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February 28, 2005

Tom Hall: Marty Got A Raw Deal

Poor Martin Scorcese, spurned once again by an Academy that favors actor-directors. While his film took most of the behind the scenes movie awards (cinematography, etc.), he lost out to Clint Eastwood in the ones that count (i.e. are remembered). And this isn't the first time it happened. Tom Hall of Indiewire's The Back Row Manifesto explains:

In 1980, Scorsese was nominated as Best Director for his magnum opus Raging Bull (not just the best picture of 1980, but probably the finest film of the entire decade.) The Academy chose Robert Redford’s fine Ordinary People as that year’s Best Picture and Redford as Best Director. Another decade, another injustice: In 1990, Scorsese was up again for Best Director and Best Picture for his seminal Goodfellas. This time, the Academy chose another actor-turned-director, Kevin Costner, and Dances With Wolves for the sweep. Sunday night, Scorsese’s The Aviator, a film of startling virtuosity and dazzling direction, is topped by Clint Eastwood’s boxing tearjerker Million Dollar Baby.

Hall blames The Aviator snub on an Americans not wanting to see the lives of the rich and the famous. I would proffer something simpler—that the Academy prefers its larger-than-life movie stars (the anti-Jude Laws, as Chris Rock would call them) over its talented life-long craftsmen. They prefer the glitz to what goes on behind the scenes to make the glitz. That's why they put their stars on the stage and their cinematographers on the carpet. But history will be kind to Marty. Kevin Costner, on the other hand,...

Posted by timothompson at 07:40 PM

Porchlight Pop Fest

Some friends of mine are holding a SXSW day event called the Porchlight Pop Fest. It was a blast last year, because there's both a dark indoor music event going on inside the Tillery St. Theater, and a nice shaded outdoor park-like enclave for when you're not sure if you like the current band that's playing and you just want to relax and look at fellow indie types nursing hangovers in the sunshine (weather permitting).

Posted by timothompson at 03:25 PM

February 26, 2005

Library Items, 2/22/2005–3/15/2005

DVDs

Books

Posted by timothompson at 10:30 AM

February 25, 2005

Download SXSW MP3s

For those of you not up to speed on Podcasting, Moletie Media has compiled a page you can use to download all the current SXSW artist MP3s at once. (A SXSW rep comments: “Man, our poor little webserver is getting hammered! Enjoy the music. Buy the artists’ CDS!!”)

Posted by timothompson at 06:10 PM

“Project Runway” Winner Jay McCarroll Takes It To Donny Deutsch

After being given some unsolicited business advice on “The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch,” “Project Runway” winner Jay McCarroll shot back with some barbs of his own [via]:

DEUTSCH: So, I mean, do you demur a point that Cameron Diaz could literally walk out and put a toilet paper holder on her head...

Mr. McCARROLL: No, come on.

DEUTSCH: ...and that would become fa...

Mr. McCARROLL: I don't...

DEUTSCH: I disagree with you.

Mr. McCARROLL: (Sighs) Well, I don't know, really. And do I really care? I don't know.

DEUTSCH: Do you?

Mr. McCARROLL: Toilet paper holder on her head?

DEUTSCH: You know what I'm talking about, the things where they--those little knit things that hold the toilet paper?

Mr. McCARROLL: Like a tea coz--like this?

DEUTSCH: Yes.

Mr. McCARROLL: Are you mocking me, Donny Deutsch?

DEUTSCH: No, no, no.

Mr. McCARROLL: Jeez!

DEUTSCH: We never mock the guests.

Mr. McCARROLL: Why do you keep plugging at me?

DEUTSCH: We never...

Mr. McCARROLL: Let's talk about you.

DEUTSCH: What would you like to talk about? Ask me.

Mr. McCARROLL: Who picked out what you're wearing today?

DEUTSCH: I...

Mr. McCARROLL: Did you blindly go into your closet...

DEUTSCH: Oh, come on.

Mr. McCARROLL: ...pick out the stupidest thing to wear?

DEUTSCH: Actually, I dis--first of all, you know what? Carson Kressley was on here and he endorsed what I wear. I actually think I'm a very good dresser.

