mvy - sxsw-2006

mvyradio @ SXSW 2006

South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual Music & Media Conference and Festival held every March in Austin, Texas. The first South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival was held in 1987 and has grown by leaps and bounds - from 700 people in 1987 to over 14,000 for the most recent conference. The goal from the beginning was to create an event that would act as a tool for creative people and the companies they work with to develop their careers, to bring together people from a wide area to meet and share ideas. That continues to be the goal today whether it is music, film or the internet. And with its hip culture and variety of musical roots, Austin continues to be the perfect location.

mvyradio has been a presence at SXSW for a couple of years, now. We started out in a small conference room with a suitcase of gear and have ramped up to our own recording suite at the Radisson with two full digital recording setups which enables us to record both in-suite and at the various SXSW venues. More than one thousand acts performed in Austin, and our own Barbara Dacey interviewed many of the artists who were performing there and the mvyradio on the road crew captured close to 50 exclusive performances. Read Barbara's journal and check out recorded audio on this web page.

If you'd like to find out more about SXSW, be sure to visit http://www.sxsw.com/. If you live in the Northeast, be sure to check out their sister festival, NXNE, at http://www.nxne.com/.

South By Southwest, another On The Road adventure from mvyradio, brought to you by Colony Insulation, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Of Commerce and Friends of mvyradio.

Sunday, March 19 8AM

The culinary portion of our Austin visit ended with an absolutely incredible meal at Cantina Laredo, a new gourmet Mexican food restaurant on West 3rd Street. My, my, my... Gary loved the salsa and some of it is on the way back to Louisville right now. Our waiter prepared guacamole at our table and it was the best I have ever had.

It's foggy in Austin and I'm preparing to leave for the airport. The view from the Radisson over Town Lake and the Congress Ave. bridge is something I'll remember when I think back on this wonderful week. We definitely make every hotel room a better place with each of our mvyradio on the road adventures. Each of the artists that played here contributed to the great atmosphere and it lingers as I sit writing these words. Thanks to all who played and to Gary, Rob, PJ, Todd, Gary Trust, Megan, Greg, Valerie, and Joe. Thanks to the folks at SXSW for putting on such an amazing conference. Thanks to the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Of Commerce, Colony Insulation, and friends of mvy for their support in making our trip possible. Until next year...

Saturday, March 18 10 AM

Day 4 in the Lonestar Star State. A state on it's own, a lone and bright star. As state with a big heart that beats in the city of Austin.

BD with Ben Taylor & co.

We have created an oasis in this city, as Ben Taylor said, and have invited as many musicians as time permits to come in to play for us. I never tire of hearing the stories behind the music and having the chance to learn what drives a musician-- the events, situations, and people that inspire what they do. It actually is a privilege to be let in on their lives. I hope you can listen in today between 11 and 1 EST to hear my show from Austin. I'll have an interviews with Luke Doucet and Ruthie Foster, songs from Ben Taylor, Patrice Pike, and Karl Wallinger, and a little snippet of the new Bruce Springsteen that had it's premiere right here at SXSW. Saturday, March 18 1AM

St. Patricks Day on top of SXSW-Yikes!!! Gary and I walked around the neighborhood tonight and smack into the Green. It's like spring break for music lovers. There was a Celtic band playing in this huge tented area-the fiddle player struck a significant pose-he was shirtless and wore a quilt. Fireworks filled the sky and the bangs and pops filled our ears. The warm temperatures once again soothed us and we were blissfully wandering in search of a quiet spot and a good meal. We found it in La Traviata.

As you walk down the streets, you get the feel that is like the musical version of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. People of all ages and all cultures cruising along, peering in the windows where some band is set up on a little 10X10 foot stage in hopes of gaining the glancing eye of a record label or the adoration of some few fans.

