people talking long after the lights came up. Plowing a much quieter furrow, Joe Swanberg’s Alexander the Last, a characteristically nuanced examination of a young mar- riage, drew a lot of attention for premiering simultaneously at the festival and as a video-on-demand world premiere via IFC Festival Direct. Risky? Maybe, but it was still as astute and innovative a marketing move as the savvy SXSW audience expects. Sam Raimi’s return to his horror roots, Drag Me to Hell, was Alexander the Last anything but risky: the work-in-progress screening was always sure to get butts in seats, as evidenced by the packed Paramount vast populace of Shanghai, and the judges saw fit to award this quirky Theater. Despite the unfinished state of the film, Raimi delivered the comedy a best narrative prize. goods with an audacious, visually dazzling hell ride. SXSW veteran Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) returned this year with No less audacious, though considerably less hellish, 45365 seemed Objectified. Taking the unlikely subject of industrial design as its cue, to come from nowhere, and the Ross brothers’ mesmerizing elegy to Objectified is one of those rare documentaries that imbues the world of small town America left audiences reeling, earning a coveted jury prize the seemingly banal with moments of weird glory, somehow turning for best documentary. the quest for the perfect vegetable peeler, for example, into something Pursuing an altogether different trajectory, the hero of Judi Krant’s bordering on epic. Made in China leaves his small Texas town to follow his dream of This being SXSW, it didn’t seem too big a leap from Objectified’s bringing his invention, a “humorous domestic hygiene product,” to the utterly contemporary examination of design in society, to Fritz Lang’s ambitious vision of the future in 1927’s Metropolis. The classic film screened with a unique twist: a live score by Austin’s Golden Hornet Project, elevating the silent masterpiece to dizzy new heights. Iron Maiden: Flight 666 made a joyful noise of its own among the many music films screened at SXSW, harkening back to the glory days of hair metal. This is a classic rock doc through and through, and it’s hard not to smile at the band’s bloody-minded tenacity in sticking to the winning formula that made its name. The same couldn’t be said for the unpredictable Jack Rebney, “Angriest Man in the World” and star of Winnebago Man. With buzz spreading like the viral video that inspired it, Ben Steinbauer’s documentary quickly rose to the forefront of the must-see list, with RVs and “angry man” groupies turning heads like Rebney turns a ribald phrase. But perhaps the most astonishing thing about Winnebago Man is the surprising way that it manages to turn a moment of fleeting celebrity into something considerably more enduring and meaningful. Like so many of the diverse films at SXSW, it reminds us of the simple imperative to leave your preconceptions in the lobby and Iron Maiden: Flight 666 just revel in the thrill of watching the gloriously unexpected unfold in the dark of the theater. n

34 SXSWorld / MAy 2009 Videographers Embrace a Tapeless Future

By Ryan Mihm

When my company initially chose to go “tapeless,” I was a little skep- With the tapeless tical. Immediately, questions about storage and media backup came approach and its faster up. I didn’t know how you were supposed to get the footage from the turnaround time, the memory card, or where you would store the media. What would we do number of bands that if our computers or hard drives crashed? Yet, the idea of shooting in the can be filmed in one highest grade of HD was worth sacrificing a back catalog of tapes, and single SXSW day can

no longer having to buy boxes upon boxes of tape stock after the initial be multiplied so that it : SHI N I G TECH NOLO GIES purchase of the cards seemed completely worth it. is almost like shooting a TES Y After my first tapeless shoot, my skepticism dissolved almost instantly. live broadcast where a feed

When filming bigger live music shows, you generally only get to shoot is going directly to your C OUR the first three songs, so a 32 GB card with two hours of storage had computer. Our production plenty of space for us to work with. With this new technology, our has doubled both in amount content went from taking weeks to get out to the public to days, and and in quality. Videotape could sometimes, even hours. Hours spent in front of computers logging and never perform as fast, clear, well- capturing the footage dissolved into a mere 30 minutes of exporting and defined and as easy as shooting importing our footage into our editing software. As a camera operator directly to memory cards. and editor, saving time doing those two previously time-consuming Tapeless technology may tasks helps enormously. never totally replace film or The CitiDISK HD tapeless recording device With the ability to arrive at a location and set up a place to dump the videotape, but as HD video produced by Shining Technologies and footage, it felt like we had the equivalent of thousands of tapes at our becomes more of the norm, made available for use by SXSW’s video disposal without ever having to unwrap a single one of them. Also, the it will definitely become crew during SXSW 2009. process of cleaning the cards of older footage in order to shoot some- more widely used. n thing new is so quick that you almost feel as though you should be asking yourself,sxsw_world_ad.pdf “Is that it?” 4 3/6/09 1:36 PM Ryan Mihm is Production Manager for Roxwel.com’s Austin, Texas office.