Mr. McCARROLL: Our buddy Carson Kressley.

DEUTSCH: What is wrong with the way I'm dressed? This is very simple, and I think it's hard to argue with any of it.

Mr. McCARROLL: Oh, it's good for--see, I don't get into that. I mean...

DEUTSCH: OK.

Mr. McCARROLL: ...people--I don't know if I'll ever be one of those people who--like a Carson Kressley who can pick clothes out and be like, `Oh, here's your new image,' because I'm all for people being who they are.

DEUTSCH: OK.

Mr. McCARROLL: And that's why I'm different from you.

Posted by timothompson at 02:30 PM

Rodeo To Feature Eclectic Line-Up

Not to be outdone by its music geek cousin SXSW, the more mainstream Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo (that I mentioned before here) has announced its concert line-up. Performers slated to play include the expected country acts like The Charlie Daniels Band, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Brad Paisley, Clay Walker, Kevin Fowler and Joe Nichols (and alt-country band Cross Canadian Ragweed); the Mexican band Grupo Pesado; boomer rock in 38 Special; and MTV favorites Nelly and Maroon 5.

Posted by timothompson at 01:40 PM

February 24, 2005

$110 SXSW Wristbands Sell Out On First Day

I just got back from a mad dash to Waterloo Records to purchase my SXSW wristband after seeing on the unofficial SXSW mailing list that 1,000 of the 2,000 at the $110 price were sold by lunchtime. From the list:

The guy who bought my wristband today tells me he snagged #950 and #972 at lunchtime, after waiting approximately 40 minutes. So, if anybody thought they could get a $110 band tomorrow, they're sadly mistaken.

Unlike in previous years, SXSW only put 2,000 instead of 4,000 wristbands up at the cheaper price (I will have more to write about this tomorrow).

Shortly after I got to Waterloo (through rush hour traffic) at 5:45, the last $110 wristband sold out around 6 p.m. From a girl in line with me, I learned that lines had snaked around the Waterloo building all day, with a brief lull between 3 and 4 p.m (some video from the Austin American-Statesman here).

After today, 2,000 more will be on sale for $130 (the price I got mine at). When the second 2,000 sell out (probably by tomorrow or Saturday), the cost will increase to $150 (maximum four per person, cash or credit card only).

According to someone on the list, people with a badge can buy one for the $110 price (one per badge) at the Austin Convention Center.

Update: Wristbands at Waterloo are now going for the $150 price. Anyone in Austin needing one should call Encore Music and Video (8820 Burnet Rd, Austin, 78757 - (512) 451-8111) to see if they have any more of the $130 wristbands available.

Posted by timothompson at 06:41 PM

Donnie Darko's No. 1 Fan

The Austin Chronicle reports on former Austinites who made a mockumentary (“#1 Fan: A Darkomentary”) about a pathological Donnie Darko fan that appears on the movie's DVD.

Posted by timothompson at 09:47 AM

February 23, 2005

Full SXSW Music Showcase Grids Now Available

Get those spreadsheets ready.

Posted by timothompson at 11:27 PM

Spoon Plays “Secret Show” in Austin

Spoon played an unexpected show at Trophy’s in Austin last night. My friend Charles called me at about 6 p.m. to tell me he had heard about the show from a friend. We had no idea what kind of show it was going to be. A possible “Real World Austin” event? I thought it might be a straight run-through of “Gimme Fiction” songs in the exact order of the album since they had done a couple of preview shows for “Kill the Moonlight” about two years ago that were dominated by the KTM songs.

Charles said they were going to announce it on the radio or something, and that I better get there early or get shut out. So I got there at 7:15 having no idea how many people were going to be there. I expected to see some kind of line or at least a full club. But there was at most about 15 people. It turns out that the show wasn't going to start until 11. We were due for a long wait (I considered this good preparation for upcoming must-see SXSW showcases).

Finally, after an interminably long wait, the band came on.

I think they opened with “Beast and Dragon, Adored,” which has become my favorite track on the new album. Other GF songs they played included “My Mathematical Mind," “The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine,” “Sister Jack,” and “The Delicate Place.” I think “The Delicate Place" is going to become one of the highlights of their live shows this year. It just builds and builds and builds until at the end everything just goes nuts. Lots of the crazy scattershot shards of guitar action Britt Daniel likes to do when he turns to Jim Eno and they start feeding off each other's energy.