The musicians at SXSW come from everywhere--Norway, Australia, Africa, the foothills of North Carolina and the garages of Encino. They come on airplanes, the come in cosmic buses. Whatever it takes to put another piece of the puzzle in the right place

Friday, March 17 9AM

Kris Krisofferson

Austin has doubled in population every 20 years throughout it's history. 657,000 people live within the city limits and Austin ranks as the country's 16th largest city. This weekend the population surely swells and 10,000 plus people fill the streets and clubs all over the city. I have run into lots music industry people that I have known and loved over the years, many last night at El Azteca, a funky little Mexican restaurant. I ran into two friends just walking down 6th Avenue last night on my way to Momos. "Hey, mvy in Austin!" record promo guy Jon Rosenfelder called out as I was crossing Rio Gande Avenue. Check out music from Kris Kristofferson [website][performance], Joe Ely [website][performance], Steven Bruton [website][performance], Greencards [website][performance], Sarah Harmer [website][performance], and Carey Ott [website][performance]. Thursday, March 16 10AM

There is a drought in Texas and there have been fires up north.

Neil Young

So people here are welcoming the rain that has come in of and on, but as my cabbie said last night, "Not on this weekend!" A lot of the events at SXSW are outside, including the New West Records Barbecue that we will attend today at Club DeVille. It's still a go however and we're looking forward to seeing Kris Kristofferson. Right now, there are throngs of people lining up to get in to see Jonathon Demme interview Neil Young. Our man in Austin, Rob Palladino is queuing up. I'll be talking to you soon from Austin for my show today from 11A-1P. Tune in for an interview with Sarah Borges on What's New For Lunch. Wednesday, March 15 5PM

It's been quite a productive day! We spent time with Holly Brook [website][performance], Sarah Borges [website][performance], Richard Julian [website][interview], and Amos Lee [website][performance],

BD & Sarah Borges

Holly Brook

and all of us, our computers, AND the walls of this suite are definitely absorbing some great music. Take a listen and enjoy! Austin is hopping! 6th Street, where the majority of clubs are located, is teaming with people and music is streaming out of the venues that line the street. It really is phenomenal that any one group of people can mount such a huge festival. With each day it

Amos Lee recording

becomes more and more apparent how big this thing is and how important it is to so many people- the city of Austin, all the musicians, and all of the people who are here to listen and partake in the 20th edition of SXSW. Everyone who lives in Austin is affected by the conference, especially those that work here. The cabbies are my favorite. Just now I got a ride back to the hotel by a guy who was listening to some jazz and we both talked about how wonderful it sounded. Music fills every corner of this place! Wednesday, March 15 8 AM

We went to Threadgills last night for dinner and to check it out for our interview today with owner and legendary Austinite, Eddie Wilson. This is already shaping up to be not only a musical adventure but a culinary one, too. Texas is famous for its barbecue, Tex-Mex, and chicken fried steak and we will have consumed all of these delicacies by the end of our trip. There was a showcase of the Austin Songwriters Group in the outdoor theater on the side of the restaurant and we sat down to listen for a while after dinner. It is so great to be outside so much!

We walked back to the hotel over the Congress Ave. Bridge with Town Lake below. This bridge is famous for the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that fly out from under it from March through October. I saw one bat- I think it's a little early for the big numbers. The downtown area is small but very impressive with the hotels, the Austin Convention Center (the site of SXSW), The Frost Building, and the beautiful and famous pink granite State Capital building. We got a spectacular view of the tallest state capital building in the country as we crossed the bridge.

Tuesday, March 14, 5PM

What a spectacular day in Austin with clear skies and a temperature of about 70 degrees. One of the most amazing experiences is to come from a cool winter climate into a warm and sunny one. I felt myself relax and happily took in the warmth and the gentle breeze. I met Rob Palladino at the hotel and we strolled over to Dona Emilia's, a great Argentinian restaurant, for a bite to eat. Rob is a musician and journalist from London's East End and has lived in Austin for the past three years. We met him here last year and he is going to work with us this year. I found myself starting to talk with a li 'aul english accent! And Rob can do a great Texan drawl!Austin has more live music venues per capita than the well-known music towns of Nashville, Memphis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City.In 1991, Austin blues musician Lillian Standfield thought the city needed a slogan to promote music. She approached the City's Music Commission with the idea of Austin becoming the "Music Capital of the USA." . The city council (whose regular weekly meetings feature live music) finally settled on "The Live Music Capital Of The World" and it is the city's official slogan. How cool is that!? Austin's music industry is responsible for the infusion of millions of dollars every year into the city's economy and SXSW is a big part of this. In fact SXSW is an industry of it's own. This is the 20th anniversary of the conference. Well, we're about to make our hotel suite "The Music Capital of mvyradio On The Road"!! Our equipment arrived yesterday and I have just retrieved it from the front desk. Time to set up for the merry music making that will take place here over the next several days.

