Are you creating the best and most innovative online destinations? Then don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your latest work to the web industry and win big in the 12th Annual SXSW Web Awards Presented by Adobe.

Focusing on sites that launched in 2008, this year’s international competition includes a very special reception for finalists in each category on Saturday evening, March 14. Mingle with your competitors, share details of your project with press in attendance, and meet event sponsors before the big showdown on Sunday night at the 2009 SXSW Web Awards Ceremony. Don't miss out on this premier opportunity to leverage the SXSW buzz and be recognized for your innovative work.

Take advantage of the early entry deadline and submit your work before midnight on Friday, October 17th

Pictured above: Preloaded takes home the Best of Show honors, along with a special prize package including Adobe software, at the 2008 event.

Insightful discussions covering innovative topics are the heart of the SXSW Interactive Festival experience. To this end, we are happy to announce the first batch of confirmed panels for the 2009 event. Click here to see the list in alphabetical order or here to see this list of 60+ sessions broken down by category. These panels cover the gamut from advertising and business concerns to social media and web design. Where did we get this content? Good question – this first batch of programing represents some of the 1327 proposals submitted by the SXSW community to this year’s Panel Picker.

Also, please remember that this first batch of programming represents just the tip of the iceberg. More panels covering many more topics of interest to geeks and the digital creatives who love them will be released throughout October and November. For 2009, we expect to present more than 180 sessions – so there is definitely much much more to come. As for which panels occur on what days, look for the first schedule to appear on this website in early December. Finally, lest we forget the ever-present caveat, here goes: all programming is always subject to change (and probably will).

To celebrate the holiday season, on November 14th, SXSW will give one lucky registrant 5 free nights at the Residence Inn Downtown during SXSW 2009.

The rules are simple: ALL who are registered for SXSW by 6pm CST on November 14th will be eligible for a random drawing. If you aren’t registered yet, you should and soon. (If you need a hotel room, make your reservation when you register.)

The prize is too cool: 5 complimentary nights of your choosing between March 12th and March 23rd, 2009 in a Studio Queen room at the Residence Inn Downtown Austin. The Residence Inn Downtown is one of Austin’s newest hotels. Located across the street from the Austin Convention Center, Residence Inn is one of our most sought after hotels. The Studio Queen room includes a kitchen area, and a living area with sleeper sofa and a queen size bed. The reservation includes breakfast each day of your stay. The winner of the SXSW Hotel Giveaway will be announced on November 17th, 2008.

Be sure to register no later than 6:00 pm CST November 14th, 2008 at www.sxsw.com/attend.

SXSW is thrilled to premiere our new podcast series, Studio SX Online. Using the same model as our annual Studio SX events in the SXSW Trade Show, Studio SX Online allows you listen in on one-on-one interviews and conversations between some of your favorite speakers participating in the SXSW Conferences and Festivals.

Click Here to Listen / Download MP3

In our first podcast Indie film guru Peter Broderick interviews Scott Kirsner about Scott's new book, "Inventing the Movies," which tells the story of Hollywood's love-hate relationship with new ideas and new technologies, from the days of Thomas Edison to the era of YouTube and the iPod. Peter and Scott also discuss digital projection and cinematography, emerging opportunities for indie filmmakers today, the initial reaction to Dogma 95, experiments by filmmakers like Jonathan Caouette and Robert Greenwald, and how festivals are changing.

On Tuesday, March 17, Wired's Chris Anderson will be part of a keynote interview to talk about his new book "Free: The Past and Future of a Radical Price." Want to be at SXSW to see this interview? Better yet, want to be at SXSW to see this interview for FREE? If so, then subscribe to the SXSW Interactive Festival monthly listserve. Subscribing to this newsletter allows you to to keep up-to-date on panel programming, parties, the Web Awards, and all the other cool stuff that is planned for the 2009 event.

In addition to all this amazing information, each listserve also contains an easy-to-answer question that pertains to some aspect of SXSW. If you answer the question correctly, then you are eligible to receive a FREE FREE FREE registration to the 2009 event (value $495). Talk about a good deal! The October listserve is scheduled to be released on Thursday, October 2, so sign up today to be part of the action. Please remember that in addition to answering the question correctly . . . you must be a subscriber to the listserve to be eligible to win.

Chris Anderson photo courtesy of Wired.

The SXSW Interactive Festival is very excited to announce that Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine and author of the best-selling book "The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More," will be part of the Keynote Interview on Tuesday afternoon, March 17. Anderson's new book covers the growing importance of pricing models that provide no-cost content, products and services to customers. "Free: The Past and Future of a Radical Price" is scheduled for release in the summer of 2009.

Interviewing Anderson will be Guy Kawasaki, the managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, an an early-stage venture capital firm. His newest venture is Alltop.com, a website that functions as an "online magazine rack" with the latest from a wide variety of news sources and blogs covering "all topics." A former Apple Fellow at Apple Computer, Kawasaki is also the author of nine books (including "Reality Check," "The Art of the Start" and "How to Drive Your Competition Crazy,") as well as a columnist for Entrepreneur magazine.

Register before the September 26 early-bird deadline to attend the Anderson & Kawasaki Keynote Interview as well as all the other great content that the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival has to offer.

Chris Anderson photo courtesy of Wired Magazine. Guy Kawasaki photo by Bryn Colton.

SXSW’s online home has consulted the top interior designers, installed new curtains (they call them ‘window treatments’), hung some new pictures and moved the furniture around. Please come in and admire the changes. I was hoping they’d order an Eames Lounge Chair for me, but c’est la vie.

This new spot on the music home page is where you’ll find all the new posts pertaining to the music conference and festival. Linda Park will check in often. Here’s something you might not know about Linda - she sat through the entire Teen Choice awards show the other night for her Velocity blog. That is true dedication to craft. I’ll be writing about Music Conference related matters, and the Daily Chord posts will show up here, too. Other voices will pop in as well. The idea is to give information about SXSW direct from the source, and to encourage you to attend and participate in our event. So hello again, come on inside. Please don’t track mud on the carpet.

Hey there, if you are looking for information related to the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival, then you are at the wrong place! Instead of looking at this page, click here to access the brand new website for next year’s event. Special thanks to Blue Flavor for providing the all-new site architecture, as well as to Sibley/Peteet Design Austin for assisting us with an all-new identity. Rock!

I’ve been in a fog for the last five days, one both literal and figurative, so I missed the sad news that Austin fave Jon Dee Graham was in a serious car accident. Many wishes for a peaceful recovery to Jon and his family. I saw him perform I don’t know how many years ago, and it was one of the best solo shows I’ve ever seen. Please enjoy this footage of the man at work.

In other local-ish news, it doesn’t sound like The Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes has mellowed out much if their recent performance at New York’s Webster hall is any indication. Rawk.

C3 has permanently scrapped plans for the Vineland festival due to the sudden popularity of… New Jersey.

And finally, we’re taking a break here at the SXSW Music Blog ’til the middle of next week as the SXSW 2009 site launches tomorrow. Can’t wait to see the new look, and we’ll have plenty of blogtastic postings for you to start your August off right. The RSS song will remain the same, and you can continue to (not) email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Farewell beautiful ‘08. It’s time to move on.

Tchussie for now, lp

• Obama rejects Ludacris song
  Story from BBC News.
• Dell may return to music player market
  Post from Dallas News blog.
• Gilberto Gil steps down as Brazil culture minister
  Story from AP.
• Jack Johnson’s big green business machine
  Story from CNN.
• McGuinness talks U2
  Story from The Telegraph. (found via Coolfer)
• Conniff leaves Billboard for Front Line
  Item from Silicon Alley Insider.
• Black Crowes accuse Gretchen Wilson of stealing song
  Story from E! Online.

Can’t Get a Film Distributor?
Then DIY writes the NYTimes.

Duchovny on the new X Files Film
Actor David Duchovny speaks to the BBC about the new X Files movies.

A Big DVD Victory in the Cards For 21
SXSW opening night film, 21, wins big.

Dressing Up to Watch a Movie is So In
Between the Carries, Jokers, and Batmans, this summer movie goers may have revealed the latest craze–dressing up as film characters.

For those that braved the traffic, the dust, Suicide Hill, and more… you were rewarded with Teletubbies courtesy of The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, The Tragically Hip playing over their allotted set length, two members of N.E.R.D arriving late (see above mentioned traffic), Jay-Z and Tom Petty. So, a mixed bag, methinks.

It took us two and a half hours to get to the Pemberton Festival… usually a 35 minute drive. Our intrepid driver took it upon herself to play chicken with oncoming cars so we could jump the line. That was an adventure. Thank God for the police escort that finally arrived or we might still be sitting on the Sea to Sky with several already drunk (I saw a guy lift a girl in a move reminiscent of Dirty Dancing on the side of the road) festival goers.

The site, nestled in a valley in the Coast Mountains, was beautiful, but I think the organizers need to find some secret road to the protected potato field (and running out of parking wasn’t so great, either) if they want smoother sailing next year. On the flip side, we did go to the top of a mountain yesterday, which was not bad at all.

I recommend Whistler to anyone looking for some outdoor adventures and excellent cuisine. As for Pemberton… it has potential, but it seems like they have some big hurdles to clear if they want to make it a premier festival. And I never even saw Chris and Gwynnie!

Did you go to Pemby? What’d you think? Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com

It’s nice to be home, lp

• Tijuana losing its taste for narcocorridos
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Joe Beck dies
  Obituary from Danbury News Times.
• Guy Hands gathers investors for annual review
  Story from Bloomberg.
• Jack White and Alicia Keys team up for Bond theme
  Story from The Guardian.
• Vineland Fest is not happening this year or next
  Post from Chicago Tribune blog.
• Miley Cyrus sells more than Sugarland
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• SonyBMG loses $49 mil last quarter
  Item from Billboard.biz.

As mentioned in a previous post, the SXSW Interactive website will re-launch on Friday with all-new artwork and site architecture. August 1 is also the first day that you can purchase a registration for the 2009 event. Remember, the earlier you register for the event, the lower the price to attend. Registration early also gives you the most possible downtown lodging options. In other words, book your room now via the SXSW Housing Desk before your hotel of choice sells out!

What were those dates again? The 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival begins Friday morning, March 13 and ends Tuesday evening, March 17.

Mike Mills on Beautiful Losers
An interview with the director/artist-turned-subject of the 2008 SXSW premiere.

Silver Jew Coming to DVD
SXSW Alumni Michael Tully’s doc gets a release date.

How Warner Bros. Prevented a Leak
The much anticipated “The Dark Knight” has been a huge hit, but how did Warner Bros. prevent the film from being leaked onto the internet before opening day?

2008: the Year of the Seasoned Actor
Strangely enough, some of this summer’s most successful films have revolved around actors over the age of 40. What’s their secret?

During his 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival Keynote address game developer Will Wight (SimCity, The Sims) opened the door on his newest creation “Spore” for the enthusiastic crowd. Last Thursday at Comic-Con International in San Diego he opened the door even more, showing the packed room of eager geeks and media another glimpse into this highly anticipated game’s playspace. Read all about Wright’s inspirational Comic-Com 2008 appearance by clicking on the ScreenBurn Gaming Fest link. And click here for an in-depth look into his 2007 SXSW Interactive talk.

Hey Central Texas geeks! Be sure to stop by Buffalo Billiards (201 East 6th Street) at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening, July 30 for SummerMash Austin. This event features networking with prizes, food, drinks, music, and all sorts of other fun. Hosts for the July 30 event Austin include Mashable CEO, Pete Cashmore, plus Texas resident and Mashable editor Mark ‘Rizzn’ Hopkins. Click here for complete details.

Where Are They Now?
Filmmaker Magazine catches up with some previous “Faces to Watch.”

Creative Capital Convenes the Class of ‘08
A wrap up of the foundation’s retreat, and a look at some of their current, exciting projects.

What’s That Smell?
Cheech & Chong must be on tour again.

In Case You Missed It
Some great Comic-Con coverage from Thompson on Hollywood.

‘W’ Teaser Now Online
The teaser trailer for Oliver Stone’s new biopic focuses on the 43rd president’s less presidential side.

• Yahoo Music to offer refunds
  Post from CNET.
• Doctorow - UK ISP deal is ‘a suicide note from the music industry’
  Commentary from The Guardian.
• Tom Waits’ Atlanta show streams
  Post from NPR Music.
• Three discs of Dylan rarities out October 7
  Item from Billboard.
• Cassettes are dead
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Keys sorry for tobacco ads
  Story from BBC News.
• Ian McLagan readies new album
  Story from Texas Music

Two former SXSW Interactive speakers are featured in the July 27 issue of the New York Times Book Review. The first of these authors is Rob Walker, whose new book is titled “Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are”. According to the review by Farhad Manjoo, “Few observers have plumbed the subterranean poetry of marketing as thoroughly as Walker. Mining research from psychology and economics to explain the unlikely rise of several brands, [he] argues that our susceptibility to marketing arises from our ignorance of its pervasiveness.” Less flattering is Katie Hafner’s assessment of “Once You’re Lucky, Twice You’re Good: The Rebirth of Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0″, which is the new release by Sarah Lacey (pictured above). Hafner contends that the author “draws a fascinating portrait of Marc Andreesen and his need not just to best himself but to equal the success of his mentor Jim Clark, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur who financed netscape. Otherwise, the title seems to bear little relevance to the book.” Ouch.

I suppose you have to be a dork of a certain age to be excited by the prospect of a new collaboration by David Byrne and Brian Eno, and I am just old enough to be in that demographic. The project’s website has Mr. Byrne giving you the skinny via video. This item in Pitchfork contains a track list and further detail. I encourage all whippersnappers to get up to date on this.

Mr. Byrne has spoken and played at SXSW a few times over the years. Most recently, he gave a presentation “Record Companies: Who Needs Them?” at SXSW 2007, check out a few minutes of it here. This presentation morphed into a great article in Wired. I’m now turning my attention to the gods of the weather at Zilker Park on September 26.

Dark Knight Who?
Good news for indies at the B.O. this weekend.

SXSW premiere Heavy Load wins Audience Prize at BritDocs
… and more news from last week’s event.
Also, for some good BritDoc coverage and pics head over to Matt Dentler’s blog.

The Matador takes on DocuWeek
Be sure to check out the SXSW premiere at IDA’s DocuWeek-New York.

