Long Beach, CA is home to more than just gangsta rap. Take Crystal Antlers for example: These five swell fellas rip the stage with a blend of post-punk, metal and dirty down Stooges soul. I shared a bill with these guys just a couple nights after their van had been stolen—fully loaded with gear—and they still performed with reckless abandon, as if a big “Fuck you” to car thieves abound. Check out their upcoming dates:

So if you’re down in LA or headed to SXSW, be sure to give Crystal Antlers a peep. “Until The Sun Dies” and “Partying Song”s one and two are worth admission alone.

CNET News’s Daniel Terdiman wrote an interesting article regarding the wasteful aspects of annual South By Southwest music, film and interactive festivals in his blog Geek Gestalt. He writes:

When I took the two bags I was given as a Gold pass holder–for the interactive and film festivals–back to my hotel room, it took me more than five minutes to lay everything from them out on the floor for a photograph.

Terdiman points out that, depending on the pass, festival goers may get up to three bags-worth of swag. Having gotten one last year, I can vouch for how heavy they are — at least 8 pounds — and honestly, I don’t know what happened to mine. So I guess I’m part of the problem. Anyway, just something to keep in mind when you’re sucking down those free Lone Stars.

From the BBC:

“The Scotsman newspaper quoted Ms Power as saying: “She is a monster, too - that is off the record - she is stooping to anything.”

Obama Adviser Samantha Power Resigns, but it’s too early in the morning to process politics. Before my first cup of coffee, I thought in terms of spin:

Sam Power is a Pulitzer Prize winner - certainly she knows nothing is off the record — especially juicy quotes — and this episode of her resigning is a highly calculated move. It shows Obama taking the moral high ground and forcing anyone in his camp who slings mud to resign, showing him as the moral candidate and better choice as leader.
And me pointing this out as a strategic move not done for morals, but politics, would mean that I’m for Clinton. But since I’m actually for Obama, and that this whole post seems to actually vilify Obama for his duplicity, it’s real purpose is making more Obama fans rush to his aid and defend him. But really, I hope Obama is a little duplicitous because it’s a cut throat world and we need our leader to have some cunning.

See isn’t politics fun?

Now that I’m having my coffee and have had a moment to discuss this with one of the Synthesis office’s sages, I of course realize that I’m too dumb for politics, or maybe not dumb enough for politics, and that I should just drink my coffee and find out what cool bands from Norway will be playing SXSW in Austin next week.

In further proof that SXSW has indeed jumped the shark, internet gossip queen Perez Hilton is taking applications from “press” and “industry” to see if they have what it takes to come to his SXSW party. Uhhhhhhhh. According to his site,  “It’s going to be the sickest, most amazing party!!!!” or at least tied with Rachael Ray’s. Water skis PLZ!

Copy-Pasta courtesy of the New Music Tipsheet.

List after the jump or if you want to download the pdf go here brah:

Photo of the 2007 SXSW Synthesis / Drive-Thru Dayparty at Emo’s by Melissa Hellaver

(more…)

Anyone that’s gotten the party lists and spent some time scanning them knows that (yes - this is going to sound odd at first) Rachael Ray’s party is going to be the shit.

Here’s the details - sounds like they’ll be snacks too:

Feedback With Rachael Ray
Saturday 3/15 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Beauty Bar (617 E. 7th St.)
Listen Records, Watch Entertainment and Everyday With Rachael Ray come together to bring you Feedback…a feast of hot bands and tasty foods, hosted by America’s favorite cook and indie music lover, Rachael Ray. Join us at this merging of great food and even better music with performances by Autovaughn, The Ravonettes [sic], The Cringe, Scissors For Lefty, The Stills, and Holy Fuck. DJ Efren “Pedro” Ramirez from Napoleon Dynamite will be DJ-ing inside. Drinks on us and lots of Rachael’s Tasty Recipies. Open to all SXSW badgeholders.

People at Brooklynvegan.com and doing some pretty funny shit talking.