Tuesday, March 14, 9 AM I'm on the flight to South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, embarking on another mvyradio On The Road excursion. It was an early start from Boston as the fog and rain enveloped the city. Right on schedule, we headed up into the sky and eventually above the clouds into the sunlight at 37,774 feet. Now, a couple of hours into the flight, I can see on the flight map on the TV screen in the seat in front of me that we're flying over Louisville, Kentucky. Hello, Gary!!!! There's mvy's Gary Guthrie down below, getting ready to start his journey to Austin, where we'll meet to once again capture the music and excitement of another extraordinary music gathering.

This one is huge!!! Austin will be living up to it's city slogan- "The Live Music Capital Of The World, when 1,000 bands, who have secured coveted slots at SXSW showcases across the city over the next four days, descend on the city. We'll be at many of Austin's finest clubs recording and talking with musicians, many that we know and many that we'll discover. And as we did just a week ago at CMW in Toronto, we'll create a recording studio home away from home in a downtown hotel so we can share the whole experience with you right here on this page and on the air/stream at mvyradio and mvyradio.com. We'll start recording tomorrow, and I'll be originating my 11-1P EST show Thursday through Saturday from Austin. We welcome you to tune in and check back here often for my journal, great live performances, and pictures!

SXSW 2006 Audio:
Attention Mac users! The "Flip4Mac" player streams these on-demand files. More help is here.

Amos Lee
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest 2006
- Extra: John Prine's "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" cover
- Extra: Performance of "Jails and Bombs"

Ben Taylor
- Interview w/ Performance, South by Southwest, 2006
- Extra: cover of McCartney's "Dear Boy"
- Extra: cover of Taj Mahal's "She Caught the Katy"
- Extra: Performance of "Digest" -
- Extra: Perfomrnace of "Nothing I Can Do"

Bobby Bare
- Performance of "Detroit City," South By Southwest, 2006

Brett Dennen
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

Carey Ott
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

Darden Smith
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

Garrison Starr
- Interview, South By Southwest, 2006

Greencards
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

Holly Brook
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: "Saturday"
- Extra: cover of Joni Mitchell's, "All I Want"

Joe Ely
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

Josh Ritter
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: cover of John Prine, "Storm Windows"
- Extra: "Girl In The War"

Kris Kristofferson
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

Luke Doucet
- Interview w/ Performance. South by Southwest, 2006
- Extra: "Wallow"
- Extra: "I'm On Fire"

Nicolai Dunger
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: cover of John Cale's "Amsterdam"
- Extra: "My Time Is Now"

Patrice Pike
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: cover of Led Zeppelin's "What Is and What Should Never Be"

Richard Julian
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: cover of Frankie Laine's, "We'll Be Together"
- Extra: "Slow New York"

Ruthie Foster
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: "Rainsong" -

Sarah Borges
- Interview, South by Southwest, 2006
- Extra: "I'm Gonna Sing The Life I Live"

Sarah Harmer
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: cover of Dolly Parton
- Extra: "Will He Be Waiting For Me"
- Extra: "I Am Aglow"
- Extra: "Escarpment Blues"

Scott Miller
- Interview w/ Performance, South by Southwest, 2006
- Extra: "Motion Pictures"
- Extra: "Long Goodnight"

Sonya Kitchell
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006
- Extra: "Words Come Back To Me"
- Extra: "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind"

Stephen Bruton
- Performance, South By Southwest, 2006

World Party
- Interview w/ Performance, South By Southwest, 2006