Joel Meyer

Minneapolis outfit Cloud Cult has an excellent new album out April 8, although you can download 'Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)' on their web site. They played at the Red Eyed Fly on Friday. Their stage set up: drums, guitar, cello, ...

I split mid-way through Crystal Castles' set and head over to Stubb's, quite likely the largest official outdoor venue at SXSW. It's where R.E.M. played on Wednesday night. Onstage is an artist who seems poised for big things: Santogold. The Brooklyn-based ...

I first heard about Crystal Castles when Soundcheck did a segment on the Underage Festival, an under-19-only outdoor concert held in London last year. What their performance at the event, and you'll get an idea of the frenzy this group tends ...

Bands at SXSW cram in as many performances as possible over the course of just a few days. For young bands, it can be extremely taxing. The English band The Duke Spirit has been touring like crazy, so it's ...

Scott Hutchison of Glasgow, Scotland's Frightened Rabbit, at Emo's Annex during a day party performance. He remarked that, at 1:45 in the afternoon, it still felt like morning to him. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

Singer-songwriter Matt Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel have teamed up for She & Him. Ward, Deschanel and their band played a 'day party' (read: free!)badge or wristband required!) hosted this afternoon by Minnesota Public Radio's The Current (FYI: Red River and 7th ...

En route to our failed attempt to get into the Austin Children's Museum to see a grindcore act:

Last night was this Soundcheck staffer's third straight night of clubhopping here in Austin. For the most part, I've decided to wander around without a clear itinerary of bands to see. The result: lots of good shows, a few stinkers, and a few excellent ones. ...

I left the R.E.M. show a bit early to get some shuteye before a big day on the show tomorrow. And as I walked to the car, I passed by Emo's and heard a '90s siren song: 'It's a shaaaaaaaaame ...

OK, so it seemed doubtful that I would make it into the R.E.M. show at Stubb's. Lots of factors working against me: first album in four years, big preview show at SXSW, first time festival attendee who doesn't really, truth be told, ...

Check out Soundcheck's first of two special broadcasts from the South by Southwest music festival! Today we welcomed a slew of awesome guests to talk about the festival, including Amy Phillips of Pitchfork Media and John ...

[Photo credit: The cell phone of John Schaefer]

If you have a badge at SXSW, you'll get a canvas tote bag full of stuff. It's not on the 'gift bag' level of events like the Oscars, however. Instead of cellphones and jewelry, SXSW's bags contain a log of magazines, promotional publications, and ...

The Soundcheck staff ventured to Sixth Street last night, to check out bands before the music portion of SXSW starts officially tonight. I caught the ultra-80s electronic rave-up outfit Tiger City and the Stoogesy group The Hands at Emo's.

The Hands ...

After our encounter with Quiet Company, the Soundcheck staff bumped into a familiar face. Several familiar faces, actually: 17 Hippies, the German band who played on Soundcheck when we visited Berlin last fall (listen to their performance and interview here).

The South by Southwest music festival officially starts today, but the Soundcheck staff hit the town yesterday -- it turned out to be a great opportunity to see Austin before madness likely sets in sometime around ...

Austin legend Daniel Johnston's Jeremiah the Frog mural, located at 21st Street and Guadalupe. (Quick quiz: How do you pronounce 'Guadalupe?') More here on the campaign to save it a few years back. The mural was saved. The Baja Fresh outlet was ...

Austin is home to the Whole Foods headquarters, and their flagship store is something to witness. As a guy who lives in a neighborhood that lacks a gourmet grocery store, I was kind of in heaven.

Nine a.m. is the perfect time to ...

Departed for Austin yesterday from Newark Airport. When I arrived at my gate, it became clear that space in the overhead bins was going to be scarce: the seating area was filled with musicians and their instrument cases. The flight was delayed ...

I've been posting SXSW tips from my friend and current Austin resident Vic. As it turns out, there are former Austinites among the ranks here at WNYC. Robby from the 26th Floor weighs in with guidance on everything from BBQ to how NOT to catch a cab.

But it's ...