Thursday, March 15, 2007



ASCAP and Filter presented their annual day parties at Cedar Street Courtyard in Austin, TX, for the 2007 SXSW Music Festival. Thursday started off with host and comedian Zach Galifianakis warming up the packed house before Grand Ole Party took the stage. The day also included a special performance by headliner Badly Drawn Boy, as well as Youth Group, Kenna, The Besnard Lakes, Midnight Movies and The Great Northern.

Friday, March 16, 2007



Friday's ASCAP and Filter's High Noon Day Party at SXSW was a day of the Aussies. Three Australian bands rocked Cedar Street Courtyard on yet another gorgeously warm day in Austin, TX. There was a slight breeze in the air to cool you off from all the hot, buzzworthy acts.

The party commenced when Aussie band, Dappled Cities, on Dangerbird Records, pleasantly surprised us with their lush, energetic songs. Then the Little Ones brought their brand of sunshine rock, introduced by KCRW's Chris Douridas. We were up front and dancing to their anything-but-little sound, followed right afterwards by our recent favorite mini-Arcade Fire — Ra Ra Riot from Syracuse, NY.

Then the Aussies won back our love and attention when Architecture in Helsinki performed — they simply and enthusiastically mesmerized us with their quirky joy pop. One of the singers in Dappled Cities jumped on stage to play with Architecture in Helsinki — Aussies unite! We loved every minute of it. Another Australian outfit, The Panda Band, on Filter Recordings, hugged us with their swoonworthy vocals.

Another unexpected surprise of the evening was from frequent Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark, who brought his unique mix of rock, pop, soul, funk and hip-hop. We ended the day with the soothing melodies and piano-driven rock of Aqualung.

Saturday, March 17, 2007



The last day of the ASCAP/Filter High Noon Day Party at SXSW brought in a slew of overseas acts that ranged from the sweet, lilting vocals of Kate Havnevik from Röyksopp to the boisterous Scot rock of the Fratellis, who are the most recent addition to the list of hot bands featured in iPod commercials.

Mohair from Watford in the UK took the stage early and blasted their brand of energetic Brit rock above the St. Patrick's Day activities across the street from Cedar Street Courtyard. Then Kate Havnevik took it down a notch and enchanted the crowd with her ethereal, soaring vocals. The much buzzed-about Pipettes took the stage in matching polka dot outfits, singing cutesy 50s girl group style songs.

The energy was up to 11 afterwards when Mando Diao commanded everyone's attention with a fierce, dynamic live show. Any other band may have been intimidated to follow that kind of loud and proud rock, but somehow Mew rose to the challenge and blew away the packed house with their otherwordly music. The Fratellis then had everyone dancing with songs from their new album, Costello Music. The day ended with Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth playing some of Moore's upcoming solo material, accompanied by a violinist.