Editors’ Blog
MMJ's Jim James and Los Campesinos! frontman Gareth Campesinos!
SXSW '08: SPIN's Best and Worst
After some much-needed R&R, a few gallons of water, and a boycott on tacos, our SXSW crew weighs in on this year's good, bad, and gnarly.
By Spin Staff 03.19.08 8:03 PM
MMJ's Jim James and Los Campesinos! frontman Gareth Campesinos!
DOUG BROD, EDITOR, SPIN
Best Set: My Morning Jacket at Austin Music Hall
Best Discovery: (Tie) Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, the Heavy, and the Last Vegas (not officially part of SXSW, though)
Biggest Disappointment: Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong walked off after two songs.
Bummed I Didn't Catch...: The Ting Tings
People Were Really Talking About...: How No Age were great and yes, they have tunes, really, swear to God!
STEVE KANDELL, DEPUTY EDITOR, SPIN
Best Set: Jay Reatard at the French Legation Museum: Rocked harder in 15 minutes than some bands will their entire silly careers.
Best Discovery: Sam's BBQ in East Austin
Biggest Disappointment: Michael Stipe rallying against our depraved tabloid-damaged, celeb-obsessed culture...and then dedicating a song to Heath Ledger.
Bummed I Didn't Catch...: Monotonix. if you're gonna be crammed into a small space seeing something bizarre and unfamiliar, that sounded like the way to do it.
People Were Really Talking About...: How much better South by Southwest was five years ago, you know, before it got so corporate.
PETER GASTON, INTERACTIVE DIRECTOR, SPIN
Best Set: White Rabbits at Club de Ville
Best Discovery: Anthony Green of Circa Survive, performing a stripped down, surprisingly docile, solo set of all-new material on Friday.
Biggest Disappointment: Los Campesinos! Their spazzy singer needs to be turned down. A lot.
Bummed I Didn't Catch...: Lord T and Eloise, whose aristocrunk was rocking my world pre-SXSW.
People Were Really Talking About...: The Cool Kids. Seemed like everywhere they played became the hot ticket for that hour.
MELISSA GOLDSTEIN, ARTS+CULTURE EDITOR, 7x7
Best Set: Tilly and the Wall at Habana Calle 6
Best Discovery: Hymns
Biggest Disappointment: R.E.M. It's not that they were bad, but they also weren't amazing.
Bummed I Didn't Catch...: FM Belfast: mouth-wateringly described by a pal as "an Icelandic Hot Chip who decorate everything with Christmas lights."
People Were Really Talking About...: The Helio Sequence
WILLIAM GOODMAN, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, SPIN.COM
Best Set: Helio Sequence at the Sub Pop showcase Friday night
Best Discovery: Flowers Forever. Derek Pressnall has catchy art-rock tunes for days and wacky showmanship to boot.
Biggest Disappointment: Sadly, the Breeders. Saturday's Mess with Texas set was no match for co-headliner NOFX.
Bummed I Didn't Catch...: My Morning Jacket. I've STILL yet to catch the band's legendary live show.
People Were Really Talking About...: No Age and Fucked Up's wild 2 A.M. show on the bridge.
my biggest disappointment was that Broadband Shortwave was not able to make it down... NEXT YEAR I HOPE I wish I could have seen The Ting Tings!
Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, The Ting Tings were my best discovery. I'm bummed I didn't catch Georgie James and The Pan I Am -- especially the latter because friends of mine said they were great, but looked like they wouldn't continue on.
hands down
David Banner
If you ever need someone to incite mayem and moshpits, call on EL Presidente aka DAvid Banner. I'll always remember how he lept from teh stage to the bleacher right beside me and how i recorded his sweatfilled angst. Between him bashing the music industry and his head, I couldn't of asked for a more delightful Satuday afternoon at the FADER/LEVI fort.
and of course i can't forget my new fav Lykke Li(Lukkey Lu) who took the stage right before Banner. A brave soulful Swedish songstress and her band took no prisoners.
www.myspace.com/lyykeli
if anyone out there likes "Tape's and Tape's", then check out my 2 short videos of them performing on legendary Austin City Limits stage on saturday, march 13! http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=conceptcheck