Striking Distance
SAG national board members unanimously voted this weekend that the majors’ final offer is unacceptable in the new media-provisions. The stalemate continues.

• This hit song is a gum jingle
  Story from Wall Street Journal. (site reg req’d)
• Liner notes and album credits are a casualty of digital music
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Pop music critics embrace the mainstream
  Commentary from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Johnny Griffin dies
  Obituary from BBC News.
• Tips for hi-fi listening
  Post from CNET blog.
• 76 detained at New England Country Music Festival
  Story from Boston Globe.
• Lollapalooza promoters interviewed
  Article from Chicago Sun-Times.
• Midyear music biz report card
  Item from Rolling Stone.

The countdown has begun! It is just one week until we launch the 2009 season complete with a new website. We are really excited about the new look and usability of the site – and we think you will be as well. Special thanks to our friends at Sibley/Peteet for developing the 2009 identity – also a big thanks to our pals at Blue Flavor for their work on the revised site architecture. Finally, if you don’t have it marked on your calendar already, the dates for SXSWeek for next spring are March 13-21, while the dates for the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival are March 13-17.

Online video is way way cool, which is why we created SXSWclick. Give us your opinion on the best of the best of these short clips by voting for your favorite of the 15 finalists for this year’s competition. Hurry, today is the last day for voting for the 2008 event – polls close at midnight central time.

SXSWclick is sponsored by Boston University Department of Film and Television. Award sponsors are productiontax.com, Gear Software, Mariner Software, Eye Scream Factory, Movie Outline and Final Draft. Meanwhile media partners are the Austin Chronicle, indieWIRE, IndieFlavor, The Hollywood Report, The Filmlot, and iThentic.

Winners of SXSWclick 2008 will be announced on August 8.

This week’s major news story in the digital music realm comes from the UK. Anti-piracy efforts that a number of ISPs have come up with include consideration of an ISP fee that would monetize music downloading from peer-to-peer networks. Yesterday’s Daily Chord linked to two articles: an overview from the BBC and analysis from The Independent. The Independent’s analysis notes that this license fee is easily perceived as a tax, and suggests that this initiative will not be easy to enact.

The issue of how to monetize distribution of music via peer-to-peer networks has vexed many. The reasons behind these efforts were discussed at a 2008 SXSW panel Mobility, Ubiquity and Monetizing Music. Watch a clip where Jim Griffin lays out the premises which have led to the current controversy. Griffin’s current work on behalf of Warner Music to create similar licensing structures in the US is still in a preliminary stage, and will doubtlessly be informed by the outcome of the issue in England.

Watch Kimberlie Dykeman of Web 2.0 TV interview Andy Beal at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival. Author of the book “Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online”, Beal is an internet marketing consultant specializing in search engine marketing, online reputation management, and business blogging via the Marketing Pilgrim website. He delivered a presentation on these topics at this year’s SXSW.

Ready for the new Roger Ebert?
Writer and comedian, Andrea Grimes has collected some clips of Ben Lyons showing off his credibility and TV prowess.

Move Over Godfather, The Dark Knight Has Just Become The Best Movie Ever
IMDB users have moved Dark Knight past Citizen Kane, Casablanca and both Godfathers to become the highest rated movie of all time.

Animated’s Top 10
Here’s a list of the top 10 animated films ever made. See how your favorites fare…

Don’t Overlook Maggie
The boys in Dark Knight have been getting a lot of attention, but check out the The Onion’s A.V. Club interview with Gyllenhaal.

• Some indies thrive while majors struggle
  Story from Business Week.
• Stones and Universal sign deal
  Story from Reuters.
• Clear Channel shareholders OK sale
  Story from Variety.
• Downtown Records’ unique marketing approach noted
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Abkco sues Lil Wayne over copyright
  Story from BBC News.
• EFF - Yahoo Music should compensate customers
  Story from CNET.
• Ex-Pumpkins sue Virgin over digital royalties
  Story from Pitchfork.
• Secrets of writing a ‘wallpaper’ hit
  Story from BBC News.

What’s going on in the world these days…

I’m glad to see that Nas’ protest of Fox News and Bill O’Reilly isn’t hurting his record sales as he debuted this week at #1 with sales of 187,000. Did anyone else The Colbert Report last night? If not, you can see a clip of his interview here and performance here.

50 Cent is suing Taco Bell for devaluing his good name. Did they make some sort of “Get Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes or Die Tryin’” commercial or something? I love 50 Cent, but I also love 7-layer burritos so it’s hard to know who to root for on this one.

Kanye West’s visits with returning veterans are being filmed for an MTV Choose or Lose documentary entitled Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming. Said West, “I teamed up with MTV and took the opportunity to share the spotlight with these veterans and hear their stories. I went to their homes to listen and get their firsthand experiences. I wanted to hear their stories.” Each veteran will receive a financial gift on behalf of MTV and the Dr. Donda West Foundation.

Slayer are considering retirement after their final record on their contract is released. Sad to hear that perhaps it will rain blood no more as soon they may be haunting the retirement home. In honor of Slayer, please enjoy this video of their “Born to be Wild” cover. Steppenwolf never sounded so good.

That’s all she wrote for today. I’m off to Whistler tomorrow to hang with the mooses whilst watching Jay-Z at Pemberton.

As always you can email us at musicblog@sxsw. Subscribe to the feeder here and get all your good time SXSW blogposts delivered straightaway.

Toodles, lp

The second annual Lone Star Ruby Conference is right around the corner, scheduled September 4-6 right here in Austin. For 2008, LSRC offers a full day of advanced training in addition to the two days of Ruby-packed, dual-track speaking sessions with a keynote by Evan Phoenix, the father of Rubinius. And as if that wasn’t enough, the author of Ruby, Yukihiro Matsumoto (a.k.a. Matz), will also be keynoting at the event. Check out the program here. But don’t delay in signing up – early registration ends Sunday, August 10.

Panel content from the 2008 SXSW Interactive event continues to be posted to the podcast page. The latest entries include MASH Notes: A Military Surgeon’s Videoblog from Iraq (Carlos Brown), Roll Over Gutenberg, Tell McLuhan The News (George Kelly), and Take Municipal WiFi Back (Joanna Rees, Rich MacKinnon, Esme Vos, Silona Bonewald, and Spencer Ante). Stay tuned as we continue to add content from the 2008 Interactive event.

Make sure to subscribe to the SXSW Podcast RSS Feed to get the latest podcasts as they arrive.

Only two days left to cast your vote for the 5th Annual SXSWclick Festival. In addition to the Popularity Contest Award, jury winners in each of the five categories, including the Grand Jury Prize winner, will be announced August 1st.

Only two days left to cast your vote for the 5th Annual SXSWclick Festival. In addition to the Popularity Contest Award, jury winners in each of the five categories, including the Grand Jury Prize winner, will be announced August 1st.

Son, You Got a Bag on Your Head
Comingsoon.net talks with SXSW alumni The Duplass Bros. prior to this week’s NY and LA opening.

Pineapple Express and a Brief History of the Movie Stoner
Spout.com’s Kevin Kelly celebrates the anticipation of the opening of Apatow’s new film by taking a look back at film’s most hard-working slackers.

Make Money Money, Make Money Money
Want to make money from web video? It’s a complicated business that might be better left to the pros.

Blockbuster Integrates Movielink Service
Blockbuster had integrated Movielink’s video service into its website. The service is undergoing testing, but should be formally launched sometime in August.

• UK ISPs pact on anti-piracy efforts
  Story from BBC News.
• UK deal called tax on downloaders
  Story from The Independent.
• XM and Sirius deal nears approval
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Jarvis Cocker plays NYC
  Review from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Arthur magazine founder snipes at LA as he moves to Brooklyn
  Post from LA Times blog.
• 50 Cent sues Taco Bell
  Story from Billboard.
• Townshend muses on Rock Honors
  Item from Rolling Stone.

I’m back with mix #2 from SXSW 2008 showcasing artists, this time featuring artists who played on Thursday March 13. It’s just a taste of the variety of sounds heard emanating from various stages in lovely downtown Austin. Norwegian hip-hop, Quebecois lazer-bass, Swedish songcraft, weirdos from Athens GA, and much more await your ears, dive in. These mixes were made via www.muxtape.com, and you can post your own mix, too.

Last week I posted one of these for Wednesday. Any guesses what’s up next?

SXSW 08 Thursday Mix

SXSW Interactive is excited to partner with Mashable, one of the web’s top blog sites for social media news. Did we mention that they also know how to put on a pretty good party? Indeed, Mashable is coming to a city near you to connect with local tech communities and those who lead, power and embrace them. These events mix networking with prizes, food, drinks, music, and web interviews. Come see for yourself at SummerMash Austin, occuring at Buffalo Billiards at 7pm on July 30.

• Nas tops sales with 187k
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Gas prices impact rock bands
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Parsing Pitchfork’s non-review of the Black Kids
  Post from LA Times.
• Music retailer thrives serving captive audience
  Story from Billboard via Yahoo.
• K-Swift’s death a blow to Baltimore club scene
  Story from Baltimore Sun.
• 10 people who escaped the music business
  Gallery from Rolling Stone.
• Man busted for 14k hits of acid at music fest
  Story from WNYT.

The Freshest Faces
Filmmaker magazine’s annual list highlights 25 up-and-coming filmmakers. This year’s group includes SXSW alumni Barry Jenkins, The Zellners Bros., Jesse Epstein, Joshua Safdie, Tom Quinn, Benh Zeitlin, and John Magary.

Simon Pegg’s Geek Roots Show in Spaced
An interview with the actor/creator, just in time for the US DVD release.

Another One Bites the Dust
indieWIRE’s Anthony Kaufman has the scoop on Netflix’s decision to abandon the theatrical acquisitions and production business.

Harrington to Head Up IndiePix Studios
Ryan Harrington, a former A&E IndieFilms exec, will spearhead IndiePix Studios, a newly launched production and filmmaker relations branch of the IndiePix site.

In honor of Mamma Mia! opening (it’s totally uneven but pretty joy inducing, not despite but because of its kooky awfulness), here’s a truckload of Abba.

SOS

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

SUPER TROUPER

FERNANDO

KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU

It’s 3 am. I apologize for the not overly informative post, but then again, I’ve gifted you with Abba. No apology needed, right?!

I’m off to the Pemberton Festival in Canada on Friday. Are you? Death Cab for Cutie! The Flaming Lips! My Morning Jacket! Jay-Z! Canadians! I once saw some bears frolicking on the side of the highway en route to Edmonton!

What’s your favorite Abba song? The band your most looking forward to seeing at Pemberton? Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Aprapo of nothing, lp

We’re finally back from the whirlwind that was BlogHer ‘08. We sat in on discussions about green/social change blogging, fashion/beauty blogging, DIY promotion, mommy blogging, women bloggers without children, and politics and blogging. We watched the closing keynote, went to a department store party, and ate cheeseburgers with some talented and amazing women including Whoorl, Fluid Pudding, Jenny Frazier, Schmutzie, Jenn of Tiny Choices, This Military Mama, greenLAgirl, Holly Burns of Nothing But Bonfires, and Stephanie Klein of Greek Tragedy. All in all, a smashing success and we’re glad we braved it alone. Click here for live blogs from the event.

Launched in 2006, SXSWclick is the year-round initiative created to showcase short-form storytelling via mobile devices and the web. This competition also highlights the ever-increasing impact of these emerging technologies on traditional filmmaking. The 15 finalists for this year’s event have been posted online and now is your chance to vote for your favorite finalist in the Popularity Contest Award. But please don’t delay as the final Click voting deadline is Friday, July 25. Point your browser here for complete details on the balloting process.

Imagine my surprise when I commanded my Video Recording Apparatus (VRA) to replay the Neil Young interview on Charlie Rose that I blogged about last week, and learned that Charlie re-scheduled the airing. I was crushed, and didn’t catch it when it aired the next evening. Luckily, Charlie archives his shows online, and you can watch the interview here. The genesis of 2006’s “Living With War” and the subsequent tour with CSNY is covered, events which came right after his 2006 SXSW keynote.

This photo, shot by Gary Miller, captures the moment I met Neil as he made his way down the service corridor of the convention center before the keynote. That’s Jonathan Demme in front, with me to his left and Neil to his right. I can’t remember what I said, but I’m pretty sure it was dorky. Most of my brushes with greatness have happened in this service corridor.

• Sky launches net music service
  Story from BBC.
• Mercury prize nominations announced
  Story from The Guardian.
• Artie Traum dies
  Obituary from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Gas prices not seen as impacting arts attendance so far
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Simon Napier-Bell’s top 10 books on music
  List from The Guardian.
• Westerberg sells 44-minute MP3 for 49 cents
  Post from Wired blog.
• Neil Young continues teasing with “Archive” talk
  Story from Billboard.
• Rock drummers ‘are top athletes’
  Story from BBC News.

Another summer of Hollywood blockbusters is winding down. Cars will stop exploding and super heroes will take the night off. Yes, this is the little window in the movie season that’s a bit more up my alley. I’m definitely excited for a couple of upcoming screwball comedies.

STEP BROTHERS
This Friday, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are back in “Step
Brothers.” Did you happen to catch them on the ESPYs last night?
Hilarious!

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
Then James Franco has ditched the summer blockbuster and gone
back to his “Freaks and Geeks” roots with “Pineapple Express". A
much better choice, James.

TROPIC THUNDER
I didn’t see “Iron Man", but I’ll definitely watch Robert Downey
Jr. in “Tropic Thunder".

BURN AFTER READING
And the last comedy on the list is from my favorite directors,
The Coens. “Burn After Reading” has a stellar cast. Frances
McDormand is always great and I can’t wait to see Brad Pitt work
with that witty Coen dialogue.

AMERICAN TEEN
This one doesn’t fit in this genre, but “American Teen”
is another flick I’ve been anxiously anticipating. I sadly
missed the screening of this A&E IndieFilms production at SXSW.
I regrettably missed it at LAFF. Lucky for me, I can catch it in
the theater this Friday. Hey, maybe I’ll make it a double
feature!

Another summer of Hollywood blockbusters is winding down. Cars will stop exploding and super heroes will take the night off. Yes, this is the little window in the movie season that’s a bit more up my alley. I’m definitely excited for a couple of upcoming screwball comedies.

