Canuck has new handler

We hear talent manager Mike Savage has been taking meetings with labels and publishers for new client Esthero. The female singer/songwriter has a new album on Universal Canada, but is a free-agent outside of Canada. Esthero owns the masters and publishing on the new LP titled Everything is Expensive. The first single “Never Gonna Let You Go” will be serviced to Canadian radio on May 22nd. Aside from her solo work, Esthero co-wrote three songs on Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak album and most recently was featured singing on the theme song for the 21 Jump Street movie with artist Rye Rye. Esthero’s debut album Breath From Another was critically acclaimed and is considered a must-own LP among the DJ set and musicphiles…

Imagine Dragons' "It's Time" video

Last Saturday (4/28), as we were driving south for an early morning surf session while listening to 98.7 (KYSR), a familiar voice came on the air. We soon discovered the song was “It’s Time” from our pals Imagine Dragons, a longtime RM 64 fave. In addition, their current single is #13 on the Modern Rock chart. Seems like it was just yesterday when we first saw the group play the Beauty Bar in Downtown Las Vegas a couple years ago. The group signed to Interscope last November, as they were coming off the heels of their Vegas Music Summit show a month prior, opening for AWOLNATION. Much continued success to the Vegas crew. Check out the “It’s Time” video (imaginedragonsmusic.com/), which was MTV’s Push Artist of the Week on 4/17… Speaking of Vegas Music Summit, dates will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned…

Joie Manda was named President of Def Jam Recordings, and will be the first executive to hold the prexy title since Jay Z exited IDJ in 2007. Leaving his head of Urban post at Warner Bros. Records, he is one of a handful of Warner-label creative execs that Universal Music is rumored to be courting…

MOG headed to Beats

No stranger to disruption or hyperbole in the music space, Spotify-investor Sean Parker took the opportunity last week in Austin to proclaim that the Swedish-born streaming service would “overtake iTunes in terms of what we bring to the record industry in under two years,” and that there is a “war coming” between labels and artists, over how the latter gets paid, if at all, by the former. In related items, Nielsen released a report “suggesting” that there is no proof that streaming services cannibalize digital downloads (Universal Music made similar claims this week).  Meanwhile indie-label heavyweight Beggars Group pays their artists 50% of streaming revenues, according to Beggars strategy director Simon Wheeler.

Marty Bandier has signed a long-term contract extension as CEO at Sony/ATV Music, as he prepares to navigate the integration of EMI Music Publishing into the company, pending regulatory approval. And announced this week, is the news that Sony Corp. America CFO Rob Wiesenthal, will be joing Bandier at the pubco, as part of a larger shift in the company’s entertainment operations in America.

And the beat will go on for music-streaming straggler service, MOG, who according to multiple outlets, is in the process of being acquired by Beats Electronics, and it may be part of a bigger picture launch of a web store that will tie together their signature headphones and other products, with a ready-made music service, according to CNET.

Wild Belle...Proof that A&R guys really do wake up before noon on occasion

Words to live by… Saturday of SXSW Music week Austin can feel like a lonely place, a sea of weasels scurrying about to catch that all important final show of the buzz band they missed days ago, or lining up to eat one last BBQ meal at Ironworks. As I gnaw away on a final slice of brisket, I imagine that if they ever ran out of beef they could instead cook and serve the feet of those music bizsters that forgot to pack appropriate shoes, since by now those would likely have been sliced off to put them out of their misery, poor bastards…my feet have held up well this year, since they are encased in North Face weatherproof day hikers with arch support and a wire lacing system that never requires me to look down to tie my shoes which might cause me to miss 30 seconds of a very important band, after all, I am a professional. I just wish they made those things for my liver…but I digress. Being a professional, I was prepared for the endurance marathon of the final day.