The place never totally filled up, and it was great to see them in a small club like when they played Beerland right before the last album was due to come out.

The new (to me) keyboardist is great, too. He's very good with the maracas and adds some second guitar.

Other songs played (to the best of my recollection): “30 Gallon Tank,” “The Way We Get By,” “Anything You Want,” “Everything Hits At Once,” “Jonathan Fisk,” “Small Stakes,” “Paper Tiger," “Fitted Shirt,” “Lines in the Suit” and “Car Radio.”

Posted by timothompson at 08:45 PM

Cainer The Coiner

From my Cainer horoscope: “Remember, while you are worrying, that because you are worrying, you really need not worry so much!”

Posted by timothompson at 02:46 PM

February 22, 2005

That “Project Runway” Song

Here's another reality song post. You know how at the end of “Project Runway, after the contestant is “auht,” they walk to the backroom and cry and hug their winning castmates? And you hear that song with the haunting guitar chords starts playing? Well, it turns out you can download the song, titled “Breath On Me,” by Harold Barefoot Sanders III (Oi vey! What a name!) from the show's site [via].

Posted by timothompson at 03:08 PM

February 21, 2005

Danny from Apprentice Posting Music and Commentary

Kooky but lovable Danny K from the Apprentice 3 has been posting MP3 recaps on the latest episodes. [via]

Posted by timothompson at 11:33 PM

Bill Maher on the Youth of Today

In the first episode of this season's “Real Time With Bill Maher” on HBO this weekend, Maher closed with a great screed against high schoolers who don't believe in freedom of speech without government approval. Here's what he said [via]:

A new survey found that a majority of high schoolers think newspapers should not be allowed to publish without government approval. And almost one in five said that Americans should be prohibited from expressing unpopular opinions.

Lemme tell you little darlings something: This is my livelihood you're messing with, so either learn the Bill of Rights or you don't deserve Social Security.

Now, to those of you who think I'm overreacting: Yes, I understand that when you're in high school you're still very young and that no one really cares what kids say anyway — it's not like priests are dating them for their brains.

But the younger generation is supposed to rage against the machine, not for it; they're supposed to question authority, not question those who question authority.

And what's so frightening is that we're seeing the beginnings of the first post-9/11 generation — the kids who first became aware of the news under an "Americans need to watch what they say" administration, the kids who've been told that dissent is un-American and therefore justifiably punished by a fine, imprisonment — or the loss of your show on ABC.

President Bush once asked, "Is our children learning?" No — they isn't. A more appropriate question might be, "Is our teachers teaching?" In four years, you can teach a gorilla sign language. Is it too much to ask that in the same amount of time a kid be taught what those crazy hippies who founded this country had in mind?

I know the Morals & Values folks want us to take time out of the school day for prayer and the Ten Commandments and abstinence training and at least two theories of evolution — the one agreed upon by every scientist in the world and the one that involves naked ladies and snakes — but, lest we forget, last month the people of Iraq risked death and danger to send a simple, inspiring message: America, get out of our country. But also, we want the freedoms you take for granted.

Now, I didn't mind being on the losing side of the last election. But as a loser, I guess I have some "unpopular" opinions — and I'd like to keep them. I'd even like to continue to say them right out loud on TV, because if I just get up there every Friday night and spout the Bush administration's approved talking points, that's not freedom or entertainment. It's Fox News.

Classic.

Posted by timothompson at 12:34 PM

February 17, 2005

Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo Report Claims More Economic Impact for Austin Than ACL Festival and SXSW Combined

Despite the media buzz that Austin City Limits Festival and SXSW attract, the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, which takes place for two weeks at the end of March (March 12-26th this year), commissioned a report (PDF format) that affirms the rodeo generates more economic impact for Austin than both of those festivals combined. Despite drawing from a more regional state audience, the report (commissioned from locally based Texas Perspectives) estimates that it generates $45.6 million in economic impact for the city as opposed to the combined $30.6 million generated by its two more famous cousins. And “the Rodeo,” as it dubs itself, has grown from 160,000 attendees in 2000 to over 325,000 in 2004.