STEP BROTHERS
This Friday, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are back in “Step
Brothers.” Did you happen to catch them on the ESPYs last night?
Hilarious!

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
Then James Franco has ditched the summer blockbuster and gone
back to his “Freaks and Geeks” roots with “Pineapple Express". A
much better choice, James.

TROPIC THUNDER
I didn’t see “Iron Man", but I’ll definitely watch Robert Downey
Jr. in “Tropic Thunder".

BURN AFTER READING
And the last comedy on the list is from my favorite directors,
The Coens. “Burn After Reading” has a stellar cast. Frances
McDormand is always great and I can’t wait to see Brad Pitt work
with that witty Coen dialogue.

AMERICAN TEEN
This one doesn’t fit in this genre, but “American Teen”
is another flick I’ve been anxiously anticipating. I sadly
missed the screening of this A&E IndieFilms production at SXSW.
I regrettably missed it at LAFF. Lucky for me, I can catch it in
the theater this Friday. Hey, maybe I’ll make it a double
feature!

I Want My-IPTV
Mobile video is becoming increasingly popular with more people want the ability to watch television on the move. In steps, My-IPTV Anywhere Mobile 2.0 Deluxe. It allows you to record cable TV programs and then watch then from your PC or mobile device.

Ebert, Roeper walk out of ‘At the Movies’
Roeper hints at plans for another review show.

VOD ASAP
Amazon, Netflix, and Apple Duke it out Over Your TV

Borat’s Been Busy!
Sacha Baron Cohen is set to produce “Accidentes” a comedy about ambulance-chasing lawyers. See what else he’s been working on…

SXSW ‘08 Keynoter Lou Reed is in the news as Julian Schnabel’s film ‘Lou Reed’s Berlin’ has opened in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The NY Times gave a positive review here. The film has its own website, and fans should also have Lou’s home page bookmarked.

Relive highlights of the SXSW keyote via the SXSW 2008 Player. Scroll down to select the Lou footage, or download/watch directly here.

Cinetic Adds Film-Finishing Fund
Cinetic Media start to offer funds for Independent films

Records Are Meant to be Broken
The Dark Knight smashed the weekend record set by Spider-Man 3 last year earning an estimated $155 million.

30 Rock Rocks a New Time Slot
NBC is moving Tina Fey’s Emmy-nominated comedy, 30 Rock, to a new 9:30 p.m. time slot this fall.

Heath Ledger Talks About Being The Joker
The late actor talks about his role in The Dark Knight.

• Judges throw out CBS’ Super Bowl indecency fine
  Story from BBC News.
• iLike launches ad platform
  Post from CNET.
• Loud music fuels binge drinking
  Story from Reuters.
• Universal says DMCA takedown notices can ignore ‘fair use’
  Post from Wired.
• Home servers may render CD racks obsolete
  Story from Billboard via Yahoo.
• Siren draws indie kids to Coney Island
  Review from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• James McMurtry is cool with literary tag
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Pitchfork fest blogged
  Posts from Greg Kot’s Chicago Tribune blog.

Wow, That is Fantastic
Austin’s Fantastic Fest Unfurls Film and Fun.

Ze Frank Goes to the Movies
Blogebrity Ze Frank is jumping from the computer screen to the silver screen.

Before you see it before The Dark Knight…
The Watchmen trailer.

Amazon Video on Demand Launches
Yeah, but how much content? Tons of content! Okay, what special equipment do I need? Streaming videos makes watching TVs/movies easier than ever! Well, what about DRM issues? It’s a total non-issue!

A Dash of Hobbit
Despite trying to keep a focus on promoting Hellboy II, Guillermo del Toro hints about The Hobbit. See a compilation of interviews.

• Party laser blinds Russian ravers
  Story from New Scientist Tech.
• Satellite radio saga takes unexpected turn
  Story from AP.
• How eMusic hopes to keep its groove
  Story from Fortune.
• Scott Storch’s empire falls
  Story from AP.
• Katy Perry is no tech ingenue
  Interview from CNET.
• Dylan defended
  Comment from The Guardian.
• Bon Jovi tops touring receipts
  Story from Billboard.

We are excited to be sending one of our own (Tammy Lynn Gilmore, who coordinates Press & Publicity for SXSW Interactive) to her very first BlogHer conference. This year’s event runs from Friday through Sunday at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. BlogHer is always a SXSWi favorite because it’s the place where many of our favorite personal publishers come to life. For 2008, the theme is Reach! and the closing keynote speakers will be Stephanie Klein and former SXSW Interactive festival speaker Heather Armstrong (pictured above) talking about what it’s like to “Live the Truman Show". BlogHer appeals to anyone and everyone who’s interested in any kind of blogging, from the personal to the professional to the political. Check the conference website for more information

So what’s slightly new and noteworthy, I wonder…

Crosby, Stills and Nash have asked Rick Rubin to produce a record of covers for them. Idolator suggests “All Apologies.” I’d like to hear them do “Enter Sandman.” Please enjoy this montage of ships and remember C,S,and N in olden days.

All hail the the return of Eminem. Apparently he’s in the studio and “has a lot to get off his chest,” according to Bishop Lamont. He should play SXSW next year. I’d like to start lobbying for that right now, thanks. This video of Weird Al and Eminem is like, you know what I’m sayin’, and involves a lot of Weird Al screaming. Whatever happened to Al TV?

Wow, wowee, wow! Jimmy Grumbles, I hope you’re reading this… British Lords of the Anthem, James, are headed out on tour for the first time since 2001. Of course they’re not coming to Louisville. Of course I’m leaving LA a week before they play the El Rey. Curses! Here’s the video for “Seven,” but it’s just one of their many kickass tunes.

Jarvis Cocker is writing songs for Wes Anderson’s upcoming kids movie. That all sounds rather perverse yet fashionable and twee but delightful. Doesn’t seem a stretch, that pairing. I feel like I must give you some “Common People” in honor of.

And lastly, can I just say that I love the fact that Billy Ray Cyrus credits David Lynch for starting his acting career? Awesome sauce.

Alright, I hope you’ve enjoyed this late night You Tubing silly news reporting of mine. News reporting? News regurgitating?

Either way… you can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

I’ll see what I can do, lp

A few recent stories from The Daily Chord have brought the issue of music in games to the forefront. Today’s report from the E3 conference notes the popularity and growth of music games, along with new initiatives from the Wii people. The placement of a new Guns N’ Roses track on the upcoming Rock Band 2 drew the attention of the NY Times. Apparently Axl remains savvy enough to get his long-delayed tunes to the ears of his fans in today’s popular format, traditional CD releases be damned. The Financial Times reported on Activision Blizzard’s plans to develop a retail platform around their Guitar Hero franchise.

As you ponder the implications of this trend, take a minute to check out an excerpt from the SXSW Music Conference in March. Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music & Marketing for Electronic Arts describes the unique ways in which music and games inform and enhance each other. Watch the clip via the SXSW Coverage Player. Scroll down to the “Music Placement in Video Games” clip. You can also download the clip here. It turns out that playing games is a serious matter.

• EU considers extending copyright term
  Story from BBC News.
• Audiophiles are over CD format
  Post from CNET blog.
• Music games take center stage at E3
  Story from Seattle PI.
• MTV gets back into music recommendation with ‘Soundtrack’
  Story from paidContent via Washington Post.
• Eno not on Byrne tour
  Item from Billboard.
• Houston’s bad rep with touring indie bands
  Story from Houston Press.
• Chuck Philips is among those leaving LA Times
  Story from Variety.

Now that’s a concept that hadn’t occurred to me until I read an article the other day about the partnership between VideoJug and Kiva. As their motto says, “Life Explained. On Film.”, VideoJug produces professional shorts made up of informative “how-to” videos and “ask the expert” films. I learned about Kiva about a year ago on a PBS special. Kiva is a person-to-person micro-lending site that helps entrepreneurs around the world. It’s a unique partnership - one you don’t see every day - in that VideoJug is offering Kiva free video production services to encourage the micro-finance movement. I think my heart grew three sizes that day. - Hiliary Kerby, SXSW Film

Now that’s a concept that hadn’t occurred to me until I read an article the other day about the partnership between VideoJug and Kiva. As their motto says, “Life Explained. On Film.”, VideoJug produces professional shorts made up of informative “how-to” videos and “ask the expert” films. I learned about Kiva about a year ago on a PBS special. Kiva is a person-to-person micro-lending site that helps entrepreneurs around the world. It’s a unique partnership - one you don’t see every day - in that VideoJug is offering Kiva free video production services to encourage the micro-finance movement. I think my heart grew three sizes that day. - Hiliary Kerby, SXSW Film

Indiewire Gets Snagged
Indiewire editor Eugene Hernandez reports on his company’s acquisition by Snag Films.

IFC Puts Forth Some “Effort”
Another SXSW premiere, My Effortless Brilliance, is picked up by IFC.

The Future of YouTube?
Speculation that Google might be ready to drop YouTube were answered when Google CEO announced a YouTube/Lionsgate deal.

Emmy Nominations Announced
Basic cable series made breakthroughs and HBO dominated again. Find out who’s celebrating and who’s drinking alone tonight.

Nick Hornby’s ‘High Fidelity’ nailed an entire generation of music loving guys who attempted seduction via the mixtape. The whole process of picking and recording songs to a cassette has been updated for the wired generation by a new site, muxtape.com.

For your listening pleasure, here is a mix of MP3s from SXSW showcasing artists from 3/12. It kicks off with 03 keynoter Daniel Lanois’ title track from his excellent “Here Is What Is” and ends with a piece from SOLI Chamber Ensemble, who performed at our Steve Reich night.

I hope you like it. Maybe we could go see a show sometime.

Getting Out of the Woods
Blair Witch Vets help launch Alan Ball’s new HBO series, True Blood.

Coming to a Sofa Near You…
Watch SXSW Veterans, the Zellner Bros., Goliath on IFC VOD.

A Massive Growth
We mentioned how much is going into online video as far as invest dollars, but how many are watching? How about 12 billion. That’s billion with a “B.”

A Stamp on History
New US stamps released do today to honor vintage black cinema.

Films Get Ready to PlayStation
Sony launches video download service.

• Whither Southern rock?
  Post from Sonic Boomers.
• EU knocks down barriers against region-wide music licenses
  Story from AP via International Herald Tribune.
• Lil Wayne back on top
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Kanye, Wyclef and N.E.R.D. to play Dem convention
  Item from Rolling Stone.
• ‘Desiderata’ vocalist Les Crane dies
  Obituary from AP.
• Federal Highway Administration’s greatest hits
  Item from FHWA site.

Exciting news today that the Jayhawks will do a new record with Mark Olson. I still remember their seminal SXSW show at The Austin Music Hall where I chaperoned a drunk to remain nameless actor who exclaimed, “I came all the way from Austin just to see this show!” Please enjoy their video for “Blue.” Mark Olson was just so cute!

Who else is super excited that Rush will perform on The Colbert Report tomorrow night? Who else finds it amusing that it was originally reported as Rush Limbaugh and not Geddy Lee and Co.? Please enjoy the video for “Subdivisions.” Everyone has an awesome teenage listening to Rush memory, don’t they?

This is old news, but I confess I’m fascinated by the re-emergence of Fred Durst as… a creepy mountain man? Has he been living in the woods? Did he drop LSD every day for a year? One might deduce either of those things after watching this clip, BUT… it turns out Fred has been directing a film called The Longshots, an inspirational tale about the first African-American girl to play in the Pop Warner Football tournament. The movie stars Ice Cube and Keke Palmer. I read about this in Seventeen magazine. I was never fond of Limp Bizkit, but this new Fred seems kind of alright.

And finally, yesterday that Beck guy announced some US Tour dates. I haven’t heard his new record yet, but I will soon thanks to the kindness of strangers. I’m sure it’s perfectly swell as most things Beck does are delightful (including an impersonation of a Rammstein show that I once saw him do. Hilarious!). Please enjoy the “Deadweight” video, a song far better than the film it appeared in. Michel Gondry is so awesome.

Okay, that is all for today. Or nearly tomorrow, as it were.

Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com. Subscribe to that feedie thing here and get all our scrumdiddlyicious posts delivered to your rss maker.

The music drags, lp

2006 SXSW Music Keynote Neil Young is on Charlie Rose tonight. Lately Neil has been mostly interested in talking about the electric car project he’s working on, surely he and Charlie will talk about that. Another topic on the table is the documentary of the 2006 CSNY tour that is making its way to the marketplace. Hardcore Neil fans will surely be watching for some mention of the long-awaited Archives project. The latest word is that the project is going to be on Blu-Ray discs only and will be out this fall. After so many delays, I’ll believe it when it arrives at retail. Anyway, set your Video Recording Thingie (VRT) to catch Neil, it’s always interesting to hear what’s on his mind.

The 2006 Keynote with Neil Young and Jonathan Demme is still up in our archives, and well worth a watch.

• EMI’s overall revenues rise 61%
  Story from Variety.
• Diddley on disc
  Review from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Feist brings ‘1234′ to Sesame Street
  Post from The Guardian.
• Britain’s Fame schools - turning out tomorrow’s stars
  Story from Times Online.
• UK iTunes shelves music price cut
  Story from BBC News.
• Effects of rock music on the mind
  Story from Mmegi Online.

Friday, July 11 was the last day for submitting panel ideas for 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival. Indeed, we received quite a barrage of last-minute entries – more than 700 proposals from across the United States and around the world arrived on deadline day! So, if you sent us something, please be patient in regards to your receipt letter as this process is a little bit backed up at present. As for the Panel Picker voting interface, this application should go live on Friday, August 8. As always, please e-mail us if you have questions.

The High School Non-Musical
Austin’s Michael Barnes on the SXSW Alum, American Teen’s Roadshow

Get Your Jollies with the iPhone 2
The porn industry is often the first to grasp new mediums and the Apple iPhone is no exception. Digital Playground is the first major studio to deliver porn directly to your iPhone for a monthly fee. No getting your kicks for free here.

What’s New with Go!View and Netflix
While Microsoft announces its partnership at E3 with Netflix to offer online movie downloads, Sony launced its first official video download service for the Sony PSP console. Go!View video-on-demand-service is available in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Withoutabox Vs. B-Side
Gaines bolsters Withoutabox as B-Side prepares rival online fest submission site.