It was a pleasure this week to watch several bands I was into early live up to their well-deserved hype show after show, but two of my favorite bands of the week New Orleans’ Royal Teeth and Dead Sara from Los Angeles had already skipped town early this morning for their respective long drives home. And since my bossman Rich Stumpf of Imagem US was already on his way home today, I was free to explore beyond just the shows of importance I had dragged him to the past few days (last night we drank dead syrah with Dead Sara and their esteemed managers Michael Goldberg and Isaac Heymann, hung with Shooter Jennings on his tour bus after-show outside a club way far south on Lamar Blvd, and then 3:00am corporate bonding over free tacos as we watched Caveman at the Hype Machine Hotel).

That said, here’s how my final day unfolded:

I awoke frantically in a cold sweat Saturday at the crack of dawn (11am) from an A&R nightmare: I had missed Wild Belle. Repeatedly, all week. There was one final chance to see them at noon at the near impossible to navigate Urban Outfitters backlot near the university…after engaging in some 5th day morning ritual deep-knee bends and Visine taking, I threw on my last pair of clean socks and already-worn-several-times-but-still-hopefully-respectable-looking clothes and scurried out the door of the Driskill to hail a non-existant taxi…somehow made it to their show on time, and they were great.

Then it was back to 6th Street to do battle for one final day with with the throngs of lizards… met up with Silencio’s Lukas Burton for some final day cavorting, saw Alpine at the Aussie BBQ at Maggie Mae’s, then a long hot walk west to Capital Cities at the Creme de la Creme party at Malverde. Ran into the lovely Meiko on the street in front of The Agency Group’s day party at Lamberts BBQ, along with her ace manager Mike Savage, who was dutifully schlepping her guitar all over town between her morning and evening shows. Too early in the day for free BBQ for me, so I instead opted for nursing an iced cappuccino on the sidewalk. Next up was Polarsets from Newcastle UK at the British Embassy. Left Lukas there as he was next headed off to the airport.

Stubb's, home of Jalapeno Brisket Tacos

Swung briefly by the Four Seasons lobby bar but barely recognized anyone, the crowd thick with lizards, big ones, the bloody mary-soaked rug squishing with my every step. As I squinted across the lounge I saw music lawyers, and perhaps the last remaining A&R folks who still have expense accounts, all gnashing their teeth and waving their arms gesticulating wildly, iPhones in hand (though I should have heeded the sage advice of Atlantic’s Mollie Moore and gotten a Mophie Juice Pack for mine…next year for sure). Somebody was giving booze to these animals! I thought the better of it and got the hell out of there.

Then onward to the big Rachael Ray party at Stubbs, home of jalapeno brisket tacos & Shiner BockS, my favorite Austin breakfast meal/hangover-cure to eat while watching a band, where I also consumed a sublime plate of brisket on the VIP terrace, as I watched a few songs of Jimmy Cliff (which explained the haze of funny smoke wafting throughout the venue). While there met up for some some team bonding with co-workers Michael Morley and Lucy Francis from Imagem UK, and Steve King and Marc Manino from the Imagem US synch department. Thanks Allie Shaw for the VIP treatment!

Back out on Red River, next was an urban hike east to see indie rockers 2:54 at MWTX, where I accidentally caught half a song of a hardcore metal band before I realized I was watching the wrong stage (don’t say this has never happened to you)! Saw a quick one song of Dive as we walked through the Fader Fort, not too shabby, and then hoofed it back to the west side of I-35. Ran into Danny Rogers manager of Temper Trap on his way to Fader. On to Niki & The Dove at the Hype Hotel, where DJ Sean Glass muttered some indecipherable youthful hipster jargon at me as I walked in, to which I replied an enthusiastic “Yes!”… Free Taco Bell never tasted so good. Thank you Josh Rowe of Hype Machine for the hookup, and sorry for always being a pain in the ass Caught Reptar at Bandpage HQ, and then headed back to hotel to collect myself for the final evening’s shows.

Daily spotting of legal eagle Nicky Stein in the Driskill lobby on a seemingly very important phone call…maybe one day he’ll let me sign one of the stellar artists he looks after!

