Diatribes by Joah

This city is the bestest!

And a few things they missed: - 2006, Mohawk opens joining Stubb's as the most powerful one-two punch in the country for live music venues on the same street - 1997 Alamo Drafthouse opens - 2005 UT Football, led by Vince Young, wins college football BCS National Championship

What Austin Music Fans & Musicians Need to Change

[The views expressed here are my own, and no one else's. I'm the only Joah you know.]

Last December, during our Austin Music Commission meeting, we came to a unanimous decision, and then re-affirmed that decision this past week, that Red River should be designated a Live Music Historic District.

Red River is the heart of Austin’s live music scene today, and, with Mohawk and Stubb’s, represents some of the best our city has to offer in terms of well-established venues for touring musicians. When SXSW rolls around, when out-of-towners come to visit, when friends ask me where to go on a weeknight, I usually point them to Red River.

Of course, there are several key venues in Austin that aren’t on Red River including ACL Live at the Moody Theatre on Second Street, Continental Club on South Congress Avenue, Broken Spoke and Saxon Pub on South Lamar, The Parish on E. Sixth Street, among others. Still, I truly believe that what happens on Red River Street in the coming years with the Waller Creek Development project and its ability to weigh future (residential and day-time) ambitions with present-day (live music and nightlife) uses will be a sign of things to come in our city, good or bad.

But protecting Red River Street and supporting the continued prominence of venues like Mohawk and Stubb’s is only one part of the solution for Austin’s music future. I say solution because we do have problems, and several of them.

Unfortunately, however, not all of these problems can be addressed through my role on the Music Commission. This blog is intended to share my POV on the top 3 things that I’ve observed as things that need to happen to make sure Austin’s live music scene is protected and prosperous for many years to come.

Before I go there, though, please allow me give you a little more context on why I may be qualified to speak on the matter. Sorry, it’s not because I’m a life-long Austinite or because I’m over 40 years old. I’m a 29-year-old who calls both Killeen, Texas, and Greenville, South Carolina, my hometown.

Where to start? Well, I’ve been an Austin music person since before Austin Music People existed. Actually, I think I’ve been an Austin music person even before I was an Austin resident. In high school, while trying to escape the boredom of Killeen, I would take my newly-secured driver’s license and drive to Austin. So, no, I didn’t learn of places like Antone’s, Broken Spoke, Emo’s and Stubb’s from my parents or neighbors, but instead from venturing down I-35 on my own at 17 years old with a fake ID and later while getting my edumacation on at UT.

In the three-plus-years since I’ve been back in Austin, after a post-college stint in D.C., I’ve made it a major priority to further immerse myself into Austin’s live music community. Austin is my first love, and this city’s live music scene is something like a pair of big brown eyes that keeps me hooked. Hell, it may even be sexier than that, but I’ll keep this post PG. So along with being an avid concert- and festival-goer, a friend to countless musicians and DJs and a regular at Waterloo Records, I make a point to do more than the usual fan.

In late 2010, I was appointed by recently re-elected Mayor Pro Temp Sheryl Cole to the Austin Music Commission, and have since been appointed vice chair. Along those lines, I was honored to be the keynote speaker – after Mayor Lee Leffingwell – at this past year’s Austin Music Memorial event honoring the likes of Sims Ellison, whose namesake gives us the SIMS Foundation.

Also, over the past few years, I’ve been writing this book about Austin’s live music scene called Indisputable that is just about done. I’ve been putting the finishing touches on it, and can’t seem to call it quits because the live music scene here is so active that by the time I finish editing a chapter, I need to re-write another one, get new photos, etc. Plus, I know a lot of dirt on a lot of people in the live music community that I debate with myself on whether or not the casual Austin music fan would like to know. I’m only half kidding so watch out people!

I share these credentials because I’m going to say something that may come across to some as critical, cynical, contrite or all three: Austin’s live music scene is in dire need of a reality check.

It’s not just a lack of true business sense with some of the venues being operated in Austin, but a lack of entrepreneurial zeal in a lot of the musicians I see and, even, some piss-poor event planning with a number of live music events in the city. Let’s not name names here, but let’s be clear that these issues don’t just happen in other cities. They happen in the Live Music Capital of the World, too; you can be sure of that.