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SXSWorld / May 2009 35 Can U.K. Music Industry’s New Green Strategies Be Adopted Globally?

By Alison Tickell

rom my perspective, the most important events at SXSW were those that were themed around sustainability in the con- F text of climate change. Despite a monstrous schedule clash with Jarvis Cocker’s talk, the “Green Track #3: British Innovations” panel went ahead with a team of passionate panelists chaired by Matt Booth, Director of the Bristol Music Foundation. It took as a starting point the work of Julie’s Bicycle, a U.K. based company that is trying to find some solutions to this most intractable problem. Julie’s Bicycle was set up in 2006 by the music industry to find some solutions to climate change that would be industry focused. In 2008, the company published what has become a pivotal report, First Step: UK Music Industry Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2007, a study delivered by Oxford University that scoped the U.K. footprint and identified key priority areas. Of a total (and very con- servative but evidence-based) footprint of half a million D F O X D AVI PH O T C R E D IT: Matt Booth, moderator, and Karen Emanuel, Managing Director of Key Production took part tons of CO2e, we found that audience travel to events Green Track#3 Panel accounts for a staggering 43% of the industry’s emis- in the “Green Track #3: British Innovations” panel. sions, that venues account for a further 23% and that But this is just one model from one country. What has been inter- CD jewel cases alone represent 43% of the total carbon generated by esting is that, since President Barack Obama’s new commitment to the CDs (which is 26% of the total). So we created a series of smaller group- environment, there has been a lot of interest from the United States ings, all led by senior industry players. The first stage of each project is in this work, and SXSW panelists and the ensuing discussion raised a now complete: number of issues. Also, some of the best practices come from festivals • Venues, led by Paul Latham (President of Live Nation UK), have in other parts of Europe, where events such as Roskilde, Oya and many committed to a significant reduction, and Julie’s Bicycle has devel- others have embedded sustainability into their planning for years. oped a set of energy management tools to embed into the live music Crucially during the panel, there was a great deal of best practice and office estate. advice discussed including biodiesels, local sourcing of foods, mate- rials and labor, digital delivery of product and what SXSW itself • A first study looking at attitudes of festival audiences has been com- can do. None of these is easy. For example, digital delivery carries pleted and is due for publication as the start of a travel strategy (Early hidden problems in that when making an assessment of a download, May 2009). it is important to factor in listening devices, behavior around use and • Perhaps the most startling result is for CDs. We convened a research number of downloads. team, chaired by Tony Wadsworth, (BPI Chairman) which identi- Although the U.K. music industry’s efforts are not unique, it is fied that up to 95% of emissions could be reduced by switching uncharacteristic in that it is sponsoring an organization to focus on sci- from a plastic jewel case to a card wallet. Based on this finding, the entific expertise on behalf of us all. And it is great to know that there U.K. major labels have agreed to a 10% reduction in their pack- is enough interest in the U.S. to perhaps do something industry led as aging in 2009. well. In the words of Tony Wadsworth: “Carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s atmosphere are higher than at any time during the last 750,000 years. “Carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s We are experiencing unprecedented climatic change which will accel-

erate before it slows down as we pump more CO2 into our atmosphere atmosphere are higher than at any than ever before. Our energy infrastructure, based on 200 years of fossil fuel sourcing, has to change rapidly and radically if we are to prevent time during the last 750,000 years” the globe from warming beyond tolerable levels. Climate change is undoubtedly the most urgent and complex problem of our age, and we In addition to these targeted steps, Julie’s Bicycle has developed a are compelled to do whatever we can to help solve it.” n set of standards with and for the U.K. music industry, known as the Industry Green marks. Alison Tickell is Director of the London, England-based Julie’s Bicycle.