Driskill lobby bar mascot

Began my night with Meiko at Hotel Cafe’s massive show in St. David’s church…very windy around the church, strangely reminiscent of Saturday last year. A few words come to mind while watching her set: intimate, illicit (is it okay to say “balls” in a church??), inspirational. Great songwriting and between-song storytelling! Also caught a few minutes of songstress Madi Diaz. Then chatted with Hotel Cafe proprietor Marko Shafer, longtime friend and headliner Cary Brothers, and with supermanager Reese Lasher, who at first didn’t recognize me with a beard! Stuck around to see the excellent Lumineers for a third time this week, they did not disappoint.

Then back to Lamberts BBQ for the packed Cantora Records (the coolest NY indie hipster label around) showcase, featuring Haim who are amazing and easily one of the biggest buzzes this year. The club was at capacity and badges were being turned away, so I did what any resourceful bloke would do and snuck in up the back stairs, where I found myself with a prime spot to witness the sweaty rock show alongside Cantora’s Nick Panama and Will Griggs, and Haim manager Jon Lieberberg of Live Nation. Afterward, caught a few songs of Brooklyn Cantora band Slam Donahue. Said goodbye to my UK team and our Aussie sub-publisher Jaime Gough of Native Tongue, and slipped out the back door into the night.

I skipped the Perez Hilton party this year (even though I bought a ticket in advance before the lineup was announced, just in case.) So it was one last pedicab ride back to the Driskill bar for a nightcap, where I ran into former Island and Columbia Records product manager Garrett Schaefer who was helping produce the Fuse event there, and A&R man at large Richard “Rico” Csabai. Time for a celebrational Patron margarita! But I could not rest yet, there was one final show to rally for… Kendrick Lamar late night at the Vibe House. More weaving through the sea of reptiles on 6th Street and down Congress, where St. Patricks Day partying was in full effect, to the Cashmere/Stampede Management showcase. Kendrick was great, with many special guests joining him to spit one west coast anthem after another, rumor has it Snoop Dogg was due to arrive any moment, but I was spent. Saw a last friendly face, my former urban A&R scout Quddus Phillipe enjoying the beats while filming it all on his phone. We hugged and I was off, back to the Driskill to cut off my accumulated wristbands and script this missive.

And so, another year of SXSW is in the books…This was year 20 for me, Desavia still has me beat, as does Nanci Walker, who skipped this year so she could avoid her black lab George again getting separation anxiety and eating a blanket. The only artist I am truly upset about missing was Pedro the singing monkey, I heard he was bananas…until next year (for which I plan to charter a full-time private rickshaw)… This is your faithful guest reporter signing off. Keep Austin Weird!

Wallpaper @ MTVu Woodie's set in Austin

It’s 5:30am Friday morning. I’ve been in Austin for 3 nights. It feels like I’ve been here 3 weeks, but the adrenaline is pumping. My alarm just went off and there’s a bit of a Groundhog’s Day feeling, as days have begun to blend into each other. Part of me was expecting Sonny and Cher “I Got You Babe” to start playing on my alarm clock radio. But alas, no, its just day 4 of the incomparable SXSW.

I rush out of my hotel room by 6:00am and head downstairs to the ballroom on the second floor of the W Hotel. One of my artists, ZZ Ward, is the first performer this morning for KGSR’s live radio performances. The room is already packed, standing room only, by the time I walk in at ten after 6… I see Lincoln Wheeler and Heather Davis from Hollywood Records. Band is ready to go, 6:30 comes, ZZ goes live with Andy Langer and kills it – so what if I’m bias, she did.

We’re out the door to the green room for some breakfast with Graffiti 6 (on deck) and Fun. (in the hole) – yes its baseball season and I’m psyched, sue me. I recently had the pleasure of writing with Nate, the lead singer of Fun. while in NY, so we say hello and I give him the super annoying obligatory, “Have Fun!??” (with a Seinfeld shrug), and he responds with “No. Too early”. Good times… So I know this is like super taboo for South-by, but I went back to bed for 3 hours. GASP! I know, the horror.

