Revisiting Woodstock

There’s a tribute to Woodstock at the convention center here tomorrow. Forty years after the event, Woodstock veterans Michael Lang, who produced the festival; Eddie Kramer, who engineered its sound; Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve of the original Santana lineup; Jocko Marcellino of Sha Na Na; and Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revival will be among those who will take part in the panel “Woodstock: Untold Stories.”

If I were to convene a panel of Woodstock participants, I’m not sure. . .

Delta Spirit Readies For the Big Time

Two years ago, Delta Spirit played SXSW and found a European booking agent. Last year, they secured a deal with Rounder to distribute their album, “Ode to Sunshine,” which they recorded for $2,500. Now, just before leaving to perform in the U.K., Germany, Austria and Switzerland, they’re doing six sets here at the festival.

“Ode to Sunshine” has sold some 30,000 units and it’s yet to be released in Europe. Delta Spirit has gone from an unknown band to the opening act for the likes of Nada Surf and M. Ward to selling out shows as headliners. When we met at the Driskill Hotel yesterday afternoon…

LISTEN: “Trashcan” by Delta Spirit

Graydon, Hacienda and Emily Wells Rock SXSW Thursday

Emily Wells

I had a good Thursday here at SXSW even before the night arrived. Sixth Street was crowded with music fans by early afternoon and there was a sense that the music bazaar was open in earnest for a long weekend.

At 11:45 a.m., though, the street was empty and so was the downstairs room at Maggie Mae’s. On stage was Graydon, a young quartet from Los Angeles that plays melodic power pop and country-rock, featuring startlingly three-part vocal harmonies. They seemed delighted to be at SXSW—one member allowed that this was his first trip to Texas—and hardly cared that they played for only a few of us. “Let’s pretend it’s 11 o’clock and we’re all drunk,” said singer Matt Miller before they tossed off Little Richard’s “Lucille.” It was one of those great SXSW experiences: Stumbling into a set by a band that’s not only all but unknown, but. . .

The Antlers’s Ruminations on Mortality

The Antlers’ new “Hospice” (The Antlers) is a deeply moving album that brings to mind “Funeral” by Arcade Fire and “Songs in A&E” by Spiritualized—recent recordings whose theme is death or mortal illness. The trio plays two sets here this afternoon and another tomorrow.

Written by singer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Silberman, who began “Hospice” as a solo project, the album follows the story of a contentious relationship between a hospice worker and…

Live-Twittering SXSW

Follow Jim Fusilli (@wsjrock) as he live-twitters from SXSW.

Busdriver’s Mix of ‘Noise’ To Go Onstage Tonight

To think of Busdriver’s music as hip-hop is to think of Frank Zappa’s as rock, Raymond Scott’s as jazz or George Clinton’s as funk. The classification doesn’t quite cover how much more the music says.

Busdriver will be performing cuts from his forthcoming album “Jhelli Beam” at midnight tonight at the Independent out on Highway 35. “There’s not that much oddball independent hip-hop at the festival,” he told me…

Erin McCarley Makes Triumphant Return to SXSW

Last year, Erin McCarley had an SXSW experience most musicians dream of. She came to Austin with a reputation based on songs she wrote, sang and posted on her MySpace page, did a Thursday night showcase for industry insiders, set up in a room at the Four Seasons hotel here on Friday and fielded offers from competing record labels. She signed with Universal, which released her debut album, “Love, Save the Empty” in late December. . .

Where Are They Now: Blondie

Ran into Clem Burke, best known as Blondie’s drummer. Mr. Burke, who looks fantastic, by the way, is in Austin to play with Magic Christian, which includes Cyril Jordan of The Flamin’ Groovies and Eddie Muñoz of The Plimsouls. . .

The Decemberists’s ‘Remarkable’ Midnight Show, Plus, The Heartless Bastards, Those Darlins and More

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My Wednesday night was rescued by a bold set by The Decemberists. The remainder of the evening was almost lost to the frustration of having too many choices and making the wrong ones. As the old blues tune goes, it’s nobody’s fault but mine. . .

LISTEN: “Won’t Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)” by The Decemberists

Black Gold Urges Fans to “Rush,” Juliette Commagere Has an Off Afternoon, Miranda Lee Richards Strips Down

Three sets early this afternoon kicked off the official SXSW festivities for me. Black Gold and Juliette Commagere performed at Maggie Mae’s on Sixth Street, and Miranda Lee Richards played Rusty Spurs on Seventh. On stage, Black Gold, the New York City-based duo of Eric Ronick and Than Luu, stared down the challenge of replicating the many sounds they make in the studio by adding a bass player and guitarist to their keyboard-drums lineup. When they started their set, there were seven people in the club’s Gibson room—“Hello, invisible people of Austin!” . . .