quick update

heya!

had some internet issues last night upon arriving back at home base (at 4am)...so just a quick recap of yesterday before i head out for more adventures today!

didn't oversleep, just didn't sleep leading up to Lou Reed's talk yesterday morning, so i cut my losses and got a 2 1/2 hour nap in before heading back downtown in the afternoon...read a recap of what i missed here Sad I missed the Levi's/Fader thing, but the line for that the past 2 days has been unbelievably long, and it's hard to determine what time which act is playing, so even if you are on "the list" (which i think i am having rsvp'd through email), there's no guarantee of getting in and you're not sure what you're gonna see when you get in. And every time I walked by, there was something lame (not even live music) blaring from the tent, so whatever...

instead i went to the Twangfest day party at Jovita's (sorta close to where i'm staying) and saw a Missouri friend who's working with the St. Louis band Gentleman Auction House with the Emergency Umbrella record label. Check em out, esp. if you dig Bright Eyes and Arcade Fire...

got to be on DirecTV's coverage of sxsw for a few minutes in the crowd at Sia's set at the convention center...yay for glowsticks!

skipped a couple free dinner offers to attend the Body of War showcase at Stubb's, featuring Serj from System of a Down, Ben Harper, Mason Jennings, Kimya Dawson, Brett Dennen, Billy Bragg and more. Bought an advance copy of the 2-disc soundtrack...it comes out tuesday...very interesting movie/music project. Was hoping for an Eddie Vedder surprise appearance, but that didn't come to pass. Check out the documentary, also called Body of War, which won some awards here at the film fest this week. Never thought I would see a crowd pogo-dancing to "This Land is Your Land," but if Tom Morello tells you to do something, you'd better do it! Ended up running into Ben Harper randomly outside a club around 3am and got a picture that actually worked this time!

and speaking of photographic redemption...well, sort of. 2 things. 1) i figured out slow shutter speed works better for nightime concert action shots...duh! so yesterday's pics turned out a little better. and 2) i totally got into a day party that a guy in front of me appeared to want to get into, but didn't...and that guy happened to be Moby! The 3 girls in front of me in line were all giddy when they realized who it was, so i took a pic of them with Moby, and didn't wanna bother the poor guy for another one. We were surrounded by lots of folks, so i thought it might lead to picture with Moby day...oh well. Sometimes it's better to have the story than the photograph (?)...

Had some sweet BBQ at Stubb's btw as the Body of War thing got started...had free briscuit earlier in the day after revelling in my "I got in but Moby didn't" day party glow...

Saw UK Mercury Prize nominees Working for a Nuclear Free City later in the evening...

actually skipped the Whigs/Yo La Tengo/My Morning Jacket thing at Austin Music Hall (way across town) in favor of Alejandro Escovedo (there were rumors of a Lou Reed guest spot here that didn't come to pass either...doh!), Carbon/Silicon, and Syd Straw, 3 artists I figured it was a rare opportunity to see, as opposed to artists I deeply love but have seen a few times and will most likely see again....the My Morning Jacket show I believe was carried by NPR, like the REM show was the night before...check the archives there...i know i will!

The night ended with Via Audio at Habana Calle's annex...one of my fav cds of last year, and they really were excellent and fun live...went to the outside stage for a bit to catch the groovy/arty/noise duo No Age, and when I got back inside, the boys from Spoon were among the 30 or so folks checking out Via Audio! Jim from Spoon (who produces their records) also produced Via Audio's...Spoon had played a free show at 8pm at the outdoor ampitheatre, which I wanted to make, but the Body of War thing took precedence...

So after wandering downtown for a bit helping friends get closer to their home base...we came across Ben Harper...I think he might've been trying to get into the Playboy party (we certainly were!) that went until the wee hours at a huge warehouse downtown. Alas, we were not VIP enough (not sure if Ben was), so I cabbed it home with Jeff, who had had an unusually long day as soundman (even by sxsw standards). I ended up oversleeping this morning, but I'm gonna try to make Vampire Weekend and X at the Stubb's/Spin day party in a couple hours!

Not as many big names to look forwar to today, but still plenty of good stuff...I'll try to post my pics and vids soon!

Cheers!