Ah, what can I say about the glorious Butthole Surfers and their very kind and interesting drummer, King Coffey? The band is on the road again with their original lineup, and if you’re in England, hopefully you can catch one of their shows. In New York? Webster Hall, 7.29. The Surfers live can be a life changing experience. I even met Mr. Peppermint once!

The Vizsla loving Coffey has logged hundreds of miles this year taking his dog Norman to dog shows across Texas (that’s Enid in the picture, though, if you were wondering). He (King, not Norman) wrote Hüsker Dü their first fan letter and roadied for them when they came through Texas.

King told me he can identify the colors of an M&M by taste. “Brown is the easiest. Yellow and green are the hardest as they are similar.”

He has an extensive Patty Hearst collection.

I was lucky enough to get KC to do The LP Questionnaire, so without further ado…

Name: King Coffey
Pro Wrestling name: The Cerebral Slate.

1. Pretend you’re 15 (and tell us what year it is, if you don’t mind). Name three songs you’d put on a mix tape for your girlfriend/boyfriend. 1979. It was an exciting time in music, but most of my classmates were oblivious to it. So I made a bunch of mix tapes to try to recruit anyone who might get into punk / new wave. Nothing too heavy, I didn’t want to scare anyone away:

“Human Fly” - The Cramps
“Do the Strand” - Roxy Music
“Lucky Number” - Lene Lovich

2. Which evil villain would make the best president? Eartha Kitt as the Catwoman. She could steal every jewel in every museum as far as I care, as long as she wears her catsuit and purrs her way through the State of the Union address.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? Maybe the Jetsons. The Flintstones
always seemed to be depressed, but the Jetsons acted like they were having a blast. It made the future seem like something to look forward too.

I also liked Davey and Goliath. It honestly creeped me out a little, but I loved Goliath. I’m still looking for a talking dog.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? As a kid I used to pretend I was Plasticman, stretching my arms with great drama to reach the glass of milk on the other side of the table.

At this point in my life, tho, I would be happy with the not so superhuman ability to grow hair on my head.

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? A Whiter Shade of Pale: My Life as an Albino in the World of Rock

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of The LP Questionnaire. Feel free to check out other LP?s here.

You can email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

More bloggy goodness coming your way soon! lp

Props to Thomas Buchanan (pictured at right), a former Peace Corps voiunteer and current freelance writer based in Austin. His name was picked from all the people who correctly answered the trivia question associated with the July listserve for the SXSW Interactive Festival. This month’s trivia question asked readers to tell us their favorite member of the 2008 SXSW Advisory Board (for the record, Thomas picked Ben Brown). Advisory Board members are extremely important in helping to select the programming for SXSW Interactive (as is the community feedback that we get from the Panel Picker voting interface). For your chance to win a free registration to the 2009 event, sign up here to subscribe to the SXSW Interactive listserve. The next edition of this information-packed monthly newsletter is scheduled to go out the week of August 4.

ArtistForce’s presence at SXSW 2008 in March was part of a huge pre-launch promotion that included exhibits at the trade show, giveaways, mobile billboards and more. ArtistForce is a progressive new online system developed to provide members of the live entertainment industry a single platform through which individuals can network and generate business.

During SXSW 2008, ArtistForce signed on hundreds of new clients. “SXSW gave ArtistForce the chance to address an entirely new set of artists and talent buyers from all over the world,” said Jonathan Romley, founder and CEO of ArtistForce. “We are targeting the kinds of folks who come to SXSW — artists, agents, managers, venues, promoters and talent buyers.

ArtistForce officially launched June 1 of this year. We caught up with Jonathan recently and asked him to share some thoughts about his company and the state of the music business.

What was the genesis of ArtistForce? This is a brand new model for working in this section of the industry.

That’s right, ArtistForce is definitely a new model, and we are really excited to be providing a solution that works for everyone involved in the live entertainment booking process. We are building a community of live entertainment professionals based on business relationships where people can work more effectively, forge new relationships and take advantage of expanded opportunities. Everybody wins.
There is a basic lack of business technology in the live entertainment industry. Many live entertainment bookings are contracted on paper – and many indie bands don’t use contracts at all, leaving the band exposed. From Offer all the way to Settlement, ArtistForce is the first comprehensive solution for live entertainment business.

How do you see ArtistForce impacting the music business?

We believe ArtistForce will drive growth in Music and Live Entertainment by increasing the opportunity for Bands to grow independently, and expand the reach of their music through live performances. Music Consumption is at an all time high. Consumers are simply changing the way they learn about and experience music. A decade ago, fans supported their favorite artists by purchasing recorded music, attending concerts, and buying merchandise. Today, concert and tour revenue are the major revenue drivers for Artists.

It’s an incredibly valuable solution for indie artists. ArtistForce is delivered “On Demand", which means there is no software to download, no hardware to buy – all you need is a web browser and you’re all set to receive and negotiate offers, generate contracts, manage bookings, share contacts, settle shows, read industry news, research 25+ years of industry data, and network with other subscribers.

How are you marketing the company after the launch?

ArtistForce will be at the Village Voice Siren Music Festival in New York on July 19, we’re hosting Lunch 2.0 Hollywood (a tech industry event with Mixergy) in August, exhibiting at industry trade shows, signing up thousands of Venues, Promoters, and Talent Buyers all over the world, rolling out a great affiliate program and calling everyone we know! The best promotion will come from the success of people who use the platform - our goal is to drive success in the ArtistForce community.

Learn how ArtistForce can help shape your future.

Panelist update: Kudos to music supervisor and two-time SXSW panelist Alexandra Patsavas for her work on “Mad Men,” my new favorite TV show. I’m late to the praise party here, but the way all the elements of acting, storytelling, design and music work together to evoke NYC in 1960 is remarkable. I can’t wait for the second season to start on July 27. More info is available at the show site.

Kudos also go out to Sub Pop Records on the occasion of their twentieth anniversary party last weekend. By the report from writer/SXSW pal Jason Cohen, a fine time was had by all. The first time that Jonathan Poneman was on one of my SXSW panels, he showed up 15 minutes late, tripped and fell as he took the stage, and proceeded to take over the panel, offering great stories and insight.

Thanks for clicking your way here, don’t forget The Daily Chord, and see you tomorrow. I nicked the title “Monday Moanin’” from the late Detroit Free Press writer Bob Talbert, columnist of my youth. - Andy

• Gabriel - Record labels need reinventing
  Story from BBC News.
• Merlin objects to Last.fm’s payment plan
  Story from Billboard via Yahoo.
• GN’R deal for ‘Rock Band 2′ placement shows power of game biz
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Music for traveling
  Post from Jim DeRogatis’ blog on Chicago Sun-Times.
• Class D amplifiers are shrinking and greening your electronics
  Post from Wired’s Listening Post.
• George Martin honored by the Recording Academy
  Story from AP.
• Dolly Parton: feminist icon?
  Story from The Guardian.

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em
SXSW alumni David Redmon and Ashely Sabin create their own DVD label.

Can Spike Jonze save Where the Wild Things Are?
A look at the troubled production, from the LATimes.

Method Acting, I Guess.
Actor Josh Brolin gets rowdy and arrested at a bar in Louisiana, where he’s playing George Bush in Oliver Stone’s W.

Ricky Gervais in America
‘Variety’ reviews the the actor’s first stand-up show in the US.

SXSW is accepting your Digital Filmmaking Panel Ideas
Don’t delay, the submission deadline is today, Friday, July 11, 2008

Just the Four of Us, We Can Make it If We Try
Humboldt County directors meet the press with Mark Cuban and Peter Bogdanovich.

First NYC Screening for Second Skin
SXSW sensation, Second Skin, makes it’s way back to the Big Apple.

Finally Heard and Not Just Seen
Hellboy II’s Doug Jones has played some very memorable, interesting characters, but has never been heard. Prey to silent roles and overdubbing, Jones finally gets to speak.

Justice for the Justice League?
Marvel Studios can do it, so why not Warner Brothers and DC? The two partners will hash out the details at a “superhero summit” to figure out how to find similar success for DC’s more well-known superheroes.

Post numero two-o, and I have decided to drop the royal “we.” It’s annoying. Perhaps I should title my posts “mental recession,” it’s my new favorite phrase.

One surprise in today’s Daily Chord is the story that concert revenues are steady, at least for the first half of the year. With everyone impacted by rising gas prices, this might not hold through the whole year. Bon Jovi leads the Boss, $56 mil to $40 mil. Everyone from Jersey congratulate yourself.

If I was in Los Angeles this weekend, I’d be trying to weasel my way into the taping of the Who’s VH1 Rock Honors show on Saturday. Since I’m not, and most likely you’re not, check out this video of the Flaming Lips rehearsing their “Tommy” medley.

The show is set to air next Thursday, so set your video recording device, or VRD as they are commonly known.

I’m one of those dorks who’s had an iPhone for a while. Today, I can use it to control my stereo remotely. This is a giant leap forward. Now if I can figure out how to get it to flip records on my turntable, my transformation into a sloth will be complete.

Cheers, mate for reading the SXSW Music blog. Bookmark this bad boy and return often. More posting on Monday, have fun until then. - Andy

• Guitar Hero aims to take on iTunes
  Story from Financial Times.
• Concert grosses hold steady in first half of ‘08
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Clear Channel books released, both authorized and unauthorized
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Bobby Durham dies
  Obituary from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• RIAA’s Flatow profiled
  Story from LA Times (site reg req’d)
• Faces members consider reunion
  Story from BBC News.
• More evidence of the vinyl revival
  Story from AP.

Friday, July 11 is the final deadline for submitting your programming idea for the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival (which occurs March 13-17). Click here for complete details on the submission process, click here to read the panel submission FAQ, and click here for tips on putting together an attention-getting proposal. Also, please remember that we will only accept two (2) ideas per person for 2009, so please don’t send us more than that. Finally, please understand that we are a bit swamped with ideas at present – so, if / when you do send us your proposal, you won’t get a receipt letter until next week. If you have any questions, e-mail us and we will try to provide you all the right answers!

UPDATE: The Panel Picker submission interface will remain open through 11:59 pm Central Standard Time on Sunday evening, July 13.

Intrepid Boston Phoenix editor Lance Gould sent me a link to their collection of the 50 Best Bands, Solo Artists and New Acts from each state.

You can check out the groovy clickable map here.

And have a gander at Wyoming (because Wyoming?! Awesome! I love that they’re rocking out in Cheney country) and Kentucky’s Best New Acts - and SXSW 2008 alums - Teenage Bottle Rocket and Wax Fang.

TEENAGE BOTTLE ROCKET - “IN THE BASEMENT”

WAX FANG - “THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW”

That’s all she wrote for today, my friends. Please send emailies to musicblog@sxsw.com. Subscribe to our delicious RSS feed here.

I’m watching The Dreamers. This movie is so bizarre. I think I like Eva Green better as Vesper Lynd, thanks.

And on that note, goodnight! lp

Hi music blog readers, Andy Flynn here, you may know me from The Daily Chord, a web page that has been on sxsw.com since the dawn of the interwebs. Actually it was May 1999 that we started posting a handful of music news stories each day. That’s right, we’ve been in the game way longer than any other music news aggregators that we know. A good chunk of people subscribe to our email version which lists the stories and fiendishly links to our web page so you can surf to your heart’s content from our home base. Please check out the Chord, it will help you make sense of a music business which is still in the midst of convulsive change.

The origin of The Daily Chord was in our work on the SXSW Music Conference, the panels, speeches, interviews, and workshops that we present every March. As we trudge through the dog days of July, we’re going to post about the coverage we have of our events from this past March, among other things.

First up - a video from our first speech of 2008, Martin Atkins’ presentation. Martin, the drummer from Pigface and other bands that your mother should have warned you about, has written a great book for aspiring musicians titled “Tour Smart.” The book, and Martin’s live presentation are highly recommended for a comprehensive, provocative, and entertaining guide to life on the road these days. To check out a bit of Martin’s SXSW presentation, open our 2008 Player and click on the Tour Smart link. Alternately, you can download the clip here. If this piques your interest, by all means check out Martin’s site and/or buy the book.

Martin’s SXSW presentation drew a lively crowd and anchored the Wednesday series of panels which are designed to give the straight poop on the art and business of music. Martin dropped us a note this week to let us know about a recent ‘All Things Considered’ piece and to throw his hat in the ring for a 2009 appearance. We hope that happens.

That’s all for today. It’s time to ponder whether to use the royal “we” in my posts from here on out. Check out today’s Daily Chord for a number of summer festival-related stories. Feel free to email me. Bye for now. - Andy

• EU Court: Rehear Sony BMG case
  Story from AP.
• Knitting Factory leaving Manhattan for Brooklyn, Boise and Spokane
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Music gadgets arise in the wake of Guitar Hero
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Chicago blues scene wanes
  Story from AP.
• Owners of Rothbury site face foreclosure
  Story from Muskegon Chronicle.
• When festivals go wrong
  Post from The Guardian.
• A grown-up’s guide to summer rock festivals
  Story from Wall Street Journal.

Affable, spooky religion? Huh? That's Austin! Beyond a classic house party, the most memorable and fun way to see a show in Austin earlier this millennium was at the Church of the Friendly Ghost, which was an actual (former) church on the east side. Paying a reasonable cover, sitting in a pew with a BYOB drink and seeing and hearing skewed pop, free jazz, and all kinds of creative music was a unique way to party. Touring acts were often booked but COTFG has always focused on locals. Sadly, the venue shut down just as it hit its peak. But the name lives on with a consistent program of shows, held mostly these days at the fabulous Salvage Vanguard Theater on Manor Road.

Upcoming shows this month include Coz the Shroom (a former Austinite on tour), Chicago's juffage, and Asthmatic Kitty recording artist Chris Schlarb accompanied by a huge Austin ensemble. Basic info and dates are available on the COTFG page above, but more descriptive previews are in their email blasts, so hit 'em up here to subscribe.

Guillermo Del Toro on Hellboy II and Impressing a Girl on a First Date.
A brief chat with the director, from NYMag.

Arkansas Goes Nuts For Gay Cage Fight
Sascha Baron Cohen is apparently stirring up trouble for his next documentary-like film by starting a full-scale riot.