On the other hand, the $30.6 million figure cited in the report may be open to question, as the SXSW site reports it generated $29.3 million alone at last year's conference and festival. And according to this Austin Music Commission report, last year's ACL Festival had an economic impact of $20 million on the local economy. According to the report, the average Rodeo participant is estimated to spend $150 per day, while the average ACL participant spends $216 per day, and the average SXSW participant $264 per day. In addition, the Rodeo lasts a week longer than the combined durations of both the other festivals.

Posted by timothompson at 02:31 PM

Upcoming Indie Releases Leak, Angering Artists

With the upcoming Spoon album informally released to the torrenting masses, we now have a trifecta of artists who have seen their long-in-progress works leaked in the last two weeks. First, we had Sleater-Kinney politely request that the downloading stop in their journal, and One Louder posted today that Scott Herren of Prefuse 73 has even harsher words for the people who leaked his “fucking album”:

To all you wonderful people that have downloaded my fucking album. thanks!! To you fantastic people responsible for posting my fucking album = an extra thanks to you!! I should shelve this album, let the computer have it, quit Prefuse and start a hand clapping orchestra. If I could afford to give this album to everyone - i would do it, but instead i fucked up and forgot i was wearing a sign around my neck that says; "I work for free!", my bad... Alright - big up yourselves. Gracias...!

Will Spoon be the next artist to post an anti-downloading missive on its site? Which starving artist will be next to join the “hand clapping orchestra” (Spoon is admittedly experienced at it)? Stay tuned...

Update (2.19.05): Both Prefuse 73 and Sleater-Kinney (due to a site redesign) have pulled their statements about the leaks.

Posted by timothompson at 02:11 PM

Remixes of Beatles' “Rubber Soul” Classics

Stanislav at Orbis Quintus has remixed some classic Beatles' tracks to improve the production.

Posted by timothompson at 02:03 PM

February 16, 2005

Hip Hop Hits SXSW

HoustonSoReal has a list of hip hop acts he's helped to book for this year's SXSW:

Wednesday, March 16th, Backroom
Bun B & MDDL FNGZ, Port Arthur/Houston
Devin the Dude, Houston
Trae, Houston
CHOPS, Philly
Play N Skillz, Dallas
Partners N Crime, New Orleans
Basswood Lane, Austin
Abstraq, Beaumont
Dat Boy Mikee, Austin
Barely Broke Family, Austin
DJ Rapid Ric and DJ Chill in between sets, Austin/Houston

Thursday, March 17th, The Vibe (all live bands with rappers)
Scarface and the Formaldehyde Funk Band, Houston
Bavu Blakes, Garland/Austin
Money Waters, Dallas
Zin, Houston
Mojoe, San Antonio

Thursday, March 17th, Zero Degrees
Diplo, Philly
M.I.A. (maybe, hoping, trying – she’ll be at sxsw, on this show and/or something else)
DJ Lt. Dan, Delaware (with special guest?)
DJ Rapid Ric, Austin (with special guests?)
DJ Chill, Houston (with special guests?)
DJ Panko, Spain (with special guests?)
Nick Nack, Austin (with special guests?)

Friday, March 18th, Fox and Hound
Slim Thug, Houston
Swishahouse, Houston
Chingo Bling, Houston
Baby Bash, Vallejo/Houston
Grit Boys, Houston
DSR, Dallas
K-Rino and South Park Coalition, Houston
Ovadose, Gary, Indiana – formerly of Grind Family
Ghostwriters, Houston
MC Fatal, Austin
Deep, Houston
DJ Chill/Rapid Ric between sets, Houston/Austin

Friday, March 18th, Zero Degrees
Josh Martinez, Sleep, Chiccarones, Canada
Studemont Project, Houston
Grand Buffet, Pittsburgh
Lunar Heights, San Francisco
Dalek,
No Luck Club, Vancouver
Kevin Coval, Chicago

