When we found Video Matt aka Matt Wilson at the local troubled teen shelter [actually it was Butte College, but close enough] he had been on the grind for a minute, setting up interviews with bands and filming live footage totally guerrilla style, working with bands like Paramore and Dance Gavin Dance and repping Gridley, CA like a motherfucker. Since no one else at Synthesis even knew how to turn on a video camera, let alone had the balls to stand in front of it, we immediately hired Matt to be our guru of all things video, allowing him to slay 234 times more tang on YouTube and in the process, giving him a chance to work with most of his all time favorite bands, including New Found Glory, Cartel, Jacks Mannequin and Danger Radio to name a few; get super hammered at SXSW before even turning 21, and learn all about industry rule #4080. Check out our YouTube page for all sorts of Video Matt madness and be sure to hit your boy up on the comments, maybe he’ll holla next time he’s kicking it at The Boardwalk, nahmean?

Hard as F, dude. Just saying.

Photo by Melissa Welliver on location at SXSW Interactive 2007 OMG 5up3r 1337

I’ve been listening to Jesu since December of 2005 when I received their self-titled debut. It took me little time to figure out that Jesu is fronted by Justin Broadrick, the main guy from Godflesh, who won me over during my dreary days as a college disc jockey.

I finally saw Jesu live for the first time during SXSW 2007. Coincidentally, it was their first time visiting the states because visa issues had defeated them prior (Justin writes extensively about it in his blog).

I know music journalists are supposed to keep their cool, sitting off to the side of the stage, arms folded in front of them, stern look of concentration on their faces. But I’ve always thought that forced stoicism was absolute bullshit. So there I was front and center, hair in slow-motion headbang, arms outstretched, fully rocking. To hell with the non-believers, this was what I came to Austin for.

People ask me what my favorite part of SXSW 2007 was. I’ll answer “Jesu.” (That is, when I am not answering “The Mountain Goats” or “Melvins with Big Business” or “Andrew Bird” or “Robyn Hitchcock with Peter Buck” or whatever pops into mind as being above awesome.)

I wrote a long-winded history of Justin K. Broadrick and Jesu, complete with purple prose, mixed metaphors and a reference to Shiva . Read it after the jump if you like.

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Amy Winehouse preforms Love is a Losing Game at the Island Records showcase at SXSW on Friday.

The final band list for SXSW has been posted. Now who’s got the motherfucking party list?