Is a Pocket Filmmaker the New Indie?
Kodak is the latest to come out with a pocket video camera. It might not win the hearts of indie filmmakers, but it sounds like a clear winner for the YouTube generation.

Downy Jr. is to Ritchie as Baron Cohen is to Apatow.
News of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes film, from the Guardian.

Check out the blog post from GeekAustin founder Lynn Bender about Austin’s place in the tech scene. He writes: “I recently read Paul Graham’s essay on ‘Cities and Ambition’. It was a timely read, as I’ve been party to so many discussions regarding where Austin’s tech community is, and where folks want it to be. People come to me at GeekAustin events saying ‘If we’d all get together, we could compete with Silicon Valley,’ or ‘Austin could be really great if only we’d…..’ All of these folks seem to believe that the Austin tech community needs to be sending some message, or whatever message we should be sending …. doesn’t seem to be getting through. I wonder if the message the Austin tech community sends too often is one of envy.” Envy or no envy, Bender spoke on the “eBooks and eStories” panel at the 2000 SXSW Interactive Festival.

Hello everyone… let’s see what news hit my inbox today.

Academy Award winners Three 6 Mafia are doing a free show for their MySpace friends in Miami on July 11 at Sobe Live. Juicy J and DJ Paul remain focused with their eyes on the prize. The prize, in this case, being a show to promote their new album The Last 2 Walk.

Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin dabbles in heaven and hell this fall as he releases two new albums on Tompkins Square Records. September’s Steps to Heaven, a collection of ten traditional gospel classics (including two Louvin Brothers songs) precedes the December release of Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs. It’s lovely to see the 80-year old Louvin still going strong.

If you’re looking for a bit of rock and roll highbrow, the East Village Opera Company has a new record coming out next month called Olde School. The group re-imagines arias from the world’s great operas as rock epics including “Help Me (Jove, In Pity),” inspired by George Frideric Handel’s 1744 work Semele. I’m particularly enchanted by versions of “Nessun Dorma” and “Habanera” from their debut album.

And last, but certainly not least, the Scorpions return to the US as part of their Humanity Tour 2008. I’m so psyched that Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs are still rocking out. Pity no Francis Buchholz, though. You can see all dates here. In honor of one of my favorite bands when I was 13, please enjoy this video for “I’m Leaving You.” Truly hilarious.

Thanks, as ever, for dropping by. Email your favorite Scorpions song to musicblog@sxsw.com.

Ooh, James MacAvoy’s on The Daily Show! lp

We’re continuing to update the podcast blog with even more free audio content from the 2008 Interactive event. Don’t miss these and many more recent additions: WaSP Annual Meeting: Don’t Break the Web (Kimberly Blessing, Glenda Sims, Stephanie Sullivan, Aaron Gustafson and Derek Featherstone), Pimp My Non Profit (Michaela Hackner, Erin Denny, Beth Kanter, Ed Schipul, Rachel Weidinger) and Design Eye for South By (with Andrei Herasimchuk, Bronwyn Jones, Paul Nixon, Keith Robinson and Ryan Sims).

If you haven’t done so already, make sure to subscribe to the SXSW Podcast RSS Feed and get the latest automagically.

Former SXSW Interactive panelist Cameron Adams is fascinated by the origins of specific fonts. Writing on his blog, he notes: “The handwriting of typographers intrigues me because it raises so many questions, big and small: Do typographers exert some extraordinary control of the pen that laypersons don’t? Does a typographer’s handwriting influence the typefaces they produce? Has the rise of digital communications made handwriting redundant? Do modern typographers, born of digital tools, lack the finesse of their more wizened counterparts? If so, does that change the way their type is designed?” This blog post then goes on to graphically illustrate some of the writing samples of typographers, thus raising some remarkable connections. Adams lent his type-related expertise to the “Uniting the Holy Trinity of Web Design” panel at the 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival.

• Last.fm launches artist royalty program
  Post from Wired blog.
• Lil Wayne reclaims album sales lead
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Ranking rockers, state-by-state
  Feature from Boston Phoenix.
• Bowie annotates his hits
  Story from Daily Mail.
• Steve Wynn on The Baseball Project
  Post from LA Times blog.

The Visitor Proves Indie Film Isn’t Dead
The L.A. Times on this SXSW Alum’s success.

Wolverines!!!!!
MGM is set to remake the 1984 red-scare film Red Dawn. Well it’s about time.

Out On Film–LGBT Film Festivals in Crisis? One Year Later
Gabe Wardell reexamines the LGBT film festival scene.

Rare Hollywood Type: Camera-Ready Executive
NYT on Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman Tom Rothman, host of a cable TV show?

The 3D Revolution
MovieMaker Magazine takes a look at the resurgence of 3D movies. Take a look at the history of 3D moviemaking and the latest technology.

One of the most difficult band names to google -- and a group that insists on not having a myspace page -- this beyond-hardcore bunch of freaks will take the stage late tonight at Emo's inside room. This isn't '80s political punk, this isn't throwback thrash, this is some of the crustiest, horrifying music you'll ever hear. A couple of 7"s are out there and there's a rumor of an LP coming on an esteemed indie. We're guessing it's not Rounder.

Also on the bill are hard-working Austinites Iron Age, launching a 2-week tour and planning an LP release for this Fall. Giuda from Italy and Black Congress start up the show 'roundabout 10pm, so deliver a blow to the bummer that Tuesdays can be, and go check out some gorgeously ugly music tonight.

• EMI appoints new head of music division
  Story from AP.
• Wolk named president at ADA
  Story from Crain’s New York.
• Nickelback pacts with Live Nation
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Teaching robots to pogo
  Story from BBC News.
• Bill Clinton to guest on Elvis Costello’s show
  Story from Reuters.
• How will box sets survive?
  Story from Billboard via Yahoo.
• Discord in the barbershop music world
  Story from AP.

Oscilloscope Gets Frontrunners
The SXSW premiere gets a deal.

First Sharon Stone Now the Chinese YouTube
56.com, dubbed the Chinese YouTube, has mysteriously disappeared. The video site has been offline since June 3rd and many believe the Chinese government is behind it.

AMD’s New Chip Brings Cinema and Gaming to the Next Level
Processing powerhouse, AMD, introduced its teraFLOPS graphic cards recently at Cinema 2.0. The demo showed the coalition of real-time interactivity with convincing digital effects that deliver, rivaling the realism of video.

What if Michael Bay Wrote The Dark Knight?
Some action-infused passages from his rejected script.

Heath Ledger’s Dark Knight Joker Stands Out In 70-Year Evolution Of Batman’s Greatest Foe
A look back at the villain’s transition from prankster to psychopath.

• New angles on marketing via music
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Europe votes on anti-piracy laws
  Story from BBC News.
• 10 hottest music sites
  Post from Wired.
• At last, closure for The Gits
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Jack White muses about Detroit
  Story from Detroit Free Press.
• Fuji Rock Festival promoter profiled
  Story from CNN.
• Pavitt and Poneman discuss Sub Pop
  Interview from Pitchfork.

“…it’s like Disney World with the fireworks aimed lower.”
Greencine rounds up some good new press on SXSW premiere Full Battle Rattle.

It’s Not the Heat, it’s the Intensity: 13 Memorable Films Set During Heat Waves
List from the A.V.Club.

Quentin Talks About His Next Feature
You can watch Tarantino tell BBC News how The Dirty Dozen served as inspiration for his upcoming Inglorious Bastards.

Stephen King Explains Why Hollywood Can’t Make a Good Horror Movie
“But nightmares exist outside of logic, and there’s little fun to be had in explanations; they’re antithetical to the poetry of fear.”

With apologies to Dave Alvin and John Doe, “Hey baby, it’s the 4th of July”. Indeed, we extend our wishes for a safe and peaceful holiday weekend to all of the online community. Celebrate the independent spirit by listening to a free podcast from the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival. Or, better yet, propose your own panel topic for the 2009 event. Hurry, Friday, July 11 is the final deadline for sending us your panel ideas.

Okay, I know Warren Ellis isn’t a musician. He’s a writer. A way cool writer of comics, novels and the upcoming Castelvania movie (aww yeah!) Because Mr. Ellis is so groovy, I decided this was worth running here as I know he must have loads of musical-type fans.

Prolific, and with a personality that extends beyond the world of the make-believe, I’m a regular reader of Ellis’ blog, and in addition to his popular comic Black Summer, this week also marks his debut as author of the most excellent Astonishing X-Men series.

So without further ado, please enjoy Mr. E’s take on The LP Questionnaire.

Name: Warren Ellis
Pro Wrestling Name: Apparently it’s Smooth Jackal.

1. Pretend you’re 15. Name three songs you’d put on a mix tape for your girlfriend. God, 15… that makes it 1983. What did we have in 1983 that’d go on a romantic mixtape? Especially, you know, when you’re 15, it’s dark and cold all the time “Blue Monday,” New Order. “Never Never,” The Assembly. And… hell, this is tough, actually. “Red Red Wine"? The Banshees covering “Dear Prudence"? No: Dexy’s Midnight Runners doing “Come On Eileen.”

2. Which evil villain would make the best President? Hell, I don’t care. I live in England. Watching you actually choose an evil villain every four years is a great spectator sport for us out here in the rest of the world. Although we confess to some disappointment that Arnold Schwarzenegger won’t be running against Jesse Ventura in ‘08. What a cage match that would be.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? I remember when I was very small, seven or eight years old, my favourite cartoon was this odd Japanese import called Marine Boy, that played all one summer on the morning TV.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? Teleportation. Without a doubt. Except maybe I’d like the power of Not Dying better.

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? I Am Not Finished, So Sod Off

Thanks so much for joining us for this edition of The LP Questionnaire. You can read other groovy LP?s here, if you like.

I heart Beast,
Ms. P

ps. I would have given a photo credit but could not find a shooter to go with the shot. Cute pic, though.

The End of the Documentary Film Market?
Newsweek’s David Ansen surveys the documentary landscape and ponders it’s future.

Sundance Winner Ballast Abandons Distribs
Indiewire’s Anthony Kaufman examines director Lance Hammer’s choice to self distribute his latest feature.

Fan Rant: No One Can Hear You Screen
Will Goss over at Cinematical follows Steve Conrad’s The Promotion from it’s SXSW premiere to a lonely theater in Orlando.

Judge Orders YouTube to Give All User Histories to Viacom
From the Wired blogs.

• Soundscan numbers show 11% drop in US album sales
  Story from BBC News.
• Virgin Media sends warning letters to 800 UK file sharers
  Story from BBC News.
• Music history series “All You Need Is Love” premieres in LA
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• New wrinkle on funeral music
  Story from Herald Sun.
• Verizon and Rhapsody execs discuss new music service
  Item from mocoNews.net via Washington Post.
• BurnLounge crashes
  Post from Wired.
• Music merch considered
  Story from USA Today.
• Wenner chats with Obama
  Interview from Rolling Stone.

• What control do you have over music you download from games?
  Post from MTV blog.
• A compendium of musician-audience fights
  Post from Wired.
• Coldplay holds on to sales lead
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Live Nation in talks with Shakira for 360 deal
  Story from Reuters.
• Country Joe leads 2052 guitarists in record bid
  Story from cbs5.com.
• Touring Clarksdale
  Post from CNET blog.

For the past three years, the folks at Armed Forces Entertainment have come to SXSW to host a party, do business in the SXSW trade show and scout out bands to travel overseas to play for US troops stationed abroad. AFE is about entertaining the troops and giving artists an opportunity to travel to and play in places they never dreamed they would go like Japan, Korea, Italy, Greece, Spain and the Middle East. AFE hosts about 1,200 shows at 270 military installations every year. The bands get all travel and lodging covered and a per diem is allotted to each member of the group. AFE also provides the bands a stipend to produce merchandise (CDs, t-shirts, etc.) to give away to the troops.

Several of the bands who've toured with the program played to about 1,000 SXSW registrants at AFE's sanctioned SXSW party this year at Brush Square Park, including Tripdavon, Five Star Iris and Urban Sophisticates, who were signed on at SXSW 2007. After this year's SXSW, AFE received about 330 applications and have signed up nine bands for tours.

The Gin Blossoms, Edwin McCain, Bret Michaels and Kid Rock have toured with AFE and in 2007, popular Texas country musicians Charlie Robison and Kevin Fowler toured with AFE in Iraq, playing military bases in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Al Asad, and Balad.

"Personally, it was the most amazing experience ever," says Robison. "They (AFE) contacted me out of the blue and asked me to tour with them. It took me about one second to say yes once I heard what they are about. But it was a way I could do my duty, and the experience of playing to and talking to those soldiers made it all worthwhile."

Bands currently touring throughout the summer include Hinder, Scratch Track, King Cone, CatchPenny and The Scarlet Ending.

Photo of Charlie Robison by Woody Welch.

Don’t Close the Curtain on Blockbuster Yet
Americans renting habits have shifted affecting Blockbuster shares, but Blockbuster is ready to just keel over.

…And In This Corner
Even Hollywood stars are divided in the SAG-AFTRA squabble.

Bluths on the Big Screen?
SXSW panelist Jeffrey Tambor confirms Arrested Development movie, maybe.

Sacha Baron Cohen + Will Ferrell = Sherlock Holmes + Dr. Watson
The two to star in the upcoming comedy.

On Monday, July 7, will release the next edition of the the SXSW Interactive Festival monthly listserve. Subscribing to this newsletter allows you to to keep up-to-date on all the cool stuff that happened at SXSW 2008 – as well as the even cooler stuff that is planned for 2009. Additionally, each listserve also contains an easy-to-answer trivia question that is related to some aspect of SXSW. You are eligible to receive a free registration to the 2009 confab (value = $495) if you answer the question correctly. Sign up now to receive the listserve and get in on all the fun free stuff from South by Southwest.

I just got a press release about Dave Mustaine appearing at The Guitar Center in Los Angeles. An evening of dialogue and insight with Dave Mustaine will take place on July 10 and is free and open to the public. I miss every cool thing in LA! All the Luke Chueh shows, now this. Drat! I heart Dave Mustaine! Please enjoy this Dave Mustaine guitar lesson. He’s awesome!

In other news, Boy George was unsuccessful in his Visa appeal and has cancelled his tour. I guess they really do want to hurt him. Ouch. I know that was bad. Poor Boy.