Saturday Night, March 19th, International Caribbean Lights
Ojos de Brujo, Spain
Daara J, Senegal
C-Mon & Kypski, Netherlands
Cartel de Santa, Mexico
Eternia, Canada
Moodruff, Canada

Saturday, March 19th, Zero Degrees
Frank N Dank, Detroit
Non Phixion, New York
Zion I, Bay Area
Scavone, New York
Tre Hardson, LA
Tahir, Tallahassee
Doujah Raze, New York
Malcovich of B.L.X., LA
ATX Records Click, Austin

Posted by timothompson at 10:11 AM

February 15, 2005

SXSW Wristbands and Film Passes on Sale February 24th

The cards are falling into place. With news that the SXSW schedule will be announced February 16th (tomorrow as I write this), now Waterloo Records has announced wristbands will go on sale February 24th:

WRISTBANDS will go on sale on Thursday, February 24, priced at $110 ONLY here at Waterloo (maximum two per person, cash or credit card only).


When the first 2000 wristbands sell out OR on Monday, February 28 (whichever comes first) the price will change to $130 and will be available ONLY at Waterloo and Encore Movies and Music (maximum four per person, cash or credit card only).

When the second 2000 sell our OR on Wednesday, March 9 the will increase to $150 available ONLY at Waterloo and Encore (maximum four per person, cash or credit card only).

These prices include tax and all service/credit card charges. Wristbands will only be sold in Austin, on a walk-up basis, as long as they last and the cannot be reserved in advance or purchased over the phone or on the internet.

SXSW FILM PASSES go on sale Monday, February 21st, ONLY at Waterloo Video (1016 W. 6th Street). They are $58 each and all sale are also walk-up only, cash or charge.

After raising the price of wristbands by $10 or more for the last few years, SXSW only raised it by $5 this year.

Posted by timothompson at 07:36 PM

Design Observer: The Rise and Fall of Rock and Roll Graphic Design

Here.

Posted by timothompson at 04:53 PM

What the Heck Is That?

It took me a while to figure out exactly what this bespectacled man was kissing in this Lever 2000 ad from this week's Entertainment Weekly. At first, I thought “Part 596” was buttocks. Yes, buttocks. But why was there a little nub on that butt? Did this person have a wart or something there? And why didn't the ad's quality control people Photoshop that ugly thing out? It took me a while, but now I realize I was just an incredible dumbass, and that the round thing he's kissing is a pregnant woman's distended belly.

Somehow, I think the confusion was intended by the ad agency as they feature a “Spin the Parts” game on the Lever 2000 site where you can “massage” your *oh my* on your partner/friends *oh my*. But I bet *vulva* and *scrotum* aren't options in that game.

Posted by timothompson at 04:14 PM

Music Blogs Erupt in Rancor and Rotisserie Chicken Accusations

I don't know what's been going on in the universe in the first two weeks of February, but apparently it's causing entertaining blog wars—one because Matador Records founder Gerard Cosloy wouldn't let a former intern named Teeter become his MySpace friendster and the other because “Mr. Rub” Paul Cox chastised the MP3 blog Scenestars for posting multiple MP3s from popular artists. Whatever it is, it's been way more entertaining than watching “The Real World” marathons. Keep it up, blog warriors! (Thank God I don't have comments on. All I need is Teeter, “Mark Ibold” and Gerard Cosloy continuing their spat here. And yes, Railroad Jerk rocks.)

Posted by timothompson at 03:14 PM

February 11, 2005

Project Runway at Fashion Week

Like many others, I've been peeping Bravo's hit reality series “Project Runway.” While looking at the Final Four's recent Fashion Week collections, I noticed that my favorite designer on the show, Jay McCarroll, outfitted his runway models in color-coordinated headphones [via]. Go Jay! And as opposed to headline grabber Austin Scarlett's designs (which Jay has frequently criticized as being “costumey”), Jay's self-dubbed “techno-bohemian” designs can actually be worn out in public. In his introductory comments at Fashion Week, Scarlett explained he was going for a Revolutionary War look (introducing it as being about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”). But can you imagine anyone rocking the long-OOP hat and Edwardian puffy shirt anywhere but at a masquerade ball, Halloween Party or Prince concert? Scarlett may find that his true calling is doing costume designs for movies. The final 2-hour episode, covering Fashion Week, will appear on the February 23rd. More photos from “Project Runway's” Fashion Week here.