That being said, here are the top 3 things that need to happen to make sure Austin’s live music scene is protected and prosperous for many years to come:

1. Get out of the city.

Austinites like to pride themselves on the fact that the city is far better, especially when it comes to creative output and tourism benefits, than Dallas, Houston or San Antonio. Well, DUH. And New York City is a bit more interesting than Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse. Please, tell us something we don’t know.

What Austinites – especially music fans and bands – should do is draw the lines further out and think about what needs to happen to be confident about our “Live Music Capital” designation against stronger candidates like Chicago, New Orleans and Seattle. Is it the venues? The types of artists/bands? The fans? Regardless, the answer gets 10x better the more we get outside our little Texas bubble. This is one of the reasons why SXSW is a deceptive festival at times. It gives people the impression that they went to San Francisco or Brooklyn or London without having actually gone anywhere.

More out-of-state exploration will bring back stronger business concepts for things like venues and studios, more innovative musical genres/sub-genres and greater perspective for our artists on what type of hustle and grit it takes to “make it” which is something 9 out of 10 Austin musicians say they don’t need, but desperately desire.

2. Do-It-Yourself needs to become Do-It-Right

Because sometimes DIY mentality is the very thing that kills your creativity by reducing your ability to create! Why? Because you don’t have the time or money to tour or record or write new material; you’re too busy subsidizing your life with a job you couldn’t imagine yourself having in 10 years.

You may think you’re staying true to yourself as a musician or whatever, but what you’re really doing is staying true to that part of you that never has been and never will be. Listen deep down and find that voice screaming for success, willing to fight for some shine and able to push through all the bullshit about “not selling out”. Listen to that voice and say, “shut the f*ck up, I’m going to win this time.” Do you think there are tech entrepreneurs, fashion designers, filmmakers or dancers saying they’re going to “keep it real” and do everything themselves? Hell to the no. They are out there trying to build a team of like-minded people willing and able to push their creativity forward. What about you Mr. or Ms. Austin musician?

Sometimes you have to do it the right way with the traditional parts of the business such as a manager, a booking agent, a publicist, hell, even a label. Not all the time, but sometimes. And if you think you’re going to sell out by doing so, then think about this: you can DIY all the way to the top and, chances are, all you did was leave a lot of money on the table because you were ignoring people well-trained to maximize your talent on your behalf. Why the hell do you think band’s like Spoon have Ben Dickey or people like Tom Windish make a living? Is it because they aren’t needed? Don’t think so.

If you want to be rubbing two nickels together when you’re 40-years-old after 10 or so years of relative Austin-only success then so be it. Just know going in that it’s all on you, your career, your talent, your attitude, your team members, your livelihood, your failure or success. It should only be DIY until you are smart enough to realize you can’t do it all yourself. The sooner you have that realization, the more time you’ll have to do what’s best instead of what seems most appropriate to say to your friends over beers on some back patio at an East Sixth bar.

3. Camaraderie leads to commercialism.

Why don’t many bands out of Austin “break”? Easy, the camaraderie is at an all-time low. I can’t tell you how many friends of mine are musicians that don’t listen to music. I mean they say they do, they go see their friends’ bands play, but they don’t really listen. It’s just a series of “oh yeah…they’re alright” statements one after the other. These people genuinely don’t want someone else to succeed!

Why? Because of fear. Fear that someone else will actually get rewarded for putting in the work and dedication that you’re not willing to put in yourself. No, I’m not a musician. Does that mean I can’t ever “get it”? Maybe. But I’ve had hundreds, literally hundreds, of conversations with friends who are Austin musicians. Not all of them are giving it their all. Most of them are uber talented, uber dedicated to their crafts, but only mildly concerning themselves with the single most important thing to making them successful: understanding people.

Unlike other creative industries, musicians don’t seem to get the people part of the business the way people in film or tech or art do. Yeah, we all know it’s all about who you know. No, you’re wrong. It’s about who knows you. And it’s not enough for them to know you from that band that one time at that one venue. Or from that friend who’s a friend of a friend who said you were good. That isn’t enough.

You have to touch people, connect with people, keep in contact with people. You have to do this constantly, consistently and comfortably. I know that may be hard for some of these creative types who aren’t exactly consistent, and damn sure aren’t pros at a) being comfortable with others or b) making others feel comfortable, but it’s a requirement.

As you can see, it’s not all about the venues. It’s not all about the business. It’s about people. At the root of this scene here in Austin are three types of people: Austin music fans, Austin musicians and people who want to be in one of those two groups.