Someone called Nardo sent me this mighty cool Ulrich Schnauss poster for Schnauss’ upcoming July 6 show at The Parish. Another US show that I’ll be missing. Way to rub it in, Nardo! But thanks!

And last but not least, please check out San Francisco singer-songwriter Ryan Auffenberg whose record Marigolds came out a week ago on Evangeline records. Some lovely mellow songs there.

What’s new and exciting in your musical world? Please feel free to email us at musicblog@sxsw.com. You can subscribe to our extra tasty rss feed here.

I’m watching Nancy Drew, lp

• RIAA argues against Jammie
  Post from Wired News.
• Warner pacts with Nokia for “Comes With Music”
  Story from Reuters.
• BitTorrent seed farmer found guilty
  Story from Ars Technica.
• Package of stories on Nashville and the music biz
  Feature from The Tennessean.
• The Feelies reunite
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Bowie’s California debut to be released
  Review from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Lost Beatles interview to air today
  Story from BBC News.
• Tom T. Hall and The Statler Brothers join the Country Music Hall of Fame
  Item from Country Weekly.

August in Austin
SXSW’s Lya Guerra talks with August Evening director Chris Eska.

Little Movies, Big Problems
The New York Time’s David Carr is the latest to weigh-in on the state of indie film.

The View from Inside the Circuit
SXSW Film Festival Producer Janet Pierson casually reports back from her Los Angeles Film Festival trip.

AFS @ LAFF
Austn Film Society’s (and former SXSWester) Bryan Poyser recaps his LAFF trip.

August Evening (SXSW alumni 2007) heads for an August theatrical release and director Chris Eska (pictured left) heads back to Austin to roost, where he makes his home. SXSW’s Lya Guerra catches up with the director as he winds down his festival circuit run and prepares for the film’s opening.

Lya Guerra: Was August Evening shot in Austin?

Chris Eska: No, it was shot around Gonzales and San Antonio. But most of the crew and some of the cast were from Austin. Many were University of Texas students. I also lived in Austin while editing. Maybe that had something to do with the first cut being 3 hours long?

LG: Where did you find your actors?

CE: We had several casting sessions and callbacks in Austin, as well as 2 weeks of casting in Los Angeles. However, the two leads were first time actors. Pedro Castaneda is a non-actor whom I ran into on the street in San Antonio. He was installing computer networks and was wearing these great boots and I just walked up to him and asked him if he’d ever thought about being in a film. He took the treatment home and discussed it with his family and decided it was something he felt was important enough to take a long time off work and come down to our filmmaking commune in Gonzales for a few months. Then this year he was nominated for best actor at the independent spirit awards alongside Oscar winners like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Don Cheadle! It’s been a crazy ride for all of us.

LG: How’s Pedro doing after his brush with “independent” fame?

CE: Pedro has been having a ball. He really enjoyed walking the red carpet and seeing all the stars at the spirit awards and he’s been somewhat of a local celebrity in San Antonio with several TV news stories and articles. They even named a street for him in Laredo!

LG: Do you think Pedro is a one in a million discovery ala Lana Turner style, or do you believe you’ll follow your intuition again to cast a lead in another film?

CE: As for working with non-actors versus professionals, I think I’ll always do both. It just depends on the project, and I might even mix the two in the same project. But I’d never cast a big name in a role like Pedro’s where it only makes sense to have an unrecognizable face.

LG: Besides winning the Cassavetes Award for best film at the 2008 Spirit Awards, August Evening has had an extremely successful festival run, including critical acclaim and festival awards, do you have mixed feelings leaving the festival circuit for the big bold world of theatrical release?


CE: Of course I’ll be a little sad to leave behind the festival circuit, with all the friends I make and the audiences that are guaranteed to be open to art films and the occasional free trips to places like Portugal (where I’m writing this from!). But the theatrical release is everyone’s dream and what I’ve always looked forward to. It will be a small traditional arthouse release in major cities, starting in Manhattan. I really hope cinephiles come out to support the film because the truly indie theatrical world is in danger of disappearing.

LG: Was there ever any discussion to release August Evening during any month other than august? Seriously.

CE: Yes! As is often the case with distribution, it takes longer than planned. We first thought it would be February, then April, and now hopefully August!

LG: You have recently moved back to Austin from L.A. is this a temporary respite from the hustle bustle of the film industry, or do you see yourself able to live in Austin and make the films you want?

CE: I was out there off and on for several years for film school and then dealing with distribution. “I’m not a fan of LA” is the nicest way I usually put it. I’ll always live in Texas. It’s always been my home. Sometimes I have to go to LA or even other countries to make the films that are important to me, but then I return to Austin. I’m here indefinitely, and am glad to be back.

LG: Do you have plans for your next project? If so, what stage are you at thus far?


CE: I specifically came home to concentrate and write (so I hopefully won’t be out and about town too often over the next few months!). I’ve been kicking around ideas that are emotional suspense films. One is about cave diving, and the other is a surrogate father-son story.
Everyone in LA has told me that I need to make my next film in English with a known cast or else I’ll basically be starting over at square one. I’m not sure yet, but luckily the films I want to make are flexible in terms of locations and languages–the emotion is what’s important to me so we’ll have to wait and see if it turns out to be shot in Texas or in India or who knows where.


www.augustevening.com , www.chriseska.com

• Rhapsody overhauls their store
  Story from Fortune.
• Charity group (RED) to sell digital music
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• ‘Rock Band 2′ to have new features
  Story from AP.
• Ancillary income boosts music firms
  Story from BBC News.
• Ticketmaster unit to pay $750 mil to IAC before spinoff
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Dylan not fit to tie Woody Guthrie’s shoelaces - Germaine Greer
  Comment from The Guardian.

Double-Oh Heavens!
The Trailer in now online for the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

Fear and Loathing on a Documentary Screen
The Times takes a look at the SXSW Alum, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.

Who watches live TV anymore?
A new study shows that, on average, viewers watching live TV are 50 years old. 50.

Andrew Stanton And His Robot That Rules
The A.V.Club has a talk with the Wall-E writer/director.

Jay-Z answers Noel Gallagher’s charge that his music doesn’t belong at a festival like Glastonbury.

Meanwhile, My Morning Jacket rocked the house on a tiny stage.

Tee hee, lp

SXSWclick is the year-round initiative created to showcase short-form storytelling via mobile devices and the web, as well as its impact on traditional filmmaking.

The 15 finalists for this year’s competition have now been posted online. Be sure to vote for your favorite finalist in each of the five categories in the Popularity Contest Award. Hurry, the final voting deadline is Friday, July 25.

• Ticketmaster wins ruling against software maker
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Performance rights bill passes house subcommittee
  Story from Variety.
• iPhone remote control app noted
  Post from MacRumors.
• Gussying up the Viper Room
  Story from LA Times.
• A spell in the wellies at Glasto
  Story from BBC News.
• Why do bands give themselves unprintable names?
  Column from Slate.

We have updated the podcast blog with new audio recordings from several popular panels at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival. New additions to this page include Judo Moves for Defending Your Reputation Online (Thor Muller), PMOG: The Web as a Play Field (Justin Hall and Merci Hammon) and Online Adulation: Use Don’t Abuse Your Fans (as presented by Heather Armstrong, Casey McKinnon, Tom Merritt and Christopher Smith).

Stay tuned to the 2008 Podcast Blog over the next few weeks as even more content from this year’s event is added. Better yet, subscribe to the SXSW Podcast RSS Feed to get instantly notified of new podcasts as they are published.

We are thrilled to announce the fifteen finalists in the five SXSWclick categories. The finalists have been posted here for your viewing pleasures.
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite finalist to win the Popularity Contest Award.
In addition to the Popularity Contest Award, jury winners in each of the five categories, including the Grand Jury Prize winner, will be announced August 1st. You can vote once daily for your favorite finalist until midnight on Friday, July 27th. Happy Viewing!

We are thrilled to announce the fifteen finalists in the five SXSWclick categories. The finalists have been posted here for your viewing pleasures.
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite finalist to win the Popularity Contest Award.
In addition to the Popularity Contest Award, jury winners in each of the five categories, including the Grand Jury Prize winner, will be announced August 1st. You can vote once daily for your favorite finalist until midnight on Friday, July 27th. Happy Viewing!

So I was painting my mother-in-law’s bedroom today and this gem came on the iPod… I can’t be the only one who loved Flesh For Lulu! Right, Louie?!

“I’m riding the bullet train to your central nervous station” remains one of my favorite lyrics ever. I don’t know how this band fell out of fashion. Nick Marsh is sartorially resplendent in every scene!

Good times, lp

ps. email us your favorite vintage video at musicblog@sxsw.com

What topics do you want to see covered at the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival? If you have got a great brainstorm for a panel or a solo presentation for next year’s event, then we want to hear it. Click here for complete directions on on how to submit your idea – but, please hurry as the final deadline for panel submission is Friday, July 11. All proposals will be posted on the SXSW Panel Picker, which allows the online community to vote on which of these ideas they feel are most appropriate for the 2009 event. The Panel Picker is scheduled to go live on Friday, August 8.

• Devo sue McDonald’s over Happy Meal toy
  Story from Pitchfork.
• Gilberto Gil in NYC
  Review from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Early bets for Grammys
  Post from LA Times blog. (site reg req’d)
• Kanye weighs in on Bonnaroo
  Story from AP.
• Inventor of internet takes aim at BitTorrent
  Post from Webware.
• MTV to broadcast political ads
  Story from TVWeek.
• Music won’t disappear entirely from Starbucks
  Story from Seattle Times.

‘Greatest Musicians’ Finally Get Honor
The subjects of the SXSW premiere, ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ get inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk.

Neave.com
Cool Site of the Day

Can the Internet Save Indie Film?
Former SXSW producer, Matt Dentler, talks with Portfolio magazine about the future of indie film.

Gratis Gives Cash
Moby launches video competition for single ‘ooh yeah.’

Ahh, to be home! Two weeks of touring is enough! Lots of good fun, though, at Bonnaroo (Kirk Hammett!), Toronto (hung out with The Coast guys who were lovely), Montreal (where we had dinner with Brad and Andrew from The Slip and Brad rescued Carl’s earplugs) and Radio City Music Hall (the show and the landmark exceeded expectations).

But now I have a full month at home before Pemberton. Most excellent.

So, what’s been going on in the music world…

I see that Kanye West is defending his actions at Bonnaroo. However, I think this time Kanye might be selling but people aren’t buying. I did just see the Kanye/Murakami video for “Graduation” at the Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and it was pretty darn cute.

Rolling Stone reports that Starbucks is reducing the presence of music in their stores. I confess that I have never purchased music at a Starbucks, but I did enjoy listening to M Ward while drinking my Frappucino the other day.

Be Your Own Pet have canceled their Warped Tour plans. I’m guessing Jemina isn’t too sad about not having to hang out with the denizens of the “new hair metal.”

Brooklyn Vegan covered the Ulrich Schnauss show that I am SUPER BUMMED to have missed as I left New York yesterday. Someday, Ulrich, I will get to bask in your German awesomeness.

Holy Cow! The Verve have a new record coming out (I’m the last to know, right?).

And lastly, you can now buy Daniel Johnston’s frog!

Until tomorrow… please feel free to email us at musicblog@sxsw.com

The beat’s so lonely if you let it be that way! (Yes, I’m listening to Charlie Sexton right now.) lp

• FBI visits Guns N’ Roses leaker
  Post from Wired blog.
• Sonny Okosuns dies
  Obituary from NY Times.
• Kanye and UGK top BET awards
  Story from BBC News.
• Coldplay sells 721k
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Starbucks to end CD and iTunes card sales
  Item from Silicon Alley Insider.
• Music power for a sound sleep
  Story from Times of India.

MSNBC Creates Banner for Documentaries
SXSW alum, Dear Zachary, leads the networks first foray into the film biz.

Brad Neely Shorts at The Alamo Drafthouse Tomorrow
SXSW Midnight Short alum Brad Neeley will present a collection of his highly entertaining animated shorts.

SXSW 2008 Actor/Comedian Wyatt Cenac joins ‘The Daily Show’
Cenac, who starred in Medicine for Melancholy and also performed at SXSW’s live comedy showcase, will become a regular correspondent on Jon Stewart’s popular show.

Oh Yeah, Don’t Prove It
The MPAA argues about what constitutes illegal file sharing.

• Recording industry takes on radio, again
  Post from Wired Blog.
• Live music thrives on
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• UK radio considering all digital
  Story from BBC News.
• Ticketmaster and debt
  Story from Yahoo!
• A quieter Tom Petty
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Rich nations copy Venezuela’s anti-gang music schools
  Story from Reuters.
• Is iTunes really #1?
  Item from BetaNews.
• Boy George denied US visa
  Story from BBC News.

“Totally unreal,” says Alan Taylor (the founder of The Big Picture) when asked by Andy Baio to describe the reaction to his stunning new photography site. He adds that he’s had “over-the-top positive response. More than I expected for sure. Internally, externally, everywhere, people are being really thankful to me. I need to make sure (with some link-love in my upcoming blogroll) that the response gets directed to the photographers as well. I’m just a web developer with access to their photos and a blog — they’re the ones out there working hard to get these amazing images.” Baio (pictured above right) should know about good reactions as he put together the well-received “Worst Website Ever” panel at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival.

• Beatles eye Rock Band, Guitar Hero
  Post from Wired Blog.
• Coldplay dominates U.K. album, singles charts
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Brian Wilson joins Newport lineup
  Story from AP.
• Smashing Pumpkins plot “Gish” box set, tour
  Item from Rolling Stone.
• Amy Winehouse has emphysema
  Story from AP.
• Lil Wayne’s ‘A Milli’ gets a new twist
  Story from MTV News.
• Live Nation chairman quits
  Story from the Times Online.

“Yes, The Sky Really Is Falling.” - A MUST READ
The Film Department’s, Mark Gill, has a come-to-Jesus moment at this year’s LAFF financing conference.

Hip-Hops Newest Beef
Kanye, Soulja Boy and Ice-T mince words on the current state of Hip-Hop.

Jim Carrey signs with HBO for New Show
The series will be a comedy about the L.A. stand-up comedy scene.

