Soundcheck To Mess With Texas
WNYC's John Schaefer and Soundcheck are heading to Austin next week for the 2008 South by Southwest Music Festival. Or, as it's more efficiently known: SXSW. A print-only acronym if we've ever seen...
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When in Austin...
Soundcheck will broadcast live on March 12 & 13 from this year's South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. Been there before? Tell us: What should John Schaefer and the staff should do in...
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Vic's SXSW Tip 1: Drive Smart
Like the rest of the Soundcheck staff, I'm traveling to South by Southwest for the first time. I've worked in music-related roles at college, community and public radio stations for about 10 years, yet...
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Vic's SXSW Tip 2: Traffic Is Bigger in Texas
More SXSW advice from my pal Vic Krothe. He's big on traffic tips:'Parking is going to suck. Period. Get where you're going and stay there, if at all possible, or run the risk of losing your precious...
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Vic's SXSW Tips 3: Check Under the Hoodie
More from my friend Vic Krothe, this time on how to dress for 'The Live Music Capital of the World:''Bring a variety of different layers. It might be in the 70's-80's during the day, and it might get...
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Advice From the Guy Upstairs
I've been posting SXSW tips from my friend and current Austin resident Vic. As it turns out, there are former Austinites among the ranks here at WNYC. Robby from the 26th Floor weighs in with guidance...
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Austin: Day 1
Departed for Austin yesterday from Newark Airport. When I arrived at my gate, it became clear that space in the overhead bins was going to be scarce: the seating area was filled with musicians and...
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The Sum of Whole Foods
Austin is home to the Whole Foods headquarters, and their flagship store is something to witness. As a guy who lives in a neighborhood that lacks a gourmet grocery store, I was kind of in heaven.Nine...
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Jeremiah the Frog
Austin legend Daniel Johnston's Jeremiah the Frog mural, located at 21st Street and Guadalupe. (Quick quiz: How do you pronounce 'Guadalupe?') More here on the campaign to save it a few years back. The...
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A Funky Oasis
Austin is a city of weird contradictions. On one hand, it's a ramshackle jumble of thrift stores, head shops, fortune tellers, quirky little dive bars, and storefronts offering both bail bonds and...
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SXSW Eve
The South by Southwest music festival officially starts today, but the Soundcheck staff hit the town yesterday -- it turned out to be a great opportunity to see Austin before madness likely sets in...
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The Return of 17 Hippies
After our encounter with Quiet Company, the Soundcheck staff bumped into a familiar face. Several familiar faces, actually: 17 Hippies, the German band who played on Soundcheck when we visited Berlin...
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Sneak Preview: Sixth Street
The Soundcheck staff ventured to Sixth Street last night, to check out bands before the music portion of SXSW starts officially tonight. I caught the ultra-80s electronic rave-up outfit Tiger City and...
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Schwag As Far As the Eye Can See
If you have a badge at SXSW, you'll get a canvas tote bag full of stuff. It's not on the 'gift bag' level of events like the Oscars, however. Instead of cellphones and jewelry, SXSW's bags contain a...
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Live in Live Music Capital...
Check out Soundcheck's first of two special broadcasts from the South by Southwest music festival! Today we welcomed a slew of awesome guests to talk about the festival, including Amy Phillips of...
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R.E.M. [3/12/08]
OK, so it seemed doubtful that I would make it into the R.E.M. show at Stubb's. Lots of factors working against me: first album in four years, big preview show at SXSW, first time festival attendee who...
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It's a Shame To Leave Early
I left the R.E.M. show a bit early to get some shuteye before a big day on the show tomorrow. And as I walked to the car, I passed by Emo's and heard a '90s siren song: 'It's a shaaaaaaaaame ... about...
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Classical music arrives at SXSW
Composers like Liszt and Chopin may have been the rock stars of their day but the idea of classical music at South by Southwest still can seem pretty jarring in this rock-drenched setting. A chamber...
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The Life of the SXSW Party
The festival is all about live music, so here are some impressions of the live music I've seen:Tuesday night. The opening party for the Music Festival is also the closing party for the Film Festival....
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