They say you shouldn’t meet your idols because they just can’t live up to your expectations. But Leslie Uppinghouse, whose 20-year run handling production at SXSW ended in March 2016, became an even bigger fan of Patti Smith after working with the high priestess of punk at SXSW 2000. This was back when the big […]
This column is from Feb. 2014 Sunday is March 1. MARCH FIRST! People in Austin start freaking out- a mix of horror and excitement- when they flip the calendar and see it’s March. The chest pounds like being in the tunnel before a big football game. The third month means South by Southwest and, godammit, […]
South by Southwest has become a Hip Hop Mecca in recent years, with seemingly everyone from big names to rising artists coming to Austin every year for the pub and the party. But that wasn’t always the case. “We’d hear the same thing every time we called New York,” says former SXSW booker Matt Sonzala. […]
Who’s been the biggest “get” of SXSW thus far? Johnny Cash in ’94 and Tom Waits in ’99 really helped put the Austin conference on the map. Norah Jones had the No. 1 album in the country when she played SXSW in 2002, Metallica at Stubb’s in ’09 was huge, as was Bruce Springsteen in […]
International housing: Marriage, MTV, half-hearted defections and Taco Bell! Was that Russian band serious about wanting to defect after a SXSW showcase? Or did they just want to stay in Austin for free as long as they could? It was in the early ‘90s, soon after implementation of SXSW’s international housing program, where bands from […]
1. “The registration line was insane. That’s 25 minutes of my life I won’t get back.” 2. “Do you know where Saturday’s day party is?” 3. “Austin learned its lesson from the Armadillo. No way they’re tearing down Liberty Lunch for an office building.” 4. “I’m in such a hurry I’m gonna have to grab […]
originally published Oct. 3, 1995, the second of seven years of NXNW PORTLAND, Ore. — After “Giant recording artists” Big Car broke up in early 1992, bassist Jeff Groves sold everything he owned, including his home recording studio, and embarked on a gypsy adventure with his new bride, Laura. They just took off and drove […]
Sorry, Matt Damon, but we’re gonna be running out of time for you in Austin March 10-14. Jimmy Kimmel‘s nationally-televised talk show will be produced in Austin during South by Southwest, a source with ABC confirmed Thursday. The five shows will be taped at the Long Center from March 10-14, to be aired later each […]
TWEETS FROM SXSW 1989 “The registration line was insane. That’s 20 minutes of my life I won’t get back.” “Do you know where Saturday’s day party is?” “Austin learned it’s lesson from the Armadillo. No way are they gonna tear down Liberty Lunch for an office building.” “I’m in such a hurry I’m gonna have […]
The Iranian band stayed at the home of Austin painter Eileen Pestorius, who stepped in when she heard they had no place to stay during SXSW 2010. They also stayed with her in 2013 and called her on Mother’s Day. Eileen Pestorius (the mother of Okkervil River bassist Patrick Pestorius): “I think Ici and Sot […]