It’s simple math, really: if you are a fan, you get to know more musicians and convince non-fan, non-musicians to become fans. If you are a musician, you get good fans to do what I just said fans should be doing.

There is no DIY in this city. There are just people trying to do it with others, and people convincing themselves they don’t need anyone after all. Austin’s live music scene needs to root out that second bunch because they’re killing this city one musician, one band, one venue, and one fan at a time.

What Thoughts I'm Bringing to Austin's Downtown Commission

Last week, I attended my first Downtown Commission meeting as the newest appointee of the Mayor and City Council. This appointment was a result of my status as the Vice Chair of the Austin Music Commission, so it should go without saying that I plan to represent the heart of our city, particularly Downtown, which is live music.

One of the most dire and urgent issues our Downtown area is facing is the rapid decline of our urban core as the center of live music establishments in Austin. Several establishments along both the west side (e.g. Momo’s) and east side (e.g. Emo’s) have closed in recent months and left a giant hole in our musical portfolio. Emo’s and Beauty Bar have both relocated to East Riverside, planting their flags in what will soon become a popular district on the outskirts of Downtown. Momo’s, like Katz Deli, simply couldn’t afford to keep operating with Downtown rents being the way they are.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that we still have Stubbs, the C3-operated venue with a stellar reputation, and Mohawk, the Transmission-operated venue with the most consistently dynamic booking record in Austin. With those companies operating at bigger and bigger levels each year, led by ACL Festival and Fun Fun Fun Fest respectively, their venues should stand the test of both time and the ensuing Waller Creek development. Red River may not have a dozen venues in 5 years, but it still has the foundation to remain the most important live music street in America. I can say that confidently because whether you’re an emerging band looking to breakout during South by Southwest, playing at a small venue like Head Hunters or Swan Dive, or a major act swinging through Stubb’s or Mohawk on your way East from Coachella, you’ll likely have a home base on Red River, which years ago replaced Sixth Street as the musical heart of Downtown Austin.

Add in The Parish, the most legitimate venue on Sixth Street, Antone’s on West 5^th, and ACL Live at the Moody Theatre – the crown jewel of Austin’s indoor venues that has hosted Jay-Z and Radiohead in the last two months alone -  and you have a solid roster of venues that give Austin a starting five that tops just about any city’s in America. But we’re losing our bench.

Well, if there’s anything we know about Downtown Austin it’s that a) people are moving there (see chart below), b) rent is increasing and c) live music is the top, not among the top it is the top, cultural asset that the City has to offer. No offense to the cultural arts downtown, the clothing boutiques along 2^nd Street, the bar scene and the restaurants, but live music is the alpha of Downtown Austin. Ripping out the alpha in Austin would be like ripping Austin out of Texas; things would only get worse from there.

So, no, Governor Perry, we don’t have you to thank for Texas’ stellar economy in comparison to the other states. We have cities to thank. San Antonio, Houston and Dallas are all outpacing other major U.S. cities in terms of net population growth, unemployment rates, job growth and affordability.

And it just so happens that the city I love and live in, Austin, outpaces them all in about a million categories of merit. This is why whoever said Austin would be the best city in America for the next decade was spot on.

But there are other risks facing Downtown besides the tenancy of live music establishments. As I serve on the Downtown Commission, I plan to bring forth my perspective on the following issues to ensure the City Council and Mayor are fully prepared to do what it takes to keep Austin thriving, keep our Downtown roots in place, and position the City for the future rather than diminishing returns on our past:

