It's been a minute but...

It's about that time folks... SXSW is only a month away and the parties and unofficial showcases are already being revealed. I will be posting all of the unofficial stuff going down. And by unofficial I mean free. No badges. No bullshit. Yes hipsters (as far as the eye can see). Yes Lone Star (most of the unofficial stuff going on is 21+ but there are a few dope parties that are 18+ or all ages). There is no need to spend $600+ on a laminated badge when you can catch all of the real stuff happening with the people who just want to throw a good time and don't care about the money. I'm talking house parties, parking lots, parks, genuine DIY festivals that provide free quality entertainment for the hell of it. I was able to go to SXSW last year for two days and even then I was overloaded with choices of free stuff to check out. If you've never experienced unofficial SXSW please do yourself a favor and check it out.

I will be posting links to RSVP/whereabouts to house parties throughout the month leading up to SXSW so keep checking back.

To kick off the festival before it even begins, there are a few pre-opening day parties that should start off the week just right.

Tuesday, March 13th is looking to shape up really nice. There are multiple house parties featuring some amazing local and national talent.

Day Before the Mess Fest

• Thee Oh Sees (SF, 1am), The Fresh and Onlys (SF, 12:20am), Woven Bones (midnight), Wounded Lion (LA, 11:40pm), The Baths (SF, 11:20pm), Shapes Have Fangs (11pm) at the 21st Street CO-OP (707 W. 21st St.) [+]
• Harlem (11:30pm), The Beets (NY, 11pm), Beach Fossils (NY, 10:30pm), Air Waves (NY, 10pm), Total Slacker (NY, 9:30pm), Fungi Girls (Denton, 9pm) at House of Guys(1907 Rio Grande) [+]
• The Carrots (8:30pm), Reading Rainbow (PA, 8pm), Eternal Summers (VA, 7:30pm), The Girls at Dawn (NY, 7pm), Predator (GA, 6:30pm) at a house off of 30th and Red River (near Austin vet hospital) [BBQ, BYOB)]

(copied from showlist austin)

Austin locals Shapes Have Fangs are an amazing throwback band that calls on the beginnings of R&B and surf rock. Remember that song Wipeout by The Surfaris? Just like that with a little more grime around the edges.

Check out their album here

Denton band Fungi Girls play some good ol' punk-inspired-noise-infused-surf-tested-Texas-approved garage rrrrrock.

Check out their album here

Harlem have been the garage darlings of Austin for the last 6 months or so and specialize in jangly catchy minute-long songs about girls, drugs, france, and everything in between. Check out their beautiful debut album, Free Drugs, here

The Carrots channel Motown greatness in all its glory.

Check their two song EP here

I will post more shows that I will be attending along with downloads so you can check it out and enjoy the noise before the glory goes down.