Weinsteins back in TV
Bob and Harvey unveil a slate of scripted and reality shows.

Twitter has come a long long way since hitting the tipping point with cutting edge geeks at the 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival. Need another indication of the growth and popularity of this networking tool? Consider that representatives of John McCain and Barack Obama are using this medium to engage in a presidential debate. The short-form dialogue is being moderated by 2005 SXSW Interactive Festival keynote speaker Ana Marie Cox.

Blurb, the creative book publishing platform which exhibited at the iF! Trade Show & Exhibition at SXSW 2008, has announced Photography.Book.Now. The grand prize for this internationally juried competition is $25,000. Enter one or several of your books – and be sure to invite your friends, colleagues and associates to join in on the fun. Click here for more information. Hurry, the final entry deadline for Photography.Book.Now is just three weeks away – Monday, July 14.

A Law Suit You Can’t Refuse
Mario Puzo’s estate sues Paramount Pictures over the proceeds from the Godfather video game.

iTunes Flexes Movie Muscles
Apple is on track to sell or rent three times more movis than last year on iTunes.

Another Two-Parter From the QT
Tarantino to double up again for new film Inglorious Bastards.

• Live Nation battle is likely to result in chairman’s exit
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Jazz remark was a joke, says Live Nation exec
  Story from Sun-Sentinel.
• Return to ‘Guyville’
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Grace Jones performs at Meltdown
  Story from BBC News.
• Poison sues label over royalties
  Story from AP.
• Hasbro introduces musical robot
  Story from PC Mag.
• Major label tunes scarce on newly launched Qtrax
  Post from Wired.

Bonnaroo ended Sunday and I've heard amazing things from coworkers who had a blast seeing some of the most talented artists around. While I didn't get to go, I have the internet, which allows me to experience the event without dealing with getting dirty, dehydrated, or sunburned. It's almost the same as being Bonnaroo...but with more showering.

Anyway - here's what the internet is saying about Bonnaroo 2008:

According to Spin Magagzine's Dane Smith, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings played a great set that had everyone moving.

Wes Orshoski of Billboard wrote about Robert Plant and Alison Krauss bringing Bonnaroo back to its roots, among other things.

Linda covered MMJ's set over on the Courier-Journal Velocity Blog.

The New York Times' Jon Pareles did a good overall review. You can find it here.

That's all I have for now, you kids have a fabulous Thursday. Tell us what shows you're looking forward to this summer or new albums we should check out. E-mail musicblog@sxsw.com. Be excellent to each other, Melissa

Check out 350.org, the new environmental project launched by former SXSW speakers Bill McKibben and Alex Steffen (plus numerous others). Explains the site: “350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.” To this end, 350.org offers numerous web 2.0 technologies that will publicize the importance of this number to global leaders and to the worldwide community. McKibben spoke at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival, while Steffen was part of the keynote interview (with Bruce Sterlng) in 2005.

• Apple’s iTunes marks 5 billion songs bought
  Post from CNET blog.
• Professors siding with Jammie Thomas
  Post from Wired blog.
• Fort Lauderdale and Live Nation spar over festival booking
  Story from Sun-Sentinel.
• Tom Waits in Phoenix
  Review from LA Times.
• Oldest computer music unveiled
  Story from BBC News.
• In the studio with T.I.
  Item from Rolling Stone.

Third Screen’s a Charmer
The San Antonio Current takes a look at online and mobile video’s future and it’s impact on traditional theaters.

YouTube Goes Long
Google’s YouTube brings Indie feature films to the web with the launch of the ‘Screening Room.’

Prognosis Positive
SXSW premiere, Medicine For Melancholy, gets distribution from IFC.

Bollywood Coming to Hollywood
Spielberg, India Firm Near Deal to Ally With DreamWorks.

I am not as stalwart as some of these other music bloggers, I’m finding. I apologize for this random week.

Must dash, promise to report something of value soon. Perhaps the always excellent Melissa Dennis will aggravate some Bonnaroo for ya!

In the meantime, don’t forget to watch My Morning Jacket on Late Night with Conan O’Brien tonight!

Ack! lp

The Podcast Page is where you can get free audio recordings the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival. Recent content added to this page includes “The 10 Commandments of Nice,” “Building Developer-Friendly Web Service APIs,” “A Critical Look at Open ID,” “Lost in Translation: Top Website Internationalization Lessons,” and “Sexual Privacy Online” (as moderated by Violet Blue, pictured above left). Check back to Podcast Page often as we are adding cool new content every few days. Also, if you are lost as to what to listen to amidst so many choices, check out the panel ratings from this year’s event to find out which sessions got the highest marks from SXSW attendees.

• Music sales fall to their lowest level in over twenty years
  Story from Times Online.
• Lil Wayne tops 1 mil in sales
  Chart watch from Billboard.
• Turkish singer on trial over dissent
  Story from BBC News.
• Kid Rock on his refusal to sell music via iTunes
  Story from BBC News.
• RIAA defends refiling contested piracy case with new judge
  Post from Wired blog.
• Inside Capitol’s threatened Hollywood studio
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)

You’ve Got (Dirty) Mail
Judd Apatow is even funny accepting awards.

Miller’s the Spirit Looks Cool
Variety takes a peek at the artwork from Frank Miller’s latest.

Brightcove Gets a Makeover
Brightcove, an Internet TV platform and network, is changing its service from the ground up with Brightcove 3. The upgrades include optimized SEO and integrated meta data.

Another odd project for J.J. Abrams
TV Squad with a briefing on the Lost creator’s new project.

Indies on DVD: Super High Me and Joy Division
A couple more SXSW hits released on DVD.

The SXSW Interactive Festival is a community event – and most of our best programming ideas come directly from web users such as yourself. So, if you have a great idea for a panel or a solo presentation for next spring, send it to us before the July 11 submission deadline. Proposals received via the online interface will be posted on the SXSW Panel Picker, which is scheduled to go live on Monday, August 4. Voting from the web community (combined with significant input from the SXSW Advisory Board) will determine the bulk of programming at the 2009 event.

Kirk Hammett with My Morning Jacket at Bonnaroo. He was super smiley the whole time.

More Bonnaroo musings tomorrow and apologies for the delay. Right now I’m coming to you from an underground tomb in Montreal. Tomorrow I will be normalized via the comforts of New York City hotel life.

Bon soir, lp

Way back in 2005, the guys from Clearleft popped across the Atlantic for SXSW Interactive. They had a fantastic time and were inspired to go home and set up dConstruct, a one day conference based in Brighton on the south coast of the UK. It’s four years on and they’re still going strong. The theme for this year’s event is “Designing the Social Web” and the speaker line-up is fantastic. Industry leaders who are scheduled to talk include Steven Johnson (who keynoted at SXSW in 2008), Daniel Burka, Tantek Celik and of course Clearleft’s own Jeremy Keith. Along with the September 5 conference, Clearleft have also organised two days of workshops on September 3 and 4 that centre around the social web theme. So do you fancy a visit to the UK this autumn? Workshop tickets are available now, with conference tickets will be released on Tuesday, June 24. Previous events have sold out very quickly, so don’t delay in purchasing your pass! See the event website for complete details.

Trend-setting game designer Will Wright talked about Spore at his keynote presentation at the 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival. While the much-anticipated animated life simulation has taken a bit longer to come to market than initially expected, users can now play with the creature creator for free. Like what you see? Then pre-order for the scheduled September 7 Spore release.

(via the Austin Movie Blog)

Austin American Statesman film critic, Chris Garcia, has the scoop on two SXSW documentaries getting a September DVD release. From his post…

Laura Dunn’s vastly hailed Barton Springs polemic “The Unforeseen” (executive produced, recall, by Terrence Malick and Robert Redford) hits shelves Sept. 16

Bill Haney’s SXSW Audience Award winner “The Price of Sugar” — a stark look at impoverished Haitians working in squalid conditions on Dominican sugarcane plantations, narrated by Paul Newman — arrives Sept. 23.

• Average teenager’s iPod has 800 illegal songs
  Story from Times Online.
• Don Cornelius sells ‘Soul Train’
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• License fees ‘unfair on businesses’
  Story from BBC News.
• Beggars Group’s Martin Mills profiled
  Story from The Telegraph, found via The Daily Swarm.
• The lure of the Beach Boys
  Story from New Statesman.
• Louis Armstrong’s revolution
  Story from The Wall Street Journal.
• Thought home taping was dead?
  Story from The Guardian.

Hulu is kicking Youtube’s Ass
The new site finally figures out a way to monetize internet video.

Step Your Game Up
David Letterman opens an old-school can of snark on The Hills’ Spencer Pratt.

Oscar Winning SFX Master, Stan Winston Dies
Aliens, The Terminator, Edward Scissohands, Jurassic Park, Predator…He will be missed.

Vatican Denies Da Vinci Code Sequel
The Pope tells Tom Hanks ‘no’. Didn’t he see Big?

Congrats to veteran SXSW panelist Derek Powazek, on the announcement of his new project MagCloud. As he explains on powazek.com: “For the last year, I’ve been working on a project with HP Labs called MagCloud. The idea is simple, really. MagCloud enables anyone to start a magazine - real, live printed magazine - with no giant pile. If we were in my office right now, I could motion over to the giant pile of Fray Issue 1s. I’m so proud of the book. It’s a beautiful object. But every morning when I see that pile, my heart sinks. With MagCloud, there is no giant pile, because every magazine is printed to order. Of course, there are other print-on-demand companies out there, but MagCloud is the only one designed specifically for magazines.” Powazek gave a presentation titled “The Weird Turn Pro: Crowdsourcing For Creatives” at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival.

Lessons from My Father: The Outlaw
Hunter S. Thompson’s son talks about what he learned from his dad.

IMAX 3D on your TV
IMAX is considering bringing it’s 3D to home video.

Reality Bites
Five stars who should be banned from reality TV.

Don’t Stop the Presses
Tim Russert’s death leaves two voids at NBC.

• Hands sees cracks in music world
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Organizers say Bonnaroo attendance down slightly
  Story from Billboard.
• Music performance fund in peril
  Story from LA Times. (site reg req’d)
• Satellite radio shares rise as deal nears completion
  Story from Reuters.
• Impala appeals against Sony BMG deal
  Story from AP.
• Universal Music UK to debut series on Bebo
  Post from CNET blog.
• Women in Kelly case are victims of culture, celebrity
  Column from Chicago Sun-Times.

In honor of Bonnaroo (and to write something other than My Morning Jacket posts), I bring you Mr. Jeff Ament, bassist extraordinnaire of a little band called Pearl Jam. PJ hits the What Stage at 10.15 on a Saturday night (better known as tomorrow, but I just had to make the Cure joke).

Some fun factoids about Jeff… he grew up in Big Sandy, Montana (population about 700) where his dad served as both the mayor and the barber for the town.

His family is good friends with, organic farmer and U.S. Senator Jon Tester. Jeff lead the charge with some dedicated (and successful) campaigning to get Tester elected in 2006.

Aside from music, Jeff is an amazing skateboarder, basketball player, and artist.

In 2004, he and his girlfriend climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Save the Children.

Jeff spends his days between Seattle and Montana and has two funny little dogs.

I’m über lucky that he did The LP Questionnaire. Please enjoy.

Name: Jeff Ament
Pro Wrestling Name: Dirk Devil

1. Pretend you’re 15. Name three songs you’d put on a mix tape for your girlfriend.
1. I’ll Be Creepin’-Free 2. Crazy-Seal 3. Massive Attack-Safe From Harm

2. Which evil villain would make the best President? …..I believe he’s in office…I can’t imagine a more evil doer.

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? Harlem Globetrotters/Aquaman

4. What superpower do you wish you had? Making evildoers disappear.

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? The Barber’s Son or I Coulda Been a Priest by Jeff Diction

Thanks for stopping by. You can read more superfun LP Questionnaires here. Subscribe to the SXSW Music Blog feedie here and get healthy posts delivered to your door.

Email us at musicblog@sxsw.com. We do love your missives.

Back tomorrow with a review of Friday at Bonnaroo (read: MMJ performance).

Heading out to the fields, lp

SXSWclick Call For Entries Deadline is Today
Submit your 10 minute or under short film today for a chance to win prizes and a slot at SXSW 2009

The Small Screen
Microcinemas find their niche in today’s cinema landscape.

Hey Austin! Go See Baghead this Weekend!
Jay and Mark Duplass’ comedy/slasher feature, Baghead, opens today at the Alamo Drafthouse.

Congrats to Jennifer Selke (pictured at left), a faculty member in the Graduate School of Education & Berkeley Center for New Media at the University of California at Berkeley. Her name was picked from all the people who correctly answered the trivia question associated with the June listserve for the SXSW Interactive Festival. What was the correct answer? Jennifer knew that Dan Brown was the director of “Pierre”, the jury prize winner for SXSWclick 2008. For your chance to win a free registration to next year’s event, sign up here to subscribe to the SXSW Interactive listserve. The next edition of this information-packed monthly newsletter is scheduled to go out the week of July 7.

• Judge rules promo discs can be resold
  Story from Digital Music News.
• How to headline a festival
  Story from The Guardian.
• Musicians sue ‘Idol’ in royalty dispute
  Story from AP via CNN.
• JVC Jazz Fest previewed
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• BPI chief addresses criticism of anti-piracy efforts
  Story from BBC News.
• Music writer resigns after ethics investigation
  Story from SA Express-News.
• STP surprised by Atlantic suit
  Story from Reuters via Yahoo.

The final submission deadline for the 5th annual SXSWclick competition is today, Friday, June 13 (postmark deadline). If you want a chance to get your cool online video seen by the SXSW audience and our influential panel of judges,
then don’t delay and enter today! This year’s winners will receive a plethora of prizes and software from our amazing sponsors and a screening slot at SXSW 2009.

The final submission deadline for the 5th annual SXSWclick competition is today, Friday, June 13 (postmark deadline). If you want a chance to get your cool online video seen by the SXSW audience and our influential panel of judges,
then don’t delay and enter today! This year’s winners will receive a plethora of prizes and software from our amazing sponsors and a screening slot at SXSW 2009.