1. The extension of our Downtown perimeter. I understand that the traditional barriers of our Downtown core are Lamar to the West, Martin Luther King to the North, I-35 to the East and Cesar Chavez to the South. That doesn’t mean this truly reflects what Downtown living is. We need to have an open and honest discussion about the outer shell of Downtown Austin and what steps need to be taken, particularly on the East Side and South side (e.g. South Congress, South Lamar), to make our city more connected and livable for Downtown residents and outer-Downtown residents who don’t want to have to get in their cars every hour to be productive.
2. Which leads me right to public transit. I had a good conversation with a good friend from my political days in DC the other day about transit in Austin. I know I’ve talked about this a good bit, but I do believe rail will ultimately be our solution. But that doesn’t mean we have to start there now. If rail is too hard for some people to wrap their heads around, perhaps we can start with lower hanging fruit. Like getting a much more effective taxi cab system in Austin, particularly on weekends and around events. Uber-Taxi would be a great addition to our city. Car2Go, ZipCar, whatever else is needed should be encouraged through multi-modal transportation initiatives. Also, we should up-level our bus service to emphasize on-time arrivals/departures and cleanliness. In some cases, we may want to provide a financial incentive – perhaps through Austin Energy – for residents who use the bus system. Despite CapMetro’s reputation, our bus system is the best option we have today and we must choose to support it or replace it.
3. Livability and connectivity between Downtown residents and outer-Downtown residents. If you live along South Congress, South 1^st, South Lamar, Barton Springs, the UT Campus area or anywhere East from Riverside to MLK and within a mile of I-35, you should have the ability not only to get Downtown without a car on a rainy day, but you should also have multiple options to buy groceries, get dry cleaning done, go to the Post Office, etc. If the City is going to continue filling our Downtown area with more condos, offices and restaurants, we should focus on rounding out the Downtown experience from sunup-to-sundown. The Trader Joe’s announcement is a start, but we still have a long ways to go to truly make Downtown Austin comparable to the livability experienced in other great cities. On that note, I think the word "retail" should only be used on development projects like this if they actually mean retail. I heard some developers use the word interchangebly with restaurants during my first meeting and it pissed me off. This City has a ton of great restaurants and no lack of talented chefs and investors lined up to open new ones. What we lack is major retail. Second Street District has benefitted by the Urban Outfitters I'm sure, but more is needed. What about places like Uniqlo, H&M, Allsaints, Topshop...why aren't we recruiting them to our downtown for these "retail" spots? Bring their planners to SXSW and show them how amazing this city is for retail.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. Hell, I probably don’t even ask all the right questions yet. But I am super passionate about Downtown Austin because it’s the most important cultural hub of Texas, period. What happens with Downtown Austin will pave the way for what happens in Texas’ other major cities, which will pave the way for what happens with our state, overall. And, if you’ve paid any attention, our state tends to have a lot of impact on the rest of the nation.

 

Yeah, Austin is the best.

Austin has been named #1 in just about every list of great American cities. Here's the quantitative data to back it up.

Check me out in the "Fashion" issue of Austin magazine, Tribeza

Read the article in Tribeza (page 34).

Check me out in the UT-Austin student paper The Daily Texan

Sneaker enthusiasts share their love of shoes through blogs

By Anjli Mehta

Joah Spearman opens the door to Austin Java Cafe, brushes the late-afternoon drizzle off his leather jacket and wipes his limited edition Livestrong for Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop black and yellow Nike’s on the restaurant’s welcome mat. The back of the 28 year-old sneaker fan’s kicks proudly read “Austin” and “Texas” on the left and right shoe, respectively. Just minutes after he leaves the table with our photographer to shoot some photographs, complete with poses that scream confidence, a woman comes up to me and asks if he’s famous. He laughs.

A doppelganger for Outkast frontman Andre 3000, Spearman confesses that he’s gotten into nightclubs pretending to be his celebrity look-a-like. It’s a far stretch from who he was (or wasn’t) growing up.

“When I was in school, you know, girls didn’t really like me. I had big glasses, and I was four-foot-ten-inches,” Spearman said. “I knew I wasn’t going to play basketball or football, so for me this was never about being an athlete trying to identify with shoes.”

While puberty may have been a likely culprit for Spearman’s transcendence from nerd to fashion-forward cool guy, there’s another factor that played a major role: his love for sneakers.

Read on at the Daily Texan site here.

The #StyleX Team!

My SXSW Music Guide (for badgeholders; wristbands may apply)

Don’t be lazy. I’ve already done most of your homework; listened to nearly all the bands and musicians, looked at all the showcases and venue lineups, and made this fairly easy to disseminate when you’re scrolling through your iPhone on Thursday at 7:30 trying to plan your night. I don’t care about day parties much because you should use the daytime to stumble into things and people and places. Plan around the night, not the day. Save energy for 1am, 2am if you care to, or just blow your load in the early evening. It’s up to you. Three sections here: panels worth seeing, artists worth seeing, and showcases/venues worth seeing. Use it as you may. Don’t judge me for my musical taste and I won’t judge you for jumping on some band’s bandwagon two years after they played at SXSW. - Joah

Speakers & Panels Worth Seeing During Music

(Does Not Include Style X or Fashion-Related Panels during SXSW)