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SXSWorld / May 2009 37 Platinum Access Helps SXSW Attendees Build Businesses and Expand Horizons

By Patrick Nichols

latinum is more than just a precious metal highly valued in Networking during the Interactive Festival and SXSW Film Conference the open market. At SXSW, it can be the key to unlocking even helped Wilkins boost attendance at his two official SXSW Music the fully integrated conference experience. Platinum events: the T(ea) for Tennessee day party and Next Big Nashville show- P badge holders get VIP treatment throughout the 10-day case. Day party RSVPs soared from around 250 to more than 1500. festival, with perks including entry to all SXSW Interactive, Film and Newcomers such as Russ Wallace also believe a Platinum badge yields Music events, invitations a great return on investment. Wallace attended his first SXSW this year to some of the hottest Jorge Drexler to help launch Trendero, a new social media site focusing on music, film parties and lounges, and fashion. “Since Trendero is intended to source cutting-edge content and exclusive access to all around the world, SXSW seemed like the perfect place to get a start the new Platinum Track on bands, movies and more for our database,” he said. panel program. With fashions and styles evolving in the transition from the Interactive Like its namesake, the and Film events to Music, Wallace found downtown Austin to be a Platinum badge does not fascinating hipster hive: “Having been at the full festival, I was able to come cheaply, but with gather a huge breadth of source data for the site.” the continued conver- Wallace also appreciated how the Platinum badge ensured little to no gence of the interactive, downtime: “It was great to be able to walk right into any of the SXSW film and music indus- events, either in the convention center or in the surrounding event loca- tries, it can be ideal for tions. I did my best to go to just about every happy hour, lecture and those who want to net- concert that I could, and there’s no way I could have hit so many dif- work outside their usual ferent venues if I hadn’t had the access that the badge offered.” circles and simply enjoy The inaugural Platinum Track proved to be the highlight of Wallace’s more of SXSW. first SXSW: “It was fantastic, definitely my favorite part of the week.” Veteran attendee Jason Moon Wilkins with the Next Big Nashville The one-day program brought together top film, interactive and music festival relies upon the Platinum badge to build his business: “It’s nice to experts to explore hot topics including social marketing, freedom of know that, because of the Platinum badge, I stand a good chance to see speech and citizen democracy — and to enjoy an exclusive performance all the things I need to see while at SXSW. The conference is a business by musician M. Ward. Admission was limited exclusively to Platinum trip for me, and the Platinum badge ensures I get the most amount of badge holders. business done.” Platinum Track Nicole Wong Wilkins began attending SXSW as a musician and music journalist. attendees used media After completing his 13th SXSW this spring, he still enjoys the SXSW platforms such as Twitter to share their “It’s nice to know that, because of excitement via real-time updates. Emilie Kopp tweeted, “I simply can’t D F O X PH O T C R E D ITS: AVI the Platinum badge, I stand a good believe the quality of speakers during the chance to see all the things I need to Platinum Track today.” Google deputy see while at SXSW. The conference counsel Nicole Wong, Oscar-winning songwriter Jorge Drexler and Bob Boilen, the host of is a business trip for me, and the National Public Radio’s “All Songs Considered” program, were among the diverse array of panelists. Like Kopp, attendee Deirdre Walsh was Platinum badge ensures I get the similarly impressed: “The Platinum Track was the best thing I’ve attended at SXSW in years!” most amount of business done.” Publicist Tracy Mann helped organize the Platinum Track and knows it will be difficult to top the event’s successful debut, but she Music Conference and Festival but now finds SXSW Interactive Festival is already planning its return next year: “I’d be incredibly pleased if events a stronger draw: “Even though I’m not really a tech person, I we can maintain the very high level of speakers and presenters we get the most useful knowledge of the entire week during Interactive. had in 2009 and continue to provide a ‘peak experience’ to SXSW The larger issues addressed at the conference, the way the panels are attendees.” n presented and the innovative energy surrounding the whole event are all very educational and inspiring.” Platinum badges for SXSW 2010 will go on sale in early August.

