Wow... Where to begin... I guess I'll start by saying this was a spectacular vacation idea, if you love music, and I do... so it was.

My friend Jay and I went last year. There was a reunion of Robyn Hitchcock and the Soft Boys, and a couple other bands we liked... The Ass Ponys, The Glands, Stephen Malkmus... we decided to register as official-sounding music-industry bigwigs and get all-access badges (as official representatives of WebNuns.com), and it was big fun, and we saw a lot of great shows and "discovered" some cool new bands in the process. It set a precedent for being a *really* *cool* vacation idea.

This year, it was announced early on that Neil Finn was going to perform. I'm a big Neil Finn fan. Neil Finn is a god. I believe he picked up the Lennon/McCartney torch around the time that John was shot. He was learning his skills in Split Enz, he honed them to perfection in Crowded House, and he continues to make amazing music as a solo artist.

So I did the fest again this year. I have video, and pictures, some of which I may post or link to over the next few days. But for now I'll just try to give a brief recap.

Major Highlights:

-- Day 1 - Wednesday March 13

Sunburn. Jay drove us from Houston to Austin. He has a jeep, and he thought that since it was such a nice day we should drive with the top down. Sunscreen was offered, but nooo, I said, I could use a little sun. I am now sporting a serious farmer-style sunburn exclusively on the northwest quadrant of my face and body, as it was a 3-hour drive northwest starting at high noon. It's okay, it's kinda cool-looking, and I suspect it may even become trendy some day, now that the Austin kids have all seen it.

They Might Be Giants (video) - ...but they are definitely great showmen! Yeah, I grew up with this band's music in the general vicinity of my person, but I never actually saw them until now. You know their music is quirky and eccentric, but did you know that they pull it off on stage just as well, if not better? And if so, why didn't you tell me sooner? This was the first show we attended, and I since I wasn't sure exactly how warmly my camcorder would be greeted, I opted to smuggle it in, tucked away in my armpit inside my bulky denim jacket. Once inside, I realized that just about every shmoe in the place was wielding a camcorder, a few of them even with tripods, and nobody seemed to mind. Man, this was going to be a cool festival!

-- Day 2 - Thursday March 14

Saw Robbie Robertson give his "keynote" address, which was really just a summary of his journey in the music business. Granted, he has a rich history to recount, and he would be a great guy to have a beer with, but the keynote speech wasn't anything spectacular. What *was* spectacular, though, was the first glimpse of a band called "Polyphonic Spree," which was playing as a warmup act to the speech. At first we thought they were the Flaming Lips, as their front man has the same sort of whiny voice. The stage was full of people (like, 20-something-odd people, half of which was a choir), all in white choir robes, most sporting symphonic instruments, all jumping around like maniacs. They would be playing a gig at Stubb's later tonight, so we marked 'em on our calendar.

Wandered the trade show, where we got to see Pat Dinizio of Smithereens perform a short acoustic set.

Sing Sing - I wasn't really all that familiar with the band Lush. I knew they existed, and I didn't hate what little I had heard of their music, so when we learned that Sing Sing featured an ex-Lush, we added them to the schedule. Good band. The vocalist is darn cute, and she's got that nifty British accent I like so much. Here, check out this banter (video), and you'll see what I mean.

Polyphonic Spree (video)- We went to their "official" gig at Stubb's BBQ, and they didn't disappoint. Their set all flows one song into another, so it was hard to find a really good representative clip, but I think this one kinda gives a feel for their bombastic weirdness. Note the theremin featured prominently in the foreground, and try to visualize the choir that is obstructed by giant speakers off to the right of the shot.

X-ecutioners - We caught the end of this set, as it was a long walk from the Polyphonic Spree gig to this next venue. It's a deejay thing. I thought it was pretty impressive turntable virtuosity. Jay thought it was just a bunch of scratchy noise. Jay's old. I've got some video, but the camcorder *really* choked on the sound. Camcorders weren't designed for such booming bass, I guess. Next time I will try covering the microphone with chewing gum or something.

Lo Fidelity AllStars - They were on after the X-ecutioners. They were pretty good. Again, crappy sound for the camcorder from too much booming bass.

-- Day 3 - Friday March 15

Finnday. This was the day I had been waiting for. I was psyched for Neil. He would be playing at 11:00 at the Austin Music Hall, and I was by now beginning to get a feel for my camcorder technique. This was gonna be AWESOME, MAN! WOOOO! The Crown Jewel of the festival would be my Neil Finn video.

There were a lot of bands I had on my original schedule that were also going to be playing in-store sets at some of the various record stores, so we figured we'd try to hit some of those appearances, thus freeing up the evening slots I had previously marked as "filled."

Waterloo Records In-Stores:

Clem Snide - Another accidental discovery. They were going on before Rasputina, the actual band we went to see. Attempting to slap a label on them, I'd call them alt-country. Their songs build slowly and ease you in, and then before you know it a guy is jamming on a banjo, but playing it with a bow. Or a drumstick. Very cool.

Rasputina - This is another band I've heard a *little* of, and liked a *little* of what I've heard a whole lot. Chicks with cellos. Grunge cellos. They can kick ass with those cellos, man. Sometimes it gets a little too morose for my tastes, but maybe that's just me. They are cute as the dickens though. I bet they'd kick my ass for saying that.

Jupiter Records In-Store:

Damnations - More sweeet sweeet country harmony... sweeeet... My attempt at capturing video was thwarted by a guy in front of me consistently dancing his way into the frame. Plus, they were backlit all to hell. Do you want to see a video of some singing silhouettes repeatedly obscured by the back of a bopping wacko? I didn't think so.