Okay, cut to 1:00pm out the door again heading to the eastside. ZZ has an acoustic performance for music blog Kick Kick Snare. New Hollywood prexy Ken Bunt is there, as well as head of marketing Robbie Snow and label staffers Edwin Camacho and Heather Davis. Down the block Fader Fort is raucous and I try to take a peak, but my tornado of a schedule whisks me away. Another act of mine Wallpaper is preparing for their final Austin show at the Music Choice Hard Rock event and I have to get ZZ to Gary Clark Jr’s show in the Waterloo parking lot. But first she has an interview on 6th street. We enter the madness of music’s mardis gras and weave our way through street performers and music fans alike. In and out and off to Waterloo… ZZ and Gary hang, he hits the stage and I leave to catch what I can of Wallpaper’s sixth show of the week (this is where a clone would come in handy). I arrive towards the end of the set and meet up with my second in command Larry Wade. The Wallpaper show is packed and littered with many familiar faces like CAA’s Matthew Morgan and Jenna Adler (Wallpaper’s agent), E’s Chris Jackson, BMI’s Casey Robison and Beth Laird, John Frankenheimer and his daughter Erin Frankenheimer, Mike Posner manager and Skull Candy rep Dan Weisman, Epic Records A&R Mike Flynn and the extended Epic Records marketing and PR staff, Wallpaper managers Steve Brodsky and David Lefkowitz, Thuy-An from iTunes, Boardwalk’s very own Aubrey Forman and many more… Wallpaper destroys it as usual.

From there I’m off to the Comedy Central LRG party back on the east side of downtown. Up and coming Chicago producers, Blended Babies, are there with Cool Kids‘ Chuck Inglish, new Epic A&R Malik Rasheed and Blazetrak founder Ron Harrison. Chuck relieves Statik on the 1’s and 2’s and shortly after a Comedy Central rap group, The Wizards, hit the stage wearing Lakers jerseys, purple merlin hats and ridiculously fake long beards – “Muthafuckin Wizards never die!!!” – genius.

From there its straight to the Shady Records 2.0 event at the Austin Music Hall in a peddy cab. No – I am not afraid to ride in a peddy cab through Austin blasting dance music. Ericka Coulter from Vincent Herbert’s Streamline Records walks us in past the enormously long line. We walk in and I see Warner Bros. A&R and rap industry legend Dante Ross. His artist Action Bronson is about to hit the stage. I love this guy, one part Pun, one part Ghostface, Jewish and cooks (usually while rapping in his videos). What’s not to love? After Bronson’s set, newly signed TDE/Aftermath artist Schoolboy Q hits the stage with future star and RCA artist, A$AP Rocky. I am definitely feeling the Black Hippie movement of Schoolboy and Kendrick, and am already a fan of A$AP’s mixtape, so this was a treat… Following Schoolboy was Big KRIT, and the Interscope and Shady people start to file in – Ben Gordon, Paul Rosenberg, James Mormile (there with his newly signed band The Kin), etc… Shady Records all-star group Slaughterhouse hits the stage and my leg has started to go numb. No seriously, my left leg had no feeling at this point. I start to wonder if maybe I got bit by a spider or something. Much like the Wizards earlier in the day I was hoping to pull a rabbit out of a hat and catch 50 Cent/Eminem for a few and then head to Jack White’s show back on 6th, but everyone keeps texting me not to bother – Jack’s show is overflowing and impossible to get into at this point. So I guess I’m stuck with the silver medal of 50 Cent performing the entire Get Rich or Die Tryin’ album. Eminem comes flying out during the second song “Patiently Waiting” and the crowd is going insane. Halfway through the show I’m in a panic, as I can swear the numbness is spreading. I decide to take off and bump into DJ Premier and his entourage. We chat for a few, I hop in a peddy cab and race back to the W… It’s midnight (yes, early for Austin), I’m numb, beat up and I wouldn’t change a thing about it! I live for this! Evan. Out.

Walk the Moon playing MTVu Woodies Festival

Thanks Rodel for assigning me to follow DeSavia’s entertaining and eloquent post. Guess I actually have to put some thought into this. And the main thought I have is that SXSW seems to have evolved from being the music industry’s spring break into the whole world’s spring break this year. 6th street is more packed and full of crazies than ever. There are corporate sponsors everywhere you turn. Lasers and smoke cloud the night sky, making the festival we all come here to “work,” feel more like the dance tent at Coachella. But maybe I’m just jaded. And feeling that way at 5 years in, I think I’m in trouble.

