It's that time of year again... SXSW is upon us! I wasn't able to gather the necessary resources to head down there myself, so I'm looking forward to spending the next four days living vicariously through all of you headed Austin-ways.  I know that your hands (and days) will likely be full of free stuff (beer) and running into your band heros, but keep the twitters and flickr feeds full with your adventures!

I must admit, to protect myself from getting too depressed about missing this year's fest, I haven't kept extremely close tabs on who is playing where and when and what gift bags will be circulating. But, I have found two things that I'm particularly sad to miss this year.  If anyone hits these events, definitely report back (heck, whatever you see, feel free to report in!):

• 1. The world premiere screening of the film Strange Powers – Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields
• 2. The undeniable indie-pop fest going on at Waterloo Bicycles (so many bands I've wanted to see in one place!)
• 3. The special guest duets that sneak up on you... one in particular I've heard a rumor about is the teaming up of a Fratelli and Colin of Mull Historial Society. Billy Bragg is there this year and I *know* he's going to join someone on stage. I just know it!

May the YouTube powers be with everyone down there!

Needless to say, you SXSW-ers are going to have a great time. I guess I'll make up for all that I'll miss by looking back and trying to relive some of my favorite adventures of SXSWs past:

• 1. Matt & Kim interview, with legos and a dorky interviewer
• 2. Los Campesinos! interview, in a hot tub with an interviewer who shouldn't have worn a hoodie
• 3. Chasing down Running into Owen Wilson
• 4. The time Dana chased down ran into Amy Winehouse
• 5. Everything else I've seen / done at SXSW, especially the hootenanny

What are your favorite SXSW memories?

We're all at SXSW in our hearts!

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They're from Vermont and they're playing SXSW at the Galaxy Room on Thursday, March 18 in the Sub Pop/Hardly Art showcase. So what does that have to do with you and me? Well, I nominate the song above, "Subliminal Message" as my first beloved Song Of The Summer.

I know it's barely even technically spring yet, but the gob-stopper gnawing candy pop thrill of Kyle Thomas from the gritty King Tuff swapping musical spit with Chris Weisman and Ruth Garbus is yum yum. "Subliminal Message" may not have a real video yet, but it's been making my iPod hum for two weeks now.

Sub Pop is so happy with this latest signing they're streaming Happy Birthday's self-titled full length.

Garbus is a musician and artist who for HB takes on the task of the drummer; four track experimenter and inverted tuning instrument playing Weisman handles the bass; and now is the time to start following whatever Kyle Thomas, Top 40 and comic book fan and singer-songwriter for the group, does.

Happy Birthday started off as a one-off night at a now-gone punk club to have some fun. Last summer he released a collaboration with members of Witch and Feathers titled King Tuff Was Dead, recommended to me by Seattle tastemaker Travis Ritter when he worked at Sonic Boom. He saved a copy for me as I was just heading to the Capital Hill Block Party, and it became my favorite new vinyl last summer. And now I have Happy Birthday! It's going to be a great summer.

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Sneak Peek @ SXSW Line-Up

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at SXSW

Our recommendations for SXSW 2006 can't-miss shows.

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