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21705-SXSW ad (lightbulb).indd 1 12/18/08 5:10:37 PM Hawaiian Artists Embrace Traditions But Not Stereotypes

By Andy Smith

eing so geographically isolated, Hawaii has developed a unique musical environment. However, because of this isolation, the music produced in Hawaii has historically B stayed in Hawaii, leaving the rest of the world with the flawed perception that “Hawaiian music” starts and stops with “My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii.” In reality, by embracing the contributions of its visitors and incorpo- rating them with the islands’ own indigenous musical styles, the people of Hawaii have developed a rich musical culture that reflects but does not imitate the sounds that travel to the islands from afar. This eclecticism was on display at SXSW 2009, as the first official showcase of Hawaiian artists was held along with numerous other events, which included some two dozen Hawaii-based performers. The paniolo (cowboy) musical tradition, which developed onthe cattle ranches of the Big Island and Maui during the 19th century, used guitars brought by Mexican vaqueros as well as ukuleles, which were based on similar instruments brought by Portuguese migrants. Just prior to the turn of the 20th century, Hawaiians were credited with developing the first slides for guitar playing, which led to the develop- Les l ie Tru g i o PH O T C R E D IT: John Cruz performs on the SESAC Day Stage in the Trade Show. ment of steel strings and eventually the lap steel guitars, both of which were adopted into the developing blues and country music styles after who never venture outside of Waikiki’s small confines often mistakenly these inventions were brought back to the U.S. mainland. believe that Hawaiian music remains stuck somewhere in the nether regions of ‘60s cocktail lounge, ‘70s disco and ‘80s Top 40. “We like to think that we’ve In reality, there is a rich and fertile local scene. Warren Wyatt, head of Seattle, Washington-based WorldSound, who promotes concerts in helped to raise awareness that Hawaii and brings top Hawaiian artists to the mainland and Japan, was instrumental in organizing the Hawaiian presence at SXSW. He makes there is good music in Hawaii sure to point out the distinction between “Hawaiian music” and “music from Hawaii.” that falls outside of what people The former refers to more traditional styles and instrumentation (and often includes Hawaiian-language songs), while the latter tends to are traditionally used to hearing” refer to anything from derivative versions of imported styles such as the popular island reggae and R&B-influenced pop to the acoustic singer- The paniolo tradition also helped spawn two elements that have con- songwriter stylings of Jack Johnson and Grammy Award winner (and tinued in Hawaiian music to the present day. One is falsetto singing or SXSW 2009 performer) John Cruz, as well as to bands like Pimpbot, leo ki`eki`e, and the other is slack key guitar, which refers to the open (also part of the Hawaiian SXSW delegation this year) which plays a tunings that guitar players use along with deft finger-picking to create hybrid style of ska, punk and rock. the flowing guitar sound demonstrated by such Hawaiian legends as “We like to think that we’ve helped to raise awareness that there is the late Gabby Pahinui, Keola Beamer, Ledward Ka’apana and Pahinui’s good music in Hawaii that falls outside of what people are traditionally sons, Cyril, Martin and Bla. Since the mid-‘80s, pianist George Winston used to hearing,” explains Pimpbot guitarist, Tom Coleman. has used his Dancing Cat label to promote slack key players, helping to Cruz, who spent the ‘80s and early ‘90s on the mainland before spread the style outside of Hawaii. returning to Oahu and embarking on his successful songwriting career, The ukulele, mistakenly viewed as a novelty instrument, has often is seeing what he calls “a renaissance” for local artists playing original served as the foundation for many Hawaiian artists and has been taken music: “It’s tough to grow up in Hawaii playing original music, and the to new heights as a lead instrument, similar to a mandolin. It can hardest thing for people in Hawaii to do is find their own voice. But be heard as the lone accompaniment for the falsetto sung medley of now there’s clubs and coffee houses and open mikes; even spoken word “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Over the Rainbow” by the late Israel events are packed.” “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole, Hawaii’s first platinum-selling recording artist. And despite what he describes as the efforts of the tourist bureau to After Hawaii became both a U.S. state (2009 marks the 50th anniver- maintain the old stereotypes, Cruz even sees headway being made into sary of its statehood) and a major tourist destination, the hotel showrooms Oahu’s tourist domain: “Even places in Waikiki are hiring people who of Waikiki became the setting for the lounge band styles encapsulated by play original music. They are figuring out that people don’t want to hear the song “Tiny Bubbles” and its singer, Don Ho. Even today, tourists performers sing half-hearted versions of the same old songs.” n

