SweetLeafDanny’s Top Pick for ACL!
By Danny on Sep 9 Filed In ACL, Live Music Add a Comment
ACL is ONE WEEK AWAY! OMG! Then, I realized I’ve been so busy prepping that I haven’t written my top pick for the festival. Frantically, I scanned the line-up and LOW-AND-BEHOLD I found them!
I discovered this band at SXSW 3 years ago to the Austinist SXSW party. They were one of the opening bands that played before Kevin Devine (Personal Favorite). So I got there early and starting listening, and they caught my eye right off the bat. One thing that I was super impressed with, was the lead singer (Telekinesis! founder and brainchild, Michael Lerner) plays the drums while singing. It’s AH-mazing. I’ve seen them play SXSW a couple of time now and they have 2 albums and one EP out. They are all top notch records! BONUS they play at the Google + stage on Saturday at 11:45am! See them. It’s a great band to start your day!
This first video is just a live performance of to show you how awesome he is a drumming and singing my (current) favorite song.
These following are just awesome, listen and enjoy.
See you there!!!
SXSW Photog blog!
By Danny on Mar 23 Filed In SXSW Add a Comment
SXSW is OVER! SweetLeafDanny’s Top #Winners
By Danny on Mar 21 Filed In Austin, Texas, SXSW Add a Comment
Photo Cred: Annie Ray .net
Whoa, SXSW 2011 has been a whirlwind of a week + couple days. When I wasn’t slinging homemade goodness, stocking up our parties, getting a sweet new do [photo above], jumping out of a van filled with 3 foot balloons, eating, or sleeping…..I made it out to see some new and old bands, as well as some of my favorite events!
As mentioned in my SXSW prep blog, the Austinist presents: Gonna Get Down VI, was a fantastic event to be at! They had some tasty treats from Haddington’s and Mulberry (two fine Austin restaurants), fantastic music, and ice cold Sweet Leaf Tea. I caught Twin Shadow‘s set and was transformed into an instant fan. They jammed so solid, I left the party, purchased their vinyl, listened to it, and then saw them again a Emo’s the following day. Awesome band! Check out this song, “At My Heels” performed at the fader fort during SX!
Music by the Slice at Home Slice Pizza was AMAZING this year. While there I had Eggplant Romano Pizza [EPIC photo below], a tan, met some really amazing people, and got to see several bands in an extremely intimate setting. My top two band highlights include, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelton and Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. Amazing bands. Thao seriously brought down the house and the crowd was clapping and singing along with her the whole time! Plus, I met her backstage and she was one of the nicest people I have ever met.
Yummmm......
Check out this video of them performing “Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)” at Music by the Slice. It’s my favorite + I was there! 
As a part of our SXSW plan, we teamed up with Gowalla to create a specialized trip for fans to win awesome prizes! [South by Sweet Spot] We also got to go to their party and saw Matt and Kim and Flosstradamus perform! They were super awesome and brought some electric energy to the crowd, transforming the entire venue into a HUGE dance party! Check out my photo of Flosstradamas mixing up the beats!
Flosstradamus Spinning da Beats!
I also managed to go to a couple other shows to see Toro y Moi, Clock Opera, Black Joe Lewis, White Denim, and a couple others. It was a busy, yet fruitful SXSW. I’m happy it’s over so I can finally take a nap, but it will definitely be a week to remember!
Ashley’s SXSW Picks
By Smashley on Mar 15 Filed In Austin, Texas, Celebrities, Events, Live Music, SXSW, arts & crafts Add a Comment
This week, the social frenzy that is SXSW really gains momentum, as the music portion of the fest kicks off on the heels of film and interactive. Don’t get me wrong- it’s been fun up until now, but SX-music takes it to another level. Put on your party pants (skinny jeans if you want to fit in), call in sick (j/k), and get ready for a great week in Austin. Here are some of my picks:
Paste Party in Austin: 508 E 6th (Thurs, Fri)
For the eighth year in a row, Paste will host day parties during SXSW, bringing some of their favorite new artists (and a few veterans) to the stage. They’re showcasing some great bands, some familiar- Eisley, TV Torso, Sarah Jaffe, and Sondre Lerche, as well as some new bands that I’m definitely going to check out: The Kopecky Family Band and David Wax Museum. More info here.
Music By The Slice: Home Slice Pizza (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Another event I hit up every year is “Music By The Slice” at Home Slice Pizza. I love this venue- not only because it’s my favorite pie in town, but also because it has a beautiful back patio/ beer garden, complete with a great outdoor stage.
One of my favorite SXSW encounters of all time was at Home Slice. I decided to scoot down there for lunch, and as I sat down outside to enjoy my slice and Mexican Coke, noticed that some guys were wheat pasting a mural on the wall across from where I was sitting.
I studied this stuff in art school, so was immediately interested. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the rogue artists were none other than Shepard Fairey and the Obey posse, major forces in visual culture. I’m pretty sure you’ve seen their work. I was psyched to stumble upon the actual people whose blogs and careers I had been following for years. And I got to offer them some Sweet Leaf Tea (Diet Peach was their fave)! Definitely a great SX memory. Maybe a repeat performance this year?
Dickies @ SXSW: Lustre Pearl (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Lustre Pearl is one of my favorite local haunts, so I was thrilled to see that Fader and Dickies are putting on some great shows there. I’m psyched about The Givers, DeVotchKa, Cold War Kids, and Gayngs, to name a few, and love the idea of sitting outside under the trees, sipping on a (Sweet Leaf Tea) and hearing some great new music from those bands.
There’s certainly no lack of great music this week, just wish I could be in two places at once!
Get out there and have yourself a great time.
And a Sweet Leaf Tea, of course!
Charla’s SXSW Picks
By Charla on Mar 11 Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, SXSW, Sweet-Spot, Uncategorized Add a Comment
Today marks the start of the SXSW Interactive conference and being a total nerd, I must admit, I’m stoked to attend for the second year in a row. I’ve only planned 3 out of 5 days so far (took about 3 hours), but I’m really excited by the content this year. For instance, how could anyone pass this up?
A Conversation with Paul Rubens
Don’t remember who that is? Maybe this photo from way back will jog your memory bank from childhood.
That’s just one example of hundreds upon hundreds to choose from. I don’t know if you’ve looked at the schedule, but it can all be a bit overwhelming. And, that’s not even taking into account all the after conference hours parties, UNOFFICIAL happenings, film or music.
I have a feeling that the best interactive party is going to be See the World with Gowalla. The party is taking place Monday (March 14) at 9:00 sharp at the Belmont. If you hit this party last year, you know already that it was a happening time. This year will be even better with Matt & Kim and Flosstradamus keeping the party people on their toes.
Here’s the skinny on how to get a wristband into the show: During SXSW Gowalla will be giving away around 600-700 “Priority” wristbands randomly to those checking in around town on Gowalla at SXSW. Those with wristbands will be let into the party first. Then Gowalla will fill the remaining space with SXSW badge holders, first come, first serve. So, be sure to start checking in around town on Gowalla. Besides, that’s how you’ll find the Sweet Spots!
Stay tuned for more updates and sweet happenings throughout the week! You can follow me @SweetLeafCharla @SweetLeafTea and @SweetLeafDanny for the play by play.
Where are you headed during SXSW? We want to meet up!
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