SXSW Hype

MGMT - Kids Live in a parking lot behind Urban Outfitters @ SXSW '08

So, maybe January is a bit early to get my panties in a wad over South by Southwest (SXSW). But you know what? The official band list has been out for a few weeks. So, that means it's the perfect time to let the hype rain down.

Just like the last two years, Austin Bloggy Limits will not be purchasing any sort of badge or wristband to enjoy official showcases. No, loyal reader, for us SXSW is all about the free day party...and after party. So I shall spend the next month or two scouring the internet for the coveted RSVP lists. For now, let's focus on the music shall we?


It's a bit daunting to choose bands to highlight from the enormous list of artists. Party because there are so many to comb through but partly because chances are the highlights are bands I don't know yet. Keeping that in mind, I'm probably just going to highlight some of the names, which are easier to recognize.

Akron/Family
Anti-Pop Consortium
Au Revoir Simone
Balmorhea
The Band of Heathens
Beach House
Andrew Bird
The Black Angels
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Black Lips
BLK JKS(!!)
Buck 65
Cadence Weapon
Margaret Cho (?)
Colour Revolt
Crystal Antlers
The Crystal Method
Cursive
Danny and The Champions of the World
Delta Spirit
Easy Star All-Stars
Explosions in the Sky
Ferraby Lionheart
Tim Finn
Robert Francis
Sage Francis
Gang Gang Dance
The Girls
The Grates
Grizzly Bear (!!!)
Handsome Furs
Ed Harcourt
Ben Harper and Relentless 7
Head Automatica
HEALTH
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Japanther
La Snacks
Monotonix
Monte Negro
Motel Motel
Mr. Lif
Moth!Fight!
Peelander - Z
Peter, Bjorn, and John
The Pink Spiders
+/-
Port O'Brien
Primal Scream
Ra Ra Riot
The Raveonettes
The Republic Tigers
Rival Schools
Russian Futurists
Rye Rye (!)
Langehorn Slim
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Starsailor
Stars of Track and Field
St. Vincent
Superdrag
Throw Me the Statue
J. Tillman
Tiny Masters of Today
Viva Voce
Wale
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth
White Ghost Shivers
Year Long Disaster

Like I said, this is certainly not the comprehensive list. And I'm not putting all the damn links because the official list is all linked out. Basically the above list is me combing through the master list and writing names I recognize :-). I'm sure after SXSW I'll have a list of artists I had never heard of that kicked ass! See you in March :-)