Stacy chats with Jim Walsh at SXSW

While on their way to get some eats, Stacy talks to Jim Walsh about The Sun and Vitamin D. Jim calls me out (again) for getting caught yawning at the Bruce Springsteen Hoot in MPLS last night, and talks about what he's looking forward to seeing at SXSW including Billy Bragg, Tift Merritt and more.

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Stacy's Wednesday Afternoon SXSW Update

Stacy talks to Matt Perkins from 89.3 The Current and The Nomad World Pub, and Matt gives tells her a candid answer about what he likes about SXSW. (And he likes seeing bands too!) Among other bands, Stacy and Matt just checked out Frightened Rabbit (No relation to White Rabbits). Of course Stacy has to give the weather forecast for Austin just to rub it in for us stuck back here in MN.

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Stacy's SXSW experience gets underway

Stacy picks up her badge, photo press pass, SXSW directory and other swag and heads off to see some music.

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Stacy and travel mates arrive in Austin

Stacy Schwartz and travel mates finally arrive in Austin after a grueling busride from Dallas. They check in briefly just to say goodnight before resting up for a big day Wednesday.

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Stacy Schwartz takes off for Austin

Stacy Schwartz, on the plane to Austin for SXSW talks to Andrea Myers of Reveille Magazine about the Reveille Day Party coming up Saturday and their experience at the MSP Airport Wok & Roll restaurant. Also, Kyle Matteson of Reveille tells Stacy he's looking forward to the free beer.

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HWTS does SXSW yet again. Watch this spot!

A few hours from now, HWTS Photo Editor Stacy Schwartz will be jumping on a plane to Austin, TX for SXSW. In addition to photographing the myriad events again this year, Stacy will be presenting an audio blog right here in this space details her experiences and sprinkling it with almost live interviews.

Here are Stacy's photos from last year along with links to HWTS does SXSW reviews by both Stacy and Neil Olstad.

One fabulous way people are covering and hearing about SXSW this year is via Tweets from Twitter users who are already on site in Austin. See an aggregation of many of those Tweets here: http://hashtags.org/tag/Sxsw/

Follow Stacy's journey on Twitter here. (Feel free to follow me here, as I'll be manning the HWTS SXSW coverage from the safety of my living room in Minneapolis.)

Our good friends at Reveille Magazine also just started a new SXSW blog today here: http://sxsw2008.reveillemag.com that you'll want to keep an eye on.

Also, many of the locals travelling to SXSW are members of the HWTS forum, so be sure to check in early and often to http://www.howwastheshow.com/forum/ for additional bits of vicarious enjoyment.

Jack Brass Band ticket giveaway

Jack Brass Band releases a brand new CD called "Traditionally Speaking" on Friday, February 22nd at the Varsity. If you've been to any of their shows, you realize what fun they are - you are in for a real brass band, New Orleans style, and my guess is you won't keep these guys on the stage.

HowWasTheShow has a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky winner, and all you have to do to enter is send an email to editor[at]howwastheshow.com with Jack Brass Band as the subject and we'll announce and notify the winner on Thursday in our forum right here.

More details below:

Quote:

What: Jack Brass Band CD release show When: Friday, February 22, 9:00 PM Where: Varsity Theater (http://www.varsitytheater.org/) - 1308 4th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 - 612-604-0222 Price: $7 (Ages 21+) Opener: Gold Standard Jack Brass Band (http://www.jackbrassband.com) has reason to celebrate. Not only is Mardi Gras celebrated in February this year - but the band's third album, "Traditionally Speaking" (http://cdbaby.com/cd/jackbrassband3) is now available and they will be hosting a CD release party on Friday, February 22 at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. "Traditionally Speaking" is an album that features more of the roots of New Orleans style brass bands - including renditions of such popular tunes as "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and "Bourbon Street Parade". The Jack Brass Band is gaining a reputation, both locally as well as in New Orleans and abroad, as an ensemble that sounds as if they've been living in New Orleans for years. High praise has been laid on this ensemble from heavy-hitting bands such as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Treme Brass Band - and even Preservation Hall Jazz Band. In fact, the liner notes on this CD were penned by Ben Jaffe, the director of Preservation Hall. Here's what Jaffe says of this recording, "Not only do they emulate their teachers (the masters of New Orleans Music) with exacting precision, they also leave their own distinctive imprint on a musical style that is now theirs." In addition to the traditional and ageless material the band also covers material by Fats Domino ("I'm Walkin'"), Ray Charles ("I Got a Woman"), and even Hugh Masekela ("Grazin' in the Grass") on this album. "We felt the need to put out a CD that featured some older brass band repertoire," said Mike Olander, leader of the band. He went on to say that a lot of traditional jazz has roots in the brass band genre, but many people haven't heard the rhythms and feel associated with the brass bands, featuring a sousaphone (tuba) and two drummers, versus a string bass and a drumset. The Jack Brass Band has appeared at festivals, clubs and parades locally, as well as in New Orleans, Chicago, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Outside the United States, they have also been featured artists at Jazz Winnipeg, and Brass Durham International Festival in England.