40 SXSWorld / MAy 2009

Colombia’s Influential Sounds Reflect a Legacy of Experimentation

By Lissette Corsa

allenato, cumbia and champeta are just some of the rhythms incubated in Colombia that have influenced music beyond the South American country’s borders. V Likewise rock, hip-hop and electronic dance music have taken root and cross-pollinated with Colombia’s native sounds to create a vibrant, contemporary music scene like no other. This year, SXSW featured a showcase devoted entirely to Colombian acts Eliminate Video Re-Capture with that displayed that wild, mutated diversity. TM The “Sounds of Colombia” lineup encompassed a vast palette of musical styles ranging from the emo-thrash sounds of Ratón Pérez Shining’s Award-Winning CitiDISK DV/HDV/HD to Latin hip-hop group Choc Quib Town and the electro-cumbia stylings of Bomba Estereo. Aside from their eclecticism, what really characterizes the most noteworthy acts is a nimble ability to take Palm-Sized Recorders traditional sounds, especially those that hail from the tropical coast, and meld them with contemporary, urban music from just about any source. One of those bands is Monareta. The Bogotá DJ duo, Andres Martinez and Camilo Sanabria, are former bicycle motocross riders, (who named their band after a popular BMX two-wheeler). They split their time between their native metropolis and Brooklyn. The dual-city arrangement keeps Monareta at the top of its game and plugged into divergent sonic streams. In describing the bands live performances and its latest CD, Picotero (Nacional Records), which was inspired by coastal Colombia’s roving street DJs who go by the same name, Martinez likes to use the word “intuitive”. “Let’s just say that there was never a moment in which we said we were going to do cumbia with electronica, or cumbia with funk, or funk with reggae,” Martinez said. “We intuitively arrived at those genres.” Like the picotero DJ who indiscriminately blasts an amalgama- Choc Quib Town IT: Jo h n P esi a PH O T C R E D IT: tion of different kinds of music from propped up speakerboxes on itinerant party pick-up trucks, the motor behind Monareta’s creative U.S. tour featuring some of the party’s best DJs pumping out cumbia- philosophy is a hodgepodge of unlimited musical combinations. “The tronica for an audience of first-world hipsters a la M.I.A. picotero plays everything,” Martinez explained. “From reggae to cham- Simultaneously, indie kids were being exposed to a strange brew of peta to rock.” Sanabria added that on their album the duo wanted to cumbia on the reissue comp Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From build on the concept of a peripatetic discotheque disseminating music Peru. In the 1960s, Amazonian bands such as Los Mirlos swapped the from around the globe. lead accordion for ayahuasca-friendly swamp guitars and effects pedals, While Colombia’s musical landscape has undoubtedly taken shape renaming the sound “chicha.” in direct relation to influential global trends, there is much to be said No tale of cumbia’s long and sordid musical evolution is complete about the sway that one of the county’s own homemade concoctions has without mention of Mexico, its biggest and perhaps most fervent over the rest of the world. For decades, cumbia has mixed with other market. There cumbia’s unhurried 4/4 groove can translate into every- genres, quietly becoming one of the Latin America’s most popular and thing from the sampled beats of cumbia sonidera to the down-pitched, ineluctable styles. sluggish psychedelia of cumbias rebajadas to Celso Piña’s dubby anthem The explosion of cumbia in the 21st century is all the more instan- “Sobre el Río,” which was included on the soundtrack of the 2006 film, Provider of taneous thanks to the speed at which mixtapes travel and alliances are Babel. sealed over the Internet. Take the phenomena of the arty Zizek urban No matter how cumbia has mutuated as it has travelled around Tapeless Recording beats parties that first caught on in the posh Buenos Aires neighborhood the Western Hemisphere, it has come a long way from its Cartagena, of Palermo, worlds away from the sweaty, raunchy cumbia villera con- Colombia origins, where legend has it that Colombian natives and certs in the country’s slums and smaller towns, where the cumbia, which colonial-era African slaves first planted the seed of cumbia when they Technology migrated to Argentina via Panama, is decidedly raw and unfiltered. The found accordions washed onshore from a German shipwreck. It is this fact that different strains of the music have found such divergent niches colorful and eclectic origin that helps capture the diversity and spirit demonstrates the genre’s ubiquitous nature and its capacity to metamor- of experimentation that has made Colombia such a hotbed of musical phose and assimilate. Zizek became so popular that it even launched a innovation. n www.shining.com