Started the day off heading over to the CAA brunch at the Four Seasons alongside my brother and Seattle talent buyer, Ryan Cook, and manager Elyse Masias. Said a quick hello to Boardwalk’s Larry Wade and Evan Bogart before heading out to the lawn to find the buffet nearly empty. That’s what I get for showing up an hour late. Chatted with David Bason and his band Blondfire about their mishaps the night prior (fun. blew the sound system and ruined the fun for everyone… no pun intended). Also bumped into Casey Robison from BMI, no doubt there to scope out the Four Seasons brunch competition. If I show up this morning and BMI has food, I’m going to have to declare them the winner. Sorry CAA!

Then it was a mad dash to Red Eyed Fly to catch Wild Belle along with most of the other A&R folk. Really enjoyed it, but the band is much better in a proper venue. Aren’t they all. Speaking of venue problems, I then tried to see Polica again after watching them from the sidewalk the night prior. But was sadly disappointed by a massive line at the NPR party. Regardless, I can tell you that they slay.

Next I managed to sneak in a show for the music fan in me – Father John Misty. Saw Bootleg Theatre booker, Ms. Alex Maxwell, who was equally enjoying the former Fleet Foxers‘ solo set. From there I hopped back to the New Shapes party at Red Eyed Fly, as it really had the best lineup of the day – thanks in part to MCT Bold manager, Seth Kallen, who was in high spirits before his band, Savoir Adore, was about to take the stage. Saw them play a jubilant set out back before heading inside to catch buzzy act Charli xcx who was mesmerizing to watch despite some sound issues.

Back out on the streets, I was pleasantly surprised to run into the stupidly talented Allen Stone walking down 7th. And heard tales of the previous night’s show, at capacity with a fire marshall threatening to close the place down. I expect nothing less from his shows this afternoon and evening. Back to Red Eyed Fly one last time for Ben Howard and Haim. Seems everyone is quite happy for the Haim sisters, finally getting their moment in the sun. A quick stop at IFC to try (and fail) to see Polica again, then it was time to drown my sorrows with some dinner and good company from BMI’s Tavi Shabestari and Brandon Haas.

The evening began with an RCA Records theme – several of our acts turning in some great sets. Walk The Moon rocked the MTVu Woodies fest and it was really heartwarming to see a SXSW 2011 breakout act return with so much growth and hard work under their belts. Big things in store for these guys, me thinks. Elle King was quite the firecraker, with a set of pipes to match. And Dry the River wowed once again, this time at Stubb’s. I continued my night feeling very lucky that I’m actually a fan of these acts on our label and proud of how they’ve been killing it in Austin. (Now David Wolter, please give me that raise for writing what you told me to).

With the boss in tow, and heavy one Lukas Burton, we sauntered off to see Blondfire and Nightmare and the Cat. We bumped into Constant Artists’ Matt Shay and Jordan Kurland along the way, who seemed to have their hands full with Cloud Nothings and Say Anything shows. One last stop to see Aussie band Alpine and then it was time to call it a night. Or at least time to realize I was locked out of my hotel room and had to wait for Lil Wayne to finish before I could get a key. Luckily I had Black Iris‘ Rob Lowry there to keep me company in the Hilton lobby and recap the day’s highlights.

Now I’m off to catch my final day of bands. I learned my lesson last year, fly out on Saturday and look like the smartest person alive. Also, thanks everyone for praying to the SXSW rain gods hard enough – I think we’re all happy we’re not show hopping and puddle jumping consecutively this week.

25th South-by booze from Damon Booth

3:30am. The fucking alarm clock went off at 3:30am. I’m too old for this. This is the morning of my 25th consecutive SXSW. While this milestone seemed a point of pride leading up, this morning I felt old… this is too early to be getting up to go to a music festival. I should be leaving this trip to the kids. Fercrissakes I’m still not 100% sure what a Skrillex is.