Filmmaker Richard Linklater ("Slacker") reunites with his "Dazed and Confused" breakout Matthew McConaughey and "School of Rock" star Jack Black, for his latest comedy, "Bernie." All three will be on hand to discuss working together. Wednesday March 14, 2012 2:30pm - 3:00pm @ Austin Convention Center  

Bruce Springsteen's artistry has drawn worldwide acclaim and honors. His recordings include time-tested classics of rock and acoustic-based albums celebrating folk traditions. His live shows are fervent celebrations of the communal power of music. Springsteen keynotes SXSW in conjunction with the release of his 17th studio album, 'Wrecking Ball' and the kickoff of the 2012 Wrecking Ball Tour. Thursday March 15, 2012 12:00pm - 1:00pm @ Austin Convention Center  

Content has been declared king for decades, but good content, alone, is no longer enough. In today's digital media age, artists must also have brands that are well-defined and compelling to achieve commercial success and longevity. Look at the many aspects involved in creating, cultivating, disseminating and monetizing artist brands - sound, image, marketing, social media, distribution and retail strategy. Speakers include Kevin Liles, Kendrick Lamar. Thursday March 15, 2012 2:45pm - 3:45pm @ Austin Convention Center

Queens rapper Nas, widely considered to be one of the most accomplished and talented artists to ever hit the mic, established his place amongst the hip-hop elite with the 1994 release of his debut album, Illmatic. The impact of his distinctive lyricism and thoughtful storytelling reaches far beyond hip hop culture and has earned him a global audience of millions. Throughout years of multi-platinum album sales, critical acclaim, controversies, and fame, Nas has undoubtedly solidified his position as one of the greatest rappers of all time. On the heels of his collaboration with Damian Marley, Nas is currently preparing his next studio album. In this special SXSW Interview, Nas will be joined in conversation with Steve Stoute, his former manager and longtime friend. As the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Translation, author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, and former music executive, Stoute has been an instrumental figure in utilizing the power of hip-hop culture to revolutionize the way brands connect with audiences. Friday March 16 3:30 pm – 4:30pm @ Austin Convention Center Room 18ABC

Steve Stoute, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Translation, is joined in a special conversation with Dan Charnas, experienced journalist, author of The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, and current editorial director of InteractiveOne. Charnas' previous work with The Source, Profile Records, and American Recordings provides him with a unique perspective for the conversation. The discussion will look at how hip- hop has spurred creativity and spawned enterprise throughout the global economy as the predominant cultural force of the new century, a phenomenon Stoute calls “The Tanning Effect.  Saturday March 17 11 am – noon @ Austin Convention Center Room 12AB

Artists Worth Seeing

March 13

8pm – Arianne Moffatt, Teengirl Fantasy, Motopony

9 – il Abanico

9:20 – Theophilus London

9:30 – Heartless Bastards

10 – Ume, B. Bravo & The Starship Connection, Love Inks, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, The Xcerts

10:10 - Santigold

11 – Bear in Heaven, Scorpion Child, Yellow Ostrich

11:30 – Beach Fossils, Tycho

Midnight – Schoolboy Q, Caveman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

1am – Kendrick Lamar, Cities Aviv, Matthew Dear, Soldier Thread, Polica

 

March 14

2:10 – Teeth & Tongue

3 – Michael Kiwanuka

4pm – Alabama Shakes

5pm – Honeyhoney

7pm – Mars Red Sky

7:10 – Quiet Company

7:30 – CFCF

8pm – Andy Suzuki & The Method, Anenon, Cities Aviv, Javelin, Blood Orange, Fidlar, Maneja Beto, Say Hi, The Young Evils

8:15 – Anoraak, Maya Azucena

8:40 – Mux Mool

9 – Big KRIT, Sharon Van Etten, Tribes, The Xcerts

9:15 – Yuksek

9:30 – Housse de Racket

9:35 – Choir of Young Believers

9:45 – Action Bronson

10 – Chrissy Murderbot, Friends, Cherri Bomb, Cashier No.9, Daughter, Foy Vance, Jimmy Cliff, Lila Downs

10:10 – Kimbra

10:15 – Vondelpark, Katey Red

10:20 – Miguel

10:25 – Korallraven

10:30 – Shigeto

10:45 – Mannie Fresh

10:55 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jr., Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire

11 – Teitur, Theophilus London, xxxy, Youth Lagoon, Twerps, Zola Jesus, Lee Fields & The Expression, Anna Ihlis, Dry the River, Screaming Females, Three Blind Wolves, Turbogeist

11:15 – Alabama Shakes, Juvenile

11:25 – Tycho

11:30 – U.S. Royalty, Pujol
11:35 – Wavves

Midnight – Bomba Estereo, Mahogany, Miike Snow, John Tejada, Django Django, Neon Trees

12:10 – Nguzunguzu, Dirty Ghosts

12:15 – Bear Hands, Doomtree

12:20 – Matthew Dear

12:30 – Andrew Bird, The Octopus Project

12:40 – Prodigy of Mobb Deep

12:45 – Gary Clark, Jr.

1am – Cowboy and Indian, Carrie Rodriguez, Octo Octa, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Astronautilus, Delhi 2 Dublin, The Men, Motion City Soundtrack, Three Blind Wolves

1:05 – Eve 6

1:15 – Andre Nikitina, Com Truise

1:20 – Slaughterhouse, Ume

 

March 15

5:45 – Little Hurricane

6:45 – M. Ward

7 – Polica

7:45 – Say Hi

8 – Electric Wire Hustle, Fiona Apple, Reptar, Shigeto, The Shins, Sarah Jaffe, Turbogeist

8:20 – Soldier Thread

8:25 – Yellow Ostrich

8:45 - Stalley

8:55 – Tanya Morgan

9 – Carrie Rodriguez, Yukon Blonde, Love Inks, Dry the River, il Abanico

9:05 – Jukebox the Ghost

9:15 – Kendrick Lamar, Lila Downs

9:20 – Teeth & Tongue

9:30 – Charlie XCX

9:45 – Com Truise

10 – Fanfarlo, Jonquil, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Lee Fields & The Expression, Korallraven, Quantic, Shining, Two Galants, Walk the Moon

10:15 – Soft Metals

10:30 – Robert Glasper Experiment, Purity Ring, Nneka

10:40 – Curren$y

11 – CFCF, Class Actress, Jessie Rose Trip, Kaiser Chiefs, Punch Brothers, Stalley, Wale, YACHT, Mux Mool, Royal Canoe

11:05 – Truthlive, Schoolboy Q

11:15 – Big KRIT, Miguel

11:30 – Grimes, The War on Drugs, Steve Aoki

11:45 - Roge

Midnight – Arianne Moffatt, B. Bravo, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Das Racist, Delta Spirit, Honeyhoney, Kendrick Lamar, Miike Snow, The Temper Trap, Friends, Jimmy Cliff, Seapony

12:10 – Talib Kweli, Sons of Kick

12:15 – T.I., B.o.B.

12:30 – Nicolas Jaar, Seun Kuti

12:35 – Sharon Van Etten

1 – Chairlift, Cloud Nothings, Ed Sheeran, Neon Indian, Niki & The Dove, Van Hunt, VHS or Beta, Youth Lagoon, Purity Ring, Big Sean, D.I.M., Doomtree, Flight Facilities, Kindness, Nite Jewel

1:30 – The-Dream

 

March 16

Noon – Gary Clark, Jr.

1:15 – Punch Brothers

1:30 - Quantic

2 – Fanfarlo

4 – Blitzen Trapper

5 – Heartless Bastards

7 – ANR

7:30 – M.Ward, Electric Guest, The Midgetmen

7:45 – The War on Drugs

8 – Ed Sheeran, Idle Warship

8:05 – Purity Ring

8:30 – Tycho, The Staves

8:45 – Quantic & Alice Russell

9 – Little Roy

9:15 – AraabMUZIK

9:30 – Ben Howard

9:40 – Zulu Winter

10 – Alice Smith, Delta Spirit, Eve 6, Housse de Racket, Paul Wall, The Big Pink, The Cool Kids, Caveman, Kindness, Nite Jewel, Pujol

10:15 – Bear Hands

10:30 – El-P, Glen Hansard, Bomba Estereo

11 – Bad Rabbits, Big Deal, Blitz the Ambassador, Built to Spill, Reptar, Thundercat, Adam & The Amethyst, Team Me

11:20 – Ghosting Season

11:30 – Asher Roth, Grimes, Juanes, Daughter

11:40 – Rapper Big Pooh

Midnight – Alabama Shakes, Candy Claws, Citizen Cope, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, SPEAK, Spoek Mathambo, Chairlift, Daedalus, Flight Facilities, Howler, Talking to Turtles, The Drums