Posted by timothompson at 01:43 PM

February 10, 2005

Chicago in Austin

Chicagomuzik shares a couple of the Chicago SXSW parties and showcases:

For those of you who travel down to SXSW, you know that Schubas always throws a helluva party at Austin's Yard Dog Gallery. Here's the early word on acts currently scheduled to perform during the day on Thursday 3/17...

Dogs Die in Hot Cars
Lou Barlow (Solo)
By Divine Right
Micah P. Hinson
Willy Mason (Solo)
Natural History
Robbers On High Street

Also, local outfit Biz 3 is sending out word that a bunch of their clients will be performing at one of the official SXSW showcases on Saturday 3/19 at Emo's. Performers include...

Buck 65
Saul Williams
Aesop Rock
The Perceptionists
C-Rayz Walz
Beans
and local boy Kenny Jenkins (aka Diverse)

Posted by timothompson at 05:02 PM

February 09, 2005

More Joos Noos

Woohoo! DCB (David Berman) posted an update to the Silver Jews message board about the new album [via]:

We won't be finished until Feb.24th. So it should come out around July. i'm giving a reading at sarah lawrence on thurs nite a t 9pm. bring a walkman and ill let you listen to what it sounds like so far. the working title is "tanglewood numbers"

you know "woodchilde masquerade" had it's chances.
and i know what you're thinking-

but remember "the natural bridge" is THREE words.

the players in order of appearance:

mike fellows
steve malkmus
brian kotzur
bob nastanovich
bobby bare jr.
steve west
duane denison
azita youseffi
will oldham
pete cummings
tony crow
paz lenchatain
j.d. wilkes


songs are called :

sleeping is the only love
there is a place
punks in the beerlight
how can i love you (if you won't lie down?)
the poor the fair and the good
animal shapes
i'm getting back (into getting back into getting back into you)
sometimes the pony gets depressed
k-hole
the farmer's hotel
brian's song
freezing in the shadow of your knee
region ten

re: is it the last silver jews album? Impossible! as long as two or us walk the earth
the band is still together. and, as always, thanks to you that give a damn about what we do.

yours,

DCB

With those kinds of titles (“i'm getting back (into getting back into getting back into you”) combined with Berman making Malkmus listen to a lot of Johnny Paycheck, I'm getting excited. DCB mentions that the cover art will be a William Eggleston photo (Memphis photographer whose work appears on Big Star's “Radio City” (original photo), Primal Scream's “Give Out But Don't Give Up,” and Chuck Prophet's “Age of Miracles”).

Posted by timothompson at 02:56 PM

February 08, 2005

SXSW News and Showcases

Someone has started a Myspace.com group for SXSW bands [via], and labels and bands have started posting showcases. Here's a few I've found:

Birdman Records SXSW Showcase
March 16th at TBA
Apes
Modey Lemon
Gris Gris
Brother JT
Time Flys

Bella Union Showcase
March 16th at Friends Bar
8pm The Czars
9pm jetscreamer
10pm Bikini Atoll
11pm Midlake
12pm Mandarin
1pm The Dears

Sub Pop Showcase
March 16th at Emo's
9pm Jennifer Gentle
10pm A-Frames
11pm The Thermals
12pm The Album Leaf
1pm Sleater-Kinney

Lookout SXSW Showcase!!
March 17th at Friends
The Oranges Band
Communique
The Reputation
Troubled Hubble
Hockeynight

Astralwerks SXSW Showcase
March 17th at Stubb's
22-20s
VHS or Beta
Radio 4
Graham Coxon
Fatboy Slim

Cold Crush/French Kiss Showcase
March 17th at Whiskey Bar
A Gun Called Tension
Thunderbirds are Now!
The Bloodthirsty Lovers
Turing Machine
The Hold Steady
Mahjongg

Yep Roc Records' Showcase
March 17th at the Continental Club
Robyn Hitchcock
The Comas
Jon Doe
Dolorean

Blowfly Showcase
March 18th at Emo's
Blowfly
Har Mar Superstar
The Ravonettes
The Killers
Blanche