42 SXSWorld / MAy 2009 Eliminate Video Re-Capture with Shining’s Award-Winning CitiDISKTM DV/HDV/HD Palm-Sized Recorders

Provider of Tapeless Recording Technology www.shining.com Online Updates are No Substitute for the Real SXSW Experience

By Jason Cohen

ince 1990, I have worked for SXSW, covered the event for various and sundry dead-tree publications and S served on my share of panels. In 2005, my wife and I were even married on the Monday prior to the music festival, which was convenient for my out-of-town friends, incon- venient for my SXSW staff friends and awesome for the wedding party music line-up. But having undergone some minor knee surgery in February, I knew that I would be missing SXSW this year for just the third time in 19 years. Then the Facebook updates started. I have approximately 450 “friends,” which apparently seems huge to people outside of the pop culture universe but is a speck compared to publicists or managers or indie label owners, for whom triple digits is pretty normal. So I figured that a Metallica up-close and personal at Stubb’s, Friday, March 20. clear majority of everyone I knew on Facebook, G R EG B ROO KS PH O T C R E D IT: Austinites and journalists and people in the back enthusiastically. For me that had a certain you-are-there imme- music biz, just might manage to bring SXSW to me. diacy, but overall, the volume of updates did not meet my expectations, The first hint came from Chicago, where multiple friends were seeing probably for the same reason so many of them were about Devo and Red Red Meat (playing a warm-up show before they left for Texas). Echo and the Bunnymen (and Peter Murphy and the Blue Aeroplanes Next came an old employer from my collegiate retail promotion days, and Tinted Windows): my friends and I are mostly over 35. Geezers! If en route to Austin at 30,000 feet (and flaunting federal regulations I wanted two-thumb play-by-play, I needed friends who weren’t alive with her Blackberry to say so). Then a cell phone pic of Bruno Wizard when Ocean Rain came out. from the Homosexuals, just after his plane touched down at Austin- And I probably needed Twitter. That’s where Jenni Sperandeo, the Bergstrom International Airport. Of course, there were also multiple champion of my SXSW updates, was. Her frequent, energetic tweets— threads discussing barbecue, and this one from a longtime pal: “I am in “YOU BETTER STAY OUTTA MY WAY I HAD A BAD DAY. The awe of just how good a bowl of tortilla soup can be. Viva Guero’s!” DICKS Hate The Police (so do we)”—were also going to her Facebook. Once the conference got into full swing, I was treated to an almost- Sperendeo, the director of promotion for Razor and Tie, began tweeting instant YouTube clip of Howe Gelb, a photo of novelist/Austin rocker specifically for SXSW and partially for business reasons since the conference appeals to fans as much as industry. It was a way to for her to keep everybody informed about the likes of Dead Confederate (which “That is why I also couldn’t really blame also has a Twitter of its own). “Dead Vpmfederate just laid waste to south my friends for not updating Facebook Austin with cover of S Youths Theresas Soundworld. Paint peels!!!” (Yes, typos are unavoidable.) more than one or two times per night; “Since I have an audience of friends who’ve either been to SXSW in the past or know what it is or wished they were there, I got a lot of better they should just watch the band, great feedback,” Sperandeo says. Unlike the average Twittersnapper, she mostly stayed away from posting during the actual sets, something that since loud, live music in the company I’m sure audience members and the performing bands both appreciated (I still remember being at the Iron Cactus in 2001 when the Strokes’ of other people is something you can’t Julian Casablancas snapped “Don’t look at your watch!” at a front-row fan). That is why I also couldn’t really blame my friends for not updating replicate online.” Facebook more than one or two times per night; better they should just watch the band, since loud, live music in the company of other people Jesse Sublett with members of Blondie and the New York Dolls, and a is something you can’t replicate online. Sandra Bullock/Jesse James sighting at the Metallica show. Along, I guess, with Texas food. Which is why my favorite Facebook Towards the end of the weekend, I got a message from an editor update of the week came from my wife: “I am a little sad to miss SXSW who was driving around town in search of a good Mexican dinner. I for only the second time since 1992. But next year prepare for Susan sent him to El Chile, away from the thick of things, and he reported and Jason’s 5th Anniversary Extravaganza. Of tacos!” n

DEVO perform s at the BMI sho wc as e A us tin M us ic H a l l, F r id a y , M a r c h

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