I passed Carolyn Wonderland on the way out, but I didn't say hi, and I was hoping she wouldn't recognize me as we were leaving in a hurry before she went on because Jay said he had to take a serious crap. But I know from plenty of past experiences that she's damn good too, so you should check out her website just because I said so.

Getting closer to Finn time.... at 8 pm, Departure Lounge goes on at the Austin Music Hall, and at 10 would be Starsailor, followed by Neil at 11. We decided we would spend the evening at that one venue. We arrived around 7:30ish, I with my camcorder in my official SXSW2002 Tote Bag. The guy at the door checking badges said he also needed to check my bag for a camera. No cameras allowed.

****** GREAT ANECDOTE #1 BEGINS HERE *******

!!!!!! WHAT !!! ???

No cameras allowed, other than cheap-ass disposables. "You'll have to leave it in your car," he said.

"But I don't have a car!" I blurted. I don't know why I said that. Perhaps I was hoping he wouldn't make me walk all the way back to the hotel.

"Sorry. No cameras."

Jay stayed to see Departure Lounge. I caught a cab back to the hotel, crushed, dejected, crestfallen. I went into the hotel gift shop and bought a goddamn cheapass crappy disposable camera. I couldn't believe this was happening. My Crown Jewel! What a lousy turn of events!

Once back in my room, I just couldn't seem to put the camcorder down. Dammit, I'm on a mission from GOD here. I want my damned Crown Jewel!

I returned to the Austin Music Hall, no longer carrying the tote bag, and I approached the door guy. I showed him my badge. He began to pat me down. He hit upon my shirt pocket.

"Uh! Uh! What's this? No cameras allowed!" I removed the cheesy yellow cardboard disposable camera. "Oh, that's okay, disposables are okay, you can go on in."

I hurried inside before the camcorder tucked in my armpit shorted out from the perspiration.

****** END OF GREAT ANECDOTE #1 ********

Starsailor (video)- I liked 'em a lot. They're a British band that's generating a lot of buzz in the wake of the recent insignificance of bands like Oasis.

Neil Finn (video) (video)- Neil Finn. Neil Finn! And he's got a sort of supergroup on this mini-tour which includes Lisa Germano on violin, keyboards, guitar, vocals and whatnot, Sebastian Steinberg (formerly of Soul Coughing) on stand-up bass, and Wendy Melvoin (formerly of Wendy & Lisa, and Prince & the Revolution). It was all I had hoped it would be, and then some.

Masonic - Stumbling hotelward from the Neil Finn show, I stopped in at a tiny club on 6th street to see this band that got a favorable write-up in the Austin Chronicle. They're a good, tight pop band, and the vocalist, I swear to God, she's got a Drew Barrymore smile. What more could you want from a band? I went back to the hotel and dreamed really pleasant dreams.

-- Day 4 - Saturday March 16

All You Can Eat sushi lunch buffet for 6 bucks, in Round Rock. The only fish was salmon, and they ran out of that early.

****** GREAT ANECDOTE #2 BEGINS HERE *******

So later we're back on 6th street, heading for the Gingerman to have a few beers before we go to see our first big show of the night, which will be The Eels at 7 PM. It's maybe a little after 3 PM now. We're passing by Antone's, and I hear some music bleeding through the walls. "Hey," I sez to Jay, "let's stop in here and check out what's happening." I've never been to Antone's, I hear it's a legendary blues club, and I'd kinda like to check it out before I die. So we turn around and I lead the way to the door. A door guy stops me. I show him my official-festival-bigwig badge.

"Do you have a pass?"

"Huh?"

"It's private party. Do you have a pass?"

"No," I say, "I didn't know I needed one. I just have this badge..." I hold it out and show it to him again.

"Who are you with?" he asks, taking the badge in his hand. "WebNuns.com?" He scratches his head. "Well okay, you can go on in."

I go in, giggling because "webnuns.com" just got me into some sort of fancy shmancy private party. Jay comes in behind me. I am eager to recount this story. He stops me.

"Okay," he says, "so we're staying here until after 5."

I'm not sure what he means by this.

"You did see who's playing here at 5, didn't you?"

No, actually I didn't, I was just...

"Neil Finn."

Turns out it was a private party for the parent company of the Austin Chronicle, the Houston Press, and all those various weekly newspapers in major cities around the country, and Neil Finn was the headliner. Meanwhile, we could enjoy all the free food and beer we wanted, and try not to look like we didn't belong there.

****** END OF GREAT ANECDOTE #2 ********

The Eels - After having had time to review the videos and percolate the memories, I think I have to rate the Eels performance as the best of the fest. Neil Finn was the most satisfying, in a known-quantity sort of way, but the Eels surpassed my expectations and slapped me upside the head in a very pleasantly surprising sort of way. Plus, they just flat-out rocked harder than Neil Finn. I know, we're talking apples and oranges here. But still. Here they are doing a Missy Elliot song (video).

Halou - Another accidental discovery. We went to see Ash, and Halou was on first. They're sort of like Portishead, with a lot of atmospheric electronics, but unlike Portishead, I don't want to kill myself after hearing Halou. This club was packed, waaay too packed to get any decent video, but I bought their CD, so you can listen to this track while you gaze at the still image below.

Ash - Impassioned and loud. A terrible contrast to Halou. Funny thing is, I went to see Ash, all geared up for impassioned and loud, and I left in a Halou frame of mind. Ash was pretty good, I guess.

Imperial Teen - Another packed club. This is another quirky pop band I like. I heard them described as "bubblegrunge" once, and that's sort of appropriate I guess. Roddy Bottum (ex-faith No More) is in this band, and it's nothing at all like Faith No More. But your parents would probably still hate it. Very good performance, but the packed tiny club made it hard to really enjoy to the fullest.