When I lived in Boston, I paid hundreds and thousands of dollars to come to Austin and spend 1-2 weeks here during my spring break. Now that I live here, I am so glad that I have something non-SXSW related to do this year. Last year was one of my first real, intense working SXSW years and all I did was go to showcases to meet up with people. I saw about 5 bands that I wanted to see on my list. I was one of those annoying people on their cell phones during a show, not really watching a band. Perhaps I was resting in between. Who knows. All I did was run around to meet other people. Sometimes it was a complete fail because cell reception lagged and texts would come late and I’d get there and the person wouldn’t even be there!

I am not even gonna bother looking at the unofficial stuff. I’m sure if you’re reading this you have already done your homework. This is what I’ve taken from the official showcase list. Plenty of friends are on it, plenty more friends are not! Please go say hello to my friends since I can’t be there. Trust me, they are all REALLY talented folks. Honestly, I don’t even know who is going to be in town because those that aren’t showcasing officially are showcasing at unofficial day parties, etc. I’ll probably find out in the next week or two when I start getting texts and e-mails and I will update this list with the peepz I think you should definitely get to know and listen to.

Wed., Mar. 17

Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room- 10 out of Tenn, featuring Tyler James 9PM

Valhalla (wtf is this venue?)- Wax Fang 11PM

Velvetta Room-Via Tania 12AM (someone I have worked with and she is soo awesome)

Thursday, Mar. 18

Beauty Bar/Palm Door- Dawes 9PM (apparently this is the Rolling Stone showcase) Dawes are my 2009 babies.

Emo’s Annex- Oh Mercy (friends of friends in Oz)  9PM..damn good Australian music

Emo’s Main Room- Local Natives (also playing the NPR party at The Parish)- 11PM

Encore Patio- The Mother Hips- 11PM

Friday, March 19

Buffalo Billiards- Relient K- 12AM

Emo’s Jr- Golden Filter 8PM

Galaxy Room Backyard- Local Natives 9PM

Saturday Mar. 20

Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake)- Dawes 4PM

Central Presbyterian Church- The Watson Twins 9PM

Momos- Drew Smith 1AM

WASHINGTON- TBA

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The Dead Trees somewhere, sometime.

John Doe, Ra Ra Riot, Magic Wands, Good Ole War, School of Seven Bells, Temper Trap, Steel Train, Minus the Bear, Mummiy Troll, Colourmusic

I come home Mar. 21st. woohoo miss all the action. Everyone will be pooped for the first two weeks I’m back..kinda awesome because I can start on work stuff when everyone else is beat and not thinking about anything else!