12:10 - Sepalcure

12:15 – Das Racist, Knife Party

12:30 – YACHT

12:50 - Nneka

1am – Blitzen Trapper, Break Science ft. Talib Kweli, Cloud Nothings, Lost in the Trees, Mother Falcon, Neon Indian, Niki & The Dove, Skrillex, The Ting Tings, Tia Carrera, Vampillia, xxxy, Akina Adderly & The Vintage Playboys, Juicy J, Slum Village

1:15 – Blackalicious

 

March 17

Noon – The Big Pink

1 – Justin Townes Earle

7 – The Bright Light Social Hour

7:45 – Norah Jones

8  - The Cult, Michael Kiwanuka, Roge

9 – Blouse, Erin Ivey and the Finest Kind, Yuksek, Justin Townes Earle, Quantic & Alice Russell

9:55 – The Muthafuckin’ eXquire

10 – Breton, Charlie Mars, Fanfarlo, Penguin Prison, Django Django, J Roddy Walston and The Business, Lunice, Soft Metals

10:15 – Keane

10:20 – Freddie Gibbs

10:45 – Quiet Company

11 – Anna Nalick, Best Coast, Duck Fight Goose, El-P, Grace Woodruffe, Cashier No.9

11:45 – John Mayer, Chuck Ragan

Midnight – Daedalus, Flying Lotus, Thulebasen, Wavves, We Were Promised Jetpacks, T Bird and the Breaks

12:15 – Anoraak

12:30 – Lucero, M.O.P., Jimmy Clif

12:50 - Nneka

1 – Allen Stone, Beach Fossils, Flosstradamus, Hudson Mohawke + Lunice = TNGHT, Jukebox the Ghost, XV, Teeth & Tongue

1:10 – GZA ft. Brownout & Grupo Fantasma

1:20 – Katey Red

 

Showcases & The Venues Worth Checking Out

Party Host/Sponsor – Venue

March 13

Pitchfork – Mohawk

Yours Truly - Swan Dive

March 14

Pandora – Antone’s

Dummy XO – Barbarella

Halo Cyan – Barcelona

ASCAP – The Bat Bar

Chevy – Chevy Sound Garage

Ghostly International – Club Deville

Warner Sound – La Zona Rosa

Life or Death/R.A.P. – Lustre Pearl

The Agency Group/French Bureau Export – Mohawk Patio

Transgressive/Rockfeedback - Red Eyed Fly

NPR – Stubbs

March 15

Auditorium Shores

Surefire Agency – Barcelona

IHEARTCOMIX - Beauty Bar Backyard

Pitchfork – Central Presbyterian Church

S.O. Terik – Clive Bar

Paradigm – Club Deville

Elephant Room

The Roxy’s AustinRox – Empire Automotive

Yours Truly/Gorilla vs. Bear – Hype Hotel

Paradigm - IFC Crossroads House at Vice

Audible Treats – Kiss and Fly

Warner Sound –La Zona Rosa

Dickies / Filter – Lustre Pearl

Secretly Canadian – Mohawk Patio

Music Matters – The Stage on Sixth & Patio

AOL Music – Stubbs

Style X/Charming Charlie – Victorian Room at the Driskill

March 16

Biz 3 – 1100 Warehouse

ACL Live at the Moody Theatre

Billions Corp. – Antone’s

Madison House – Beauty Bar Backyard

FryeDay  - Buffalo Billiards

S.O. Terik – Clive Bar

Keep a Breast Foundation – Empire Automotive

Blacksmith Duckdown – La Zona Rosa

Dickies / Filter – Lustre Pearl

Playing in Traffic – Maggie Mae’s

AM Only – Mohawk Patio

KUT – Radio City Stage Convention Center

Communion - St. David’s Historic Sanctuary

Third Man Records – The Stage on Sixth

March 17

Nat Geo – The Stage on Sixth Patio

Thrasher – Scoot Inn

KEXP – Radio City Stage Convention Center

Captured Tracks – The Parish

The Windish Agency – ND

Sounds Australia – Maggie Mae’s Rooftop

Auditorium Shores

Lucero Family Picnic – Cedar Street Courtyard

Clive Bar

Deseo Central Lounge

Warp Records/Brainfeed – Empire Automotive

Hype Machine – Hype Hotel

SBTURKS – The Madison

Stubbs