It's that time of year again. The time when hipsters, band managers, publicity companies, radio DJs, writers, and—oh yeah, bands flock to Texas in search of new friends, new fans and new opportunities. HowWasTheShow.com is proud to be providing day-by-day coverage of one of the biggest musical events of the year, Austin's South by Southwest, brought to you by contributor Neil Olstad and writer and photographer Stacy Sandstrom.
To whet our pallettes, HWTS writer Jen Paulson compiled interviews with five of the Twin Cities' own SXSW representatives, including Martin Devaney, Chris Perricelli, Mark Mallman, Kate Galloway and Jesse Stensby, and you can read all about their decisions for travelling South and their hopes for this year's festival in this compelling interview series entitled Minnesota Does SXSW.
And check back to this page daily for updates from Neil and Stacy, who are attending and photographing as many shows as possible in their limited time at this year's music conference and festival.
Stacy's first day at SXSW includes getting her badge, enjoying the priveledges of getting into exclusive shows, and catching sets by Beirut, Emma Pollack, The Mountain Goats, Voxtrot, The Pasties, Maps and Atlases and more.
Neil's first day at SXSW includes a decision about whether to see familiar bands or new bands, a keynote speech by Pete Townshend, and seeing performances by Langhorne Slim, Les Savy Fav, Lily Allen and To Live and Die in LA.
Exhaustion hits Stacy as she tries to stay awake until the end of the night to see the Fratellis. Earlier in the day she sees Bob Mould, Bishop Allen, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, I Still Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, and other blog-buzzing extremely long-named acts.
Neil revels in the warm weather, eats some barbeque with fellow Minnesotans and takes in sets by Annuals, Blonde Redhead, The Spill Canvas, Shout Out Out Out Out, Matt and Kim and Menomena on his second day.
Stacy encounters problems getting her camera in to shows around town but still manages to catch sets by Andrew Bird, Apples in Stereo, Little Man, Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Oxford Collapse and Sloan.
Neil's third day includes shows by Andrew Bird, Beach House, Bedroom Walls, Dana Falconberry, Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Oxford Collapse and Tilly and the Wall.
On her last day, Stacy meanders around Austin looking for adventure and takes in shows by +/-, Asobi Seksu, Menomena, Money Mark, The Hazey Janes and The Polyphonic Spree.
.jpg)
It's that time of year again. The time when hipsters, band managers, publicity companies, radio DJs, writers, and—oh yeah, bands flock to Texas in search of new friends, new fans and new opportunities. HowWasTheShow.com is proud to be providing day-by-day coverage of one of the biggest musical events of the year, Austin's South by Southwest, brought to you by contributor Neil Olstad and writer and photographer Stacy Sandstrom. 