I arrived at LAX in no time. Probably because no one else in Los Angeles was up at that hour, except of course the passengers of this oversold AA direct flight to the land of milk & honey, Austin, TX. I managed to mumbled some barely audible crack of dawn greetings to old pals Erik Eger, Filter’s Alan Miller and Warner/Chappell’s Greg Sowders before stumbling to my seat where I promptly fell asleep. I didn’t know who these folks were on the flight, but I safely assumed most were remnants of our industry, some with a youthful idealism on their faces, probably headed to their first SXSW. Suckers.

I jumped off the plane and raced to a cab to go directly to the Gram Parsons Foundation launch event at the San Jose Hotel. The event, thrown by Polly Parsons, Erika Pinktipps, and Shilah Morrow was awesome and a perfect first stop in the SXSW journey. Notable Music’s recent signing, Jenny O. was performing and she killed it. Jenny O. fucking rules. As I left the gig to head to the hotel to check in I ran into friends Amy Rosen from Grey and the Grammy Museum’s Lynne Okin Sheridan and Stacie Takaoka in the crowd. Three very cool dames, those ones.

Jenny O. onstage

Surprisingly I caught a cab right away… excellent. I would be at the hotel in minutes… if it wasn’t for the gridlocked traffic. Who were all these people here? I fondly recalled my first SXSW where a headliner of the festival was Mojo Nixon and there wasn’t even a Four Seasons yet. A single tear streamed down my face as I recalled this simpler time. To you kids who don’t know who Mojo Nixon is – look him up on the Google and learn something. Skrillex shmillex.

While checking into the hotel, I ran into music industry nice guys Fuse TV’s John Katovsich and the Syndicate’s Bram Teitelman. Katovsich tipped off that night’s gig by The Men at 1am, Teitelman and I spoke of food. I was back in Texas, and now I was happy. I’m ready for this.

I jumped over to the convention center and saw the amazing and hilarious Wendy Cummings of SXSW, who helped me navigate the panelist registration and the Springsteen concert raffle (update: I got a ticket. Schwing.). I also saw the convention’s Luann Williams and a kid who looked like the younger, hippy version of my pal, SXSW kingpin Darin Klein. It wasn’t him. Klein is old now.

From there I met up with my main Jew and annual SXSW compadre, EMI’s Matt Messer and we trekked east to Shangrila to see the Jeff Sosnow-repped Fidlar. Great band… I think Mom & Pop have ‘em. Hardcore with hooks. I liked a lot. We then met up with M&P’s Craig Winkler and the three of us headed across the street to one of the many food truck zones where I ate a deviled egg sandwich. God bless the USA.

Next stop was the Warby Parker Citizen’s Circus show at the French Legation to see my new favorite singer and songwriter, Father John Misty. Misty (J. Tillman, formerly of the Fleet Foxes) has an album coming on Sub Pop in May and it fucking rules. Buy it, I guarantee it.

The next four hours are a bit of a blur. I was recruited as temporary road manager for Jenny O. and Father John Misty (both managed by Miss Laurel Stearns, who was dealing with flight delays). Basically all I had to do was take them to their Daytrotter sessions, which were delayed by… hours. We all sat on a big porch and chatted under the Austin sky, and I felt damn honored to be there.

I made a quick stop at the hotel to meet back up with Messer. The phone rand and it was room service saying they had a delivery for me. Confused, I told them to come up… they came bearing a bottle of Jack from my biz partner/best friend Damon Booth to celebrate my 25th. Booth was already here in spirit, but now he was here in spirits (get it, get it???).

ASCAP reunion

I walked back in to town and met back up with Messer – he tipped me off to a pretty great BBQ truck, we grabbed some sandwiches and headed over to my old chums and co-workers at the ASCAP showcase at the Bat Bar. While Cherri Bomb played there was a mini-ASCAP reunion with current ASCAPers Jason Silberman, Marc Emert-Hutner, Evan Trindl, and Mike Sistad. Also there were my fellow ex-ASCAPers Pauline Stack and TerrorBird’s Josh Briggs, as well as manager/goddess Melissa Emert-Hutner. Somehow a bunch of us drank two shots of Jack in about 10 minutes and then we were on our way…

On the street we ran into the beauty trio of EMI’s Amanda Berman, Atlantic Records‘ Mollie Moore, and EMI Pub Film & TV kingpin Maggie Martin. They repeatedly mocked Messer for his handwritten, single spaced, folded up, old man band schedule. This pleased me. I think Matt was supposed to use the Pinterest or an internet application or something. FU Skrillex.