SXSW ‘08 premiere, Bi The Way is enjoying a wave of internet chatter spured by a piece in yesterday’s New York Times ‘Style’ section. Any prominent story about how women are predisposed to bisexuality is bound to get tounges wagging, and filmmakers Josephine Decker, Martha Shane and Brittney Blockman (pictured here) did just that. Among the many, many sites covering the story are New York Magazine, The New York Observer, The Huffington Post, Gawker and Salon.

A year-round initiative created to showcase short-form storytelling via mobile devices and the web, SXSWclick is your chance to gain valuable industry exposure (as well as a variety of cool prizes). Video content produced for the web and / or mobile devices has had a huge impact on traditional film-making – and this competition is your chance to showcase your work to the SXSW audience! Entries for SXSWclick are accepted through Friday, June 13. Click here for complete information on how you can be involved in the 2008 event.

For 2008, SXSWclick is sponsored by Productiontrax.com, GEAR Software, Movie Outline, Eye Scream Factory, Mariner Software, Noise Industries, LLC, and Final Draft, Inc. Judges for this year’s event include Jeffrey Tambor, Doug Benson, Ron Mann, Mary Sweeney, Steve Bloom and Eugene Mirman.

Author Paul Coelho to Make a Movie With a Little Help From His Myspace Friends.
Coelho plans to build a feature film adaptation from Myspace video and music submissions.

George Carlin to Receive Kennedy Center Award
In a great interview with the Las Vegas Sun, the legendary comedian mentions that he’ll receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in November.

Cohen Brothers New Red Band Trailer
The red band (or NSFW) trailer for Burn After Reading, the new Cohen Brothers film, is now available on the YouTubes.

• Live Nation execs at odds over strategy
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• RIAA dismisses piracy suit
  Story from Ars Technica.
• Chamillionaire speaks at tech meetings
  Post from LA Times blog. (site reg req’d)
• Ahmed Fakroun revives career via downloads
  Story from BBC News.
• Play-along games boost music biz
  Story from AP.
• Bertelsmann seeks to sell stake in Sony BMG
  Story from Reuters.
• Nancy Sinatra lobbies for US radio performance royalties
  Story from Business Week.
• Revised Canadian copyright bill introduced
  Story from Reuters.

Yes, guys and gals, it’s true. Continuing with my theme of what appears to be Evil Urges week here at the SXSW Music Blog, I bring you this most excellent announcement. You heard it here first! Maybe!

Hot on the heels of the release of their stupendous fifth full-length effort, Evil Urges, and a sold out show at Radio City Music Hall, My Morning Jacket announce what is sure to be one of the grooviest shows of the year.

The band will rock the house at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and ring in 2009 (sure to be a glorious year) in style.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 27 at 10am through Ticketmaster.com or by phone 212-307-4111. Doors open at 8pm and the show begins at 9pm. It’s “An Evening with MMJ” so you’ll be treated to many hours of wholesome My Morning Jacket goodness!

In honor of this momentous news, please enjoy some not exactly high quality but certainly loads of fun footage of the band performing “Careless Whisper” on New Year’s Eve 2006 at The Fillmore. I’m betting MSG will top that historic event (and it’s a tough one to beat).

See you there! lp

ps. Email words to musicblog@sxsw.com

I wonder what on earth it could be?!! I will say it’s not SXSW related but it is exciting and stuff.

Email your tap dancing videos to musicblog@sxsw.com.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, lp

Opera has just released a more secure and much faster beta version of its cult fav browser. According to CNET, “There’s a massive spate of bug fixes in this update, so if stability issues kept you from using previous 9.5 betas, this version should be much more appealing. Other improvements include fixes for downloading e-mail message bodies from all POP accounts, the introduction of a new skin, and smoother upgrading from Opera 9.2. Mac-specific improvements include skin changes and better support for OS X 10.2.”

In addition to exhibiting at SXSW 2008, Opera hosted the popular Hangover Cure stations in the Austin Convention Center, fixing bugs in attendees each morning. To learn more about ways your company can stimulate at SXSW Interactive contact Katie King.

• When your favorite song gives you seizures
  Story from Scientific American.
• World music pioneer in web revival
  Story from BBC News.
• Pearl Jam pacts with Verizon for live tracks
  Story from Billboard/Reuters via CNET.
• CD sound quality not good enough for T Bone
  Post from CNET blog.
• EMI executive shuffle detailed
  Story from Wall Street Journal.
• Stew discusses “Passing Strange”
  Interview from Salon.
• Disturbed grabs third #1 debut
  Chart watch from Billboard.

Calling Baton Rouge
Film advocates are heading to Baton Rouge as the Louisiana governor has called for a special legislative session to revive a movie tax incentive.

A Stuntman Killed and 3 Others Injured on John Woo Set
A sudden fire engulfed the set of the new John Woo film, Red Cliff, killing a stuntman and injuring three others. This accident follows several others that occurred this month on the new Bond film set.

With a surplus of films and only 52 opening weekends a year…
Movie release dates become tough for studios to script.

Dreamworks exit could hurt Paramount
Losing content would add demand to production execs.

HBO joining forces with FunnyorDie
Network buys small stake in comedy site.

TXMPA - the Texas Motion Picture Alliance - is having a series of membership rallies, information sessions and parties around Texas
Houston: June 10. Panhandle: June 12. San Antonio: June 14. Austin: June 24, Sholz Garden.

Summer Docs
To fill the void of delayed scripts for hit series like Entourage and Big Love, HBO is taking a new approach to summer programming–documentaries.

Digital Cinema: The Next Big Thing
The entertainment industry is always looking for the next big thing and most agree we’ve found it in digital cinema. Talk to Real Image Media Technologies director, Senthil Kumar.

The Gits Go Beneath Rockumentary’s Microscope
The 2007 SXSW Alumn “gits” a DVD release.

Smurfs Set For Big Screen Adventure
Some details on the future film from the Guardian.

Like recording movies with your DVR?
The MPAA doesn’t, and they want you to stop.

• EMI label heads are out - report
  Column from Fox News.
• Vinyl’s modest comeback
  Story from AP via CNN.
• Lil Wayne makes a mainstream bid
  Review from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• New iPhone’s impact on music sales questioned
  Post from CNET blog.
• EMI Music and XM settle suit over recording radio
  Item from Reuters.
• Headphones blamed for increased rate of hearing loss among youth
  Story from AFP via Breitbart.
• MTV Europe fined for offensive material
  Story from The Guardian.

Yes, today is the day, boys and girls. The day when My Morning Jacket’s Evil Urges arrives on our doorsteps and takes us on a magical musical journey to, well, Ear X-Tacy if you were lucky enough to get a ticket for today’s in-store… or maybe Bonnaroo this weekend… perhaps Toronto or Montreal… or the grand finale of their short run, the sold out show at Radio City Music Hall.

To honor this momentous occasion, please enjoy this special edition of Hey Mr YouTube DJ with Jim James.

JAMES BROWN, MICHAEL JACKSON AND PRINCE - LEGACY TELETHON 1987

What more can I say about this?? It’s fucking James Brown, Michael Jackson, and Prince, who rides in on a wizard at the end. Alternate time warp. Is this real?

JIM HENSON - TIMEPIECE

This is one of Jim Henson’s early art pieces. The music is great, the thought is great, the direction is great. What is time and we are constantly running out of it. Henson was a master of blending sense with the surreal. The genius at work.

MARVIN GAYE - WHAT’S GOIN ON/WHAT’S HAPPENIN BROTHER

This live clip is simply priceless. A rare look at Marvin live, at the piano no less. He looks so
peaceful and beautiful here - the clips of city life interspersed are so beautiful as well. Perhaps the greatest music ever made by humans - forever relevant and forever powerful. Touched by the divine.

SAM COOKE AND MUHAMMAD ALI - THE GANG’S ALL HERE

A rare look at two of the biggest legends of all time. Sweet and funny - Muhammad’s intro- “Mr. Sam Cooke, as you can see like me he’s awful pretty.” Awesome.

JOHN PRINE - ALL THE BEST

This song kills me - a great old clip here, a nice acoustic version, some sweet finger picking. It seems like John has been through so much and always comes out on top. Carl and I were lucky enough to get to open for John and even share the stage at the end of his set. One of the greatest thrills of my life. We recently covered this song for a Prine tribute. He is the man.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this visual feast, and I hope you enjoy MMJ’s new offering as much as I am (and I’m not just saying that. For reals).

Please email us at musicblog@sxsw.com if you’re so inclined. Subscribe to the feed that feeds here.

You’ve gotta like what you see, lp

Crawford Meets Crawford
Hundreds attend Crawford screening in Bush’s town.

“I Might Have a Whole New Life, Next Time You See Me”
25 worthwhile documentaries about ambitious outsiders, from the AVClub.

Rob Schrab’s 4-minute Film School
Co-creator of the Sarah Silverman Program gives a quick and entertaining lesson on drawless animation.

Kung Fu Panda Beats Projections…
…and messes with the Zohan this weekend and the box office.

Approved Insider Trading
Media finance and production lawyer, Philip Alberstat’s new book, “The Insider’s Guide to Film Finance", reveals the legal and commercial implications of financing an independent film from start to finish, complete with legal advice, case studies, financing models, and a glossary of film financing and banking terms.

• Wal-Mart bypasses labels with exclusive artist deals
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)
• Behind the RIAA’s enforcement efforts
  Story from Billboard via Reuters.
• Warner pulls music from Last.fm
  Post from Wired blog.
• Alabama sues drummer, saying he was overpaid
  Story from CNN.
• Buddy Guy’s secrets
  Interview from Rolling Stone.
• Radio’s popularity declining unevenly
  Story from NY Times. (site reg req’d)

New book by Joe Nick Patoski

Local Texas writer Joe Nick Patoski’s new book, Willie Nelson: An Epic Life, came out this April and has been receiving rave reviews across the globe, from the New York Times to the UK music magazine MOJO and all points in between.

"An Epic Life comes aptly titled.... Mr. Patoski interviewed countless people close to Willie as well as the man himself, and his attention to detail is impeccable....We experience the heart of Willie Nelson." —Dallas Morning News

"A much-needed and well-told biography,...Nelson's quiet determination and unwavering focus shine through the pages of this admirable biography.... He has lived a sprawling, uniquely American life, and it deserves an examination this comprehensive." —Alan Light, New York Times Book Review

Joe Nick has a slate of upcoming book signings and an interview on the Bob Edwards Show to air June 18th on XM 133.

Joe Nick interviewed Willie Nelson’s long-time harmonica player Mickey Rafael at SXSW this year. Watch the video here.

New book by Joe Nick Patoski

Local Texas writer Joe Nick Patoski’s new book, Willie Nelson: An Epic Life, came out this April and has been receiving rave reviews across the globe, from the New York Times to the UK music magazine MOJO and all points in between.

"An Epic Life comes aptly titled.... Mr. Patoski interviewed countless people close to Willie as well as the man himself, and his attention to detail is impeccable....We experience the heart of Willie Nelson." —Dallas Morning News

"A much-needed and well-told biography,...Nelson's quiet determination and unwavering focus shine through the pages of this admirable biography.... He has lived a sprawling, uniquely American life, and it deserves an examination this comprehensive." —Alan Light, New York Times Book Review

Joe Nick has a slate of upcoming book signings and an interview on the Bob Edwards Show to air June 18th on XM 133.

Joe Nick interviewed Willie Nelson’s long-time harmonica player Mickey Rafael at SXSW this year. Watch the video here.

Tomorrow marks the first day of the rest of our lives with the release of My Morning Jacket’s fifth full-length Evil Urges.

To celebrate the occasion I’ll be posting a special edition of Hey Mr. YouTube DJ with Jim James. How very exciting!

So far the reviews have been mostly positive…

Will Hermes at Rolling Stone said, “James seems well aware that any definition of “classic rock” that doesn’t include Prince, Radiohead and Wilco is pretty bereft. Now, with Evil Urges, he can add My Morning Jacket to that list.”

Spin’s Shannon Zimmerman adds, “Evil Urges is easily MMJ’s most accomplished and ambitious record, masterfully sifting through genres.”

Paste writer Brian Howe agrees, “It speaks of a band working hard at its craft, continually expanding its musical vocabulary while holding fast to roots that are increasingly hard to see from the elevation to which the band has risen—but those roots, undeniably, are still there.”

And Entertainment Weekly’s Whitney Pastorek gave it an “A.”

Of course, you can’t please all of the people all of the time and Pitchfork’s Eric Harvey was not pleased.

You can listen to MMJ live today at 5 pm EDT on WFPK (91.9 in Louisville or online).

Happy Monday to you. Please feel free to email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Beat the heat, lp

Comics guru Kevin Church runs the popular blog Beaucoupkevin.com, writes the internet comic The Rack (among others) and loves the Pet Shop Boys.

Kevin also used to write one of my favorite blogs ever, Hulk’s Diary That is on the Internet. I still miss it.

He’s this week’s YouTube DJ… please enjoy his juicy picks.

PULP - THIS IS HARDCORE

It’s hard to imagine a more stylish video than Pulp’s “This Is Hardcore.” Shot by Doug Nichol, whose big break came when he was Director of Photography on Madonna’s egomaniacal Truth Or Dare documentary. He’s done over 50 other videos, including some by names like Aerosmith and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice, you know,) but nothing managed to hit this lofty high again.

THE PET SHOP BOYS - I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BUT I CAN’T GIVE IT ANY MORE

When Tennant and Lowe opted for a new look to accompany their 1999 album Nightlife, director Pedro Romhanyi created an original story for it, complete with Kubrick references, Japanese wardrobe men, and some massive dogs. I’ve always appreciated their attempts to create an aesthetic that could be identified with a particular album.

KRAFTWERK - THE ROBOTS (MINIMUM-MAXIMUM’04)

Kraftwerk are the greatest live band on the planet, and that’s a damned fact.

AIR - ALL I NEED

“All I Need” from Air’s first album, Moon Safari. Remember when all those clichés were fresh and new and you were going to be with that person forever? Not even I can be cynical about this Mike Mills tribute to young love.

DEPECHE MODE - LOVE IN ITSELF

So, Depeche Mode are in a cave and decide to mime out one out of their songs while some stock footage from a foundry is projected over them. Works for me!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Hey Mr. YouTube DJ.

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Have a prosperous weekend, lp

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Is there anything he can’t do?
Brad Pitt designs luxury “green” hotel in Dubai.