Video from the Synthesis Crew will also be posted at our OWN page, Synthesisradio.net.

Catch the first installment HERE.

I love the Youtube as much as the next guy, but our vids are cleaner and downloadable.

There’s something I like about Central Time. Being two hours ahead of the time zone we normally exist in for some reason feels right. So we’re sitting here in the lobby at the Four Seasons (which is quite comfortable I might add) finishing up some video editing from last nights opening pregame SXSW foray while ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons is behind me chilling at the bar having a morning beer.

So, a taut little crew of Synthesis employees are lodging at the Four Seasons in Downtown Austin, Texas right now. The lobby is studded with Aztec-themed carpeting, plush couches, a view of some sort of snaking body of water (we still don’t knowthe name of it, and we’re all seemingly afraid to ask) and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top is currently within my view, perched at the bar, trying desperately to save his beard from becoming drenched in whatever libation he’s imbibing.

Last night’s revelry resulted in a Gibbons surprise guest guitar solo with an impromptu jam with the house band from the hotel, mere moments before Billy Bob Thornton waltzed in and shook the hell out of everyone’s hand except mine. Earlier in the day, as we were posted up at a shiny table with monogrammed cloth glass coasters, we witnessed Lou Reed checking in to his room, all lithe and old-looking and wonderful. I instantly wanted to hear “Who Loves The Sun.”

So it is with only the tiniest inkling of humility that I hereby declare Austin, Texas, and more notably the Four Seasons, as the coolest place on Earth ever that’s not Chico, California. And although I feel like a fraud being here, counting out quarters for drinks and dining on bagels and wasabi peas (they’re complimentary), I now feel secure that I have one of the best jobs a manboy could ask for.

Later today, I will try my hand at attending the Austinist/Gothamist party to check out the Shout Out Louds and Shearwater before I sardine myself within La Zona Rosa to breathe in the legendary Van Morrison, which will let out just in time to try and catch R.E.M. at Stubb’s. You wish…

Seriously, what’s some schlub from Redding, California, doing here, hanging out within proximity of this guy…

While SXSW offers opportunities to see rather large bands in relatively small settings (REM at Stubbs, anyone?), I more look forward to discovering new, not widely known acts. One band that I’m really excited for is The Death Set, a Baltimore-via-Sydney spaz punk/electro duo (or quartet, depending on how many drummers they’ve roped into the show). They’re supposed to put on a very fun, in-your-face show and have kids hanging from the rafters and all…in a short time they’ve built a reputation that they will hopefully live up to when I see them play in about 3 hours. Check back for our video interview soon, and in the meantime, here’s their SXSW schedule.

Mar 12 2008 12:30A Todd P Midnight acoustic BBQ @ “The Six Pack” on UT Campus Austin, Texas
Mar 12 2008 4:00P SXSW Terrorbird 4pm @Emos Austin, Texas
Mar 13 2008 2:30P SXSW 2:30pm Above The Radar Party @ Trophys Austin, Texas
Mar 13 2008 8:00P SXSW 8pm Bikes in the Kitchen party @ Ms Beas Austin, Texas
Mar 13 2008 10:30P SXSW Ninja Tune showcase @ Elysium Austin, Texas
Mar 14 2008 5:15P SXSW 5:15pm Vice party @ The Victory Grill Austin, Texas
Mar 14 2008 11:30P SXSW I Heart Comix @ The Austin Garage Austin, Texas

In the coming days you’ll most likely want us to STFU about SXSW, so I’ll keep this introductory South By Southwest blog brief. For those unfamiliar, SXSW is a music festival in Austin, TX where music industry professionals and semi-professionals from around the globe come to schmooze, ink deals and drink as much free alcohol as possible while seeing some of the largest (and smallest) bands play in some of the smallest venues. For instance, one of 2006’s highlights was seeing the Flaming Lips with about 250 people.

It’s spring break for the music industry, and Synthesis is here in Austin on assignment to bring you some sweet video coverage (which you can see via our youtube page).

Things that Rule about Austin, TX: BBQ. It’s enough to turn a vegetarian insane with meat rage, and for all those who are trying to keep away from the savory deliciousness of places like Ironworks or Stubbs, we wish you the best of luck. I put my veg status on away for the week. Our other vegetarian crumbled upon entering Ironworks, and soon tears were streaming from his eyes as he gorged on beef ribs. Tears of pure rib joy. Now we all know why Adam got all nuts and got himself and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden: was missing out on ribs.
Things that you don’t want to have happen on your first day of SXSW: your camera decides that it is done with life. On the first day. Drat. Double drat. My screen is broken, and without a viewfinde my camera is pretty much useless. Hence, a blog without original pictures. Le sigh.

Some Day 1 stats:
Sweet beards witnessed: 3 (I judge a beard as beings “sweet” if it’s four fingers long. Mine is not yet sweet.)
Close encounters with famous rock stars: 2 (Velvet Underground kingpin Lou Reed and ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons are staying at our hotel. Apparently Billy Bob Thornton is also here, but that was reported to me by video matt.)
Lone Star Beers consumed: 3
Sweet photos taken: 0
People staying in our 2-person luxury suite: 5
People I’ve caught eying me, trying to figure out if I was “somebody”: 17 or so

Hey, it was a travel day and we haven’t been here more than a few hours. Besides I said I wouldn’t write about the Dub Trio show we all caught because someone else is gonna blog about that shit.

SXSW is without question both the busiest and best week of the year. We arrived late afternoon today (Tuesday) ready to start drinking Lone Stars, eating BBQ and working our collective asses off getting tons of content and meeting virtually everyone there is to meet.

SXSW 2008 looks to be better than 2007 (not that SXSW 2007 sucked or anything) since Red Bull is back this year with the Red Bull Moontower (at SXSW 2006 the Red Bull House stole the entire show). Now we really don’t know what’s going to be going down over there (we’ll let you know after we find out) but we are certain of one thing - the Red Bull Moontower will be the place to be for SXSW 2008. What we do know is this:

Anchored by the Red Bull Energy Station, the Alamo Draft House Rolling Road Show and a solar stage, the Red Bull Moon Tower will be a mix of a musician compound and a high-end party where anything can happen.

More on all that throughout the next few days especially since I know we’ll be there until the 4am mark nightly for the next four nights. The first thing we had to do after a drink at the hotel bar was hit up Ironworks BBQ for a completely amazing dinner. I think I want to move into that place and just spend my day eating, at the least I think I need to eat there at least once a day for the next week.