From there we jumped over to Stubb’s to meet up with my pal Rhett Miller who was there to see the Alabama Shakes. Rhett was with old friends Bang the Drum Music’s Robert Jenkins and Vector’s Andy Mendelsohn, and together we enjoyed a couple of beers and watched the Shakes. I like a band with “Shakes” in their name. On the way we ran into Michael Pizzuto from Bicycle Music and Nike’s JT Griffith, who were in the midst of the contagious SXSW euphoria.

Throughout the night I was getting evil texts from Big Champagne/Live Nation’s Joe Fleischer, who was running around with Eric Garland spending corporate money and talking about Napster and Personics and stuff.

Next it was to Stage on 6th to see the Crocodiles. On the way in I ran into the likes of the fucking awesome Linda Park of SXSW, Louie Bandak and Scott Cresto. Nice people, those three. The Crocodiles were my happy surprise of the night – hadn’t heard of them before, but was instantly taken by their fuzz-bass awesomeness. I need to buy all their records immediately. They ruled.

We then made a quick stop at the Gibson to see Apache Relay, where we ran into good guy Michael Goldberg and my old intern (you heard me) and all-around great guy Imagem’s Jon Pikus.

Which brought us to the final stop of the night – The Men at Elysium. Great show, lots of lasers, and the company of such pals as Activision’s Tim Riley, Spirit’s Toddrick Spalding and Tim Pattison, Joshua P. Briggs and his Terrorbird co-hort Jen Pearce, Louis Bandak, and High Bias’ David Abplanalp-Estime.

Messer and I wandered out around 2:30am, made a well-deserved stop at the cupcake truck, threw several insults at each other on 6th Street and said goodnight. Night one was done for me and it was a fucking blast, as usual. I love you Austin. Happy 25th.

On my way into the hotel business center I ran into ex-patriate Paul Adams who hipped me to his party today. I told him I would include the link. Here you go: http://newshap.es. Make him buy you drinks.

Back to bed. FU Rodel for making me work this morning.

Bats...Huge bats!

We were somewhere around Austin when the Shiner Bock began to take hold. I remember saying something like “I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive….” And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving, and a voice was screaming “Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?” No cause for alarm, it’s merely the first day of SXSW Music, and the bats, perhaps real from under the Congress Street bridge, perhaps imagined, are most likely just my music biz peers descending on Austin for a week of buzz bands, beer, and BBQ. Sometime last week amidst the haze of what I like to call “training” for the annual A&R Olympics known as SXSW (i.e. sifting through un-official event rsvp’s on @SXSWPartyList) I was asked by RM64 to contribute a guest dispatch for 1 day, quite an honor…however my assignment was for Saturday the final day, so if my liver is still functioning, and I have not consumed too much BBQ and peach cobbler at @IronworksBBQ, I will check back in with a recap of my antics. Have fun, fine tune your party schedule, and most importantly wear comfortable shoes! In the immortal words of Raoul Duke: “We can’t stop here, this is bat country!”

Jon Pikus
Creative Director, A&R West Coast
Imagem Music

RM64 Reporters: DeSavia, Cook, Dominguez, Bogart & Pikus

We, the editors of RM 64, wanted to do something a little different for SXSW this year. For once, we wanted to enjoy the festival, party, socialize and see bands without having the pressure to write. So we came up with the brilliant idea of having other people do the writing for us. And we handpicked an excellent group of music biz peeps for a peek into their typical day at South-By… Joining us this year are: Notable Music’s Tom DeSavia, RCA A&R rep Lindsey Cook, SESAC’s Jamie Dominguez, Imagem Publishing’s Jon Pikus and hit-songwriter Evan Bogart. Tune in each day to read daily dispatches from our cadre of industry players…