UNofficial SxSW (or, the real reason to go)

"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!"
- Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles

I swear, I'm going to make that my annual SxSW quote...

So, you want to go to SxSW but you "forgot" to buy your $500 (with discount) Music badge and your press credentials (and expense account) aren't up to par? I'd say that you officially* don't need one this year. The best stuff is happening outside of the showcases (I didn't write any of the following, so don't blame me for errors or inconsistencies)...

The UNofficial List of North Texas @ SxSW:

from Stephen Ruiz:
In a Matlock-like turn of events, HOT FLASH! resident DJ Stephen R. will be DJ'ing a Punk-SKA-Dub-Indie set at the Sinister Muse Records and the Lonestar Rollergirl's (did you see their A&E series Rollergirls?) party, "The Biggest Little Party in Austin 2007" on Friday March 16th upstairs at Momo's. Sinister Muse Records' recording artist Graham Isaacson, Treaty of Paris, Dead Town Revival and Omnirox artist The Sterns will perform live. FREE beer and FREE food will be served. Guaranteed to be the best party in Austin - don't miss it! RSVP to info@sinistermuse.com.

from Goodwin:
Goodwin plays at the Dizzy Rooster (306 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78701) on Saturday March 17th at 8pm, courtesy of the Austin Indie Alliance (http://www.austinindiealliance.com)
Admission is FREE. FREE! The AIA has showcases going the entire duration of SXSW at the Dizzy Rooster, and all of them are free.)

from Lindsay Graham/Method Entertainment/BandSiteLive/Deck Sachse....
If you're in Austin next week, please be my guest for an afternoon of music and drinking to kick off this year's SXSW conference. I can think of no better way to begin a 5-day binge of debauchery and excess than to start drinking at noon on a Wednesday, watching excellent bands - all for free.
Arthur Yoria
The Mercers
Airline
Doug Burr
Pleasant Grove
When: Noon, Wednesday, March 14th
Where: B.D. Riley's, on Sixth St., Austin, TX
Flier: http://www.bandsitelive.com /events/sxsw2007/

from Kirtland Records:
Toadies headlining Stubbs during Interactive. Check the Stubbs calendar. Most likely sold out.
Hourly Radio: Gothimist/Austinist party Wed at mohawk time tba - day party.

from Idol Records:

Black Tie Dynasty will also be playing on Sat. March 17 at 8:00 PM at the FOUR ON THE FLOOR PARTY
located at: 1604 San Antonio Austin, TX (between 15th & 16th)
Free food from Fancy Pants Tamales (vegan & vegetarian)

*Officially by me. Not SxSW endorsed. Or by anyone else, for that matter. But I have excellent taste. And you'll tell me when I don't.


Also, here's the scoop on badges: find a friend with one. You may then join them in line to pick up their badge and they can buy a wristband for you for the going rate of around $150-175. That amount changes every year, so check in with Waterloo Records and see how much wristbands are this year. Or, if you have a really really good friend who lives in Austin and likes lines, they can buy a wristband for you at Waterloo when they are released. The trick is that Waterloo makes the announcement only in the Austin Statesman very very close to the day the bands go on sale and your friend needs to get in line at a very unreasonable hour of the morning. Wristbands sell out within a couple hours. If you're relying on a wristband to get into shows, you need to be in Austin on Wednesday. It's highly unlikely that you'll find one for sale, even with a badgeholder, by Friday night. Do you need a wristband or a badge? Only to get into the hot official shows. Otherwise, you can have a fine fun time and never even go near an official venue.

http://www.showlistaustin.com/
http://www.donewaiting.com/sxsw/