Jade Tree/Touch and Go/Rockpile Showcase
March 18th at Red Eyed Fly
Sally Timms
Ester Drang
Supersystem
Enon
Pedro the Lion

Hydrahead Showcase
March 18th at Emo's Annex
These Arms Are Snakes
Mare
Oxbow
Big Business
Pelican
Isis

Hopeless & Sub City Showcase
March 18th at Redrum
8pm Break the Silence
9pm Amber Pacific
10pm Nural
11pm Kaddisfly
12am Melee
1am Ever We Fall

Small Stone Records Showcase
March 18th at Room 710
8pm A Thousand Knives Of Fire
9pm Acid King
10pm Sasquatch
11pm Bottom
12am Porn (featuring Billy Anderson, Dale Crover, and Tim Moss)
1am Dixie Witch

Fat Wreck Chords/Jade Tree Showcase
March 19th at Emo's Annex
The Loved Ones
Breather Resist
Smoke or Fire
From Ashes Rise
Against Me!

Saturday, March 19th at Red Eyed Fly
8pm Tracker
9pm Menomena
10pm Harvery Danger
11pm Aqueduct
12pm Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter
1am Nada Surf

A day party at Urban Outfitters on the 18th at 2pm will feature the Statistics, Moebius Band and Dios Malos. Donewaiting, Lil' Deb, and Showlist Austin list more day parties and showcases. By next week, wristbands will be on sale, and the showcases will be listed on the SXSW site and in the Austin Chronicle.

Posted by timothompson at 03:17 PM

Dennis Cooper Music Compilation to Feature Pollard, Malkmus, Xiu Xiu

According to a Bookslut interview, Versus Press is working on a CD/book project based on the work of Dennis Cooper. Originally dubbed “The Ash Gray Proclamation,” the compilation (now titled “Dennis”) will feature music inspired by his books from the likes of Robert Pollard, Stephen Malkmus, Xiu Xiu and Camper Van Beethoven. In addition, Cooper will include a new novella in the comp. Cooper gave an update on the project on his site:

A bunch of you have written to us asking what happened to DC’s multi-media project ‘Dennis’ (formerly known as ‘The Ash Gray Proclamation’). For you newbies, this is a book/CD package featuring a compilation of songs from bands and musicians (Richard Hell, Stephen Malkmus, Robert Pollard, Xiu Xiu, Camper Van Beethoven, and many others) inspired by DC’s books plus a new novella by the man himself. It was supposed to have been in stores last fall. Well, we have some news. ‘Dennis’ was ready -- designed, mastered, etc. -- and on its way out when Substandard Records, who were co-releasing the project with Versus Press, suddenly folded its tent in December. Versus Press is currently setting up a partnership with another independent record label TBA, and a new release date should be announced shortly.

In 2000, New York University hosted a two-day celebration of Dennis Cooper's work with an exhibition of his manuscripts, correspondence, myriad books and other works, and readings of his words by Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore, and Bret Easton Ellis. The comp is a side project to Cooper's new novel, “The Sluts,” that's been in the works for eight years.

Posted by timothompson at 12:29 PM

February 03, 2005

Donations Accepted Following Fire at Guadalupe Arts Center

Following a fire that struck the Guadalupe Arts Center on Monday, January 31 (photos here), the Austin Business Journal reports that two local filmmakers (who were working on “Slam Planet: war of the words,” a documentary about slam poetry) are requesting assistance to salvage the film (donations can be made at Bank One through the Slam Planet Support fund or mail checks to Henry and Fuller's office at 1113 S. Third Street, Austin, Texas, 78704).

The Arts Center, which was due to re-open February 1 as the vin gallery, suffered around $500,000 in losses (News Austin estimates $260,000, not including art supplies). Starting tonight (Thursday, February 3, 6-8 p.m.), donations will be accepted at West End Galleries for the artists who lost their art supplies. Austin Film Works has temporarily relocated classes as well.

Posted by timothompson at 02:04 PM

February 01, 2005

Promocopy Sticks A Fork Into Pitchfork

Here.

Posted by timothompson at 06:39 PM