Accent

Last batch of non-music Accent articles from the Spring:
Carnival ah! all art under one tent
Calendar of Events
Round Rock rolls to finish
River Bats swoop in and win spot as ACC’s official mascot
I went on a trip with two of the editors Hanlly and Devon to shoot photos of the Art Yards tour. Here is the article with some of my photos.
Art Yard tour looks at lawns

Here's an artist profile I wrote for Austin Vida:
'Dimensiones' brings emotion through color to La Peña

Side note: This may be my favorite story to write ever. I was surprised when everyone who participated let this awkward journalist tag along through the entire lottery process. Fun times all around. I have more stuff on this story coming up, but for now, here's the story that is published in Accent.

“That’s the whole game,” Erick Sanger said, a participant of the first Austin We Are The Lottery League. “Lottery league is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Six drummers and 18 musicians arrived at Red 7 on April 9. Each drummer randomly picked names out of a brown hat in order to form bands that would be performing on stage within 24 hours.

After the names were drawn, the new acquaintances took promo photos and brainstormed names such as Vacation Bible School, Black Mike and the Make a Holes, Boner Patrol, So Long, Judas, Drug Sex, Afrobocop and the Tjöõrd Bjöõrglars.

Read the rest at Accent.

Just like the headline says, my photos from SXSW are finally edited and posted on Accent's Flickr. I didn't take nearly as many photos as I did last year. But I'm getting a new camera! So expect more photos in the future.

Click here to see the entire collection at Flickr.

This band is adorable. Dipping into the 50s and 60s pop music, they really work the whole package by dressing sharp in their button down shirts and slicked up hairstyles. Watching this Sheffield band perform is really like witnessing a blast from the past.

SXSW 2010 interview with The Crookes from Sarah Vasquez on Vimeo.

Originally posted at Accent.

Austin's International Waters is one of those bands that doesn't get much attention around town so people don't really know much about this indie pop band. I'm here to change that. Meet International Waters.

SXSW 2010 interview with International Waters from Sarah Vasquez on Vimeo.

Originally posted at Accent.

News briefs for Accent Issues #3 and #4:

Accent, Life4u, Rio Review bring home publication awards
Bob Livingston brings musical diversity to ACC with free show
Automotive Technology Dept. set to open in San Marcos
Texas law officials to round up those with warrants on March 6
SGA Candidates preparing for election campaigns
New female focused classes to be offered in solar installation

Here are the blurbs I wrote for the new calendar we added to my section.
Calendar of Events for Issue 3
Calendar of Events for Issue 4

During TIPA, we learned that ACC has free speech zones so I decided it would be a cool info graph to put in my section. Cool info graph, yes. (Thanks Chris and Hanlly.) Easy info to get, not really.
All campuses now offer Free Speech Zones

Last but not least, here's a SXSW interview I did with comedian Rob Delaney.
Rob Delaney Interview: SXSW 2010

Here are some articles/blog posts I've read recently that I think are worth sharing:

I find this interesting: all Rivers Cuomo had to do was change the basic content of his lyrics, and suddenly Weezer transitioned from making songs that Converse-wearing kids wanted to quote in their Livejournals, to making songs that you’d hear blasting in the background of the trailer for American Pie VI: Wet Hot American Teenage Free-for-All featuring Campus Girls Gone Wild.
“On Whom Can You Depend?”

South By Southwest has become a popular spring-break destination, Mardi Gras for collegiate hipsters.
Letter From Austin | SXSW Standouts

He will escape from whatever “corner” you’ve got him in, he will find you, and he will kill you in some horrific and punning fashion – like dropping you into a pool of liquid nitrogen as he tells you to “Chill out.”
Writer gives tips for surviving Schwarzenegger

It’s the cinematic equivalent of a Hummer with both “Support our Troops” and “No Fat Chicks” bumper stickers on it.
Unlikable actors take all the love out of Paris

20 Watt Shed was our name and we were probably about as good as our name would suggest. Anyway, we were young, we were loud, we were in a band, and we had a demo tape.
I'm still totally fine with playing shows for Church youth groups.

Just outside Shangri-La, I heard a big funky bass. Accompanied by the sung words, "I JUST WANNA HAVE SEX WITH YOU." I thought: "I will check this out."
SXSW 2010 recap: Meet Casxio, our favorite musical discovery.

Finally, here is the list of winners my newspaper, Accent, won at TIPA. Yay team!
Online Video, Third Place - Sarah Vasquez <-- That's me! Here is the video that won.
TIPA 2010 Awards

Last day! And why was it so cold? Seriously, this is Austin. It doesn't get cold in December, let alone during Spring Break. So doesn't need to be said that I didn't enjoy nearly as much music, thanks to the weather. Thanks a lot buddy.

Good in the Sack @ Aquarium: It's been 4 years since this Austin punk band played on stage. It felt like good times in 2004 at the Backroom.

Carney @ Purevolume House: Caught a little of their set before I headed to an interview but the two songs I caught were pretty rocking.

Dead Confederate @ Encore: This band played from their new rocking direction & less of the droning songs from "Wreaking Ball." I dug it.

3 @ Encore: Played before Good in the Sack & reminded me of the Backroom days. I heard later that this was also a reunion show.

Cady Groves @ Purevolume House: Turns out this adorable girl was sick so they had to adjust the chords for her voice but she still nailed it

Originally posted at Accent.

I had a lot of interviews scheduled this day so I didn't see as many shows. However, what I did see were pretty awesome.

Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! @ Soho Lounge: This band proved that a clever name brings a crowd. Lucky for them, the music kept the crowd.

Twin Atlantic @ Dirty Dog Bar: Only caught a song or two because I had to go but I love this band. "Lightspeed" is such a good song. Get it.

Jenny Owen Young @ Live.Create Lounge: Another act I caught while charging my phone at the recharge zone. Not my thing but not awful either.

The Pack A.D. @ Jaime's: It was painful to watch this duo deal with major technical problems but when they actually played, they were on.

Patrick Stump @ Dirty Dog Bar: I didn't immediately recognize him with his weight lost & signature hat. His music needs more time to develop

New Politics @ Dirty Dog Bar: One of the guys pulled out his break dancing moves during the songs. That = wins. I love good time rock & roll

Camisama @ Soho Lounge: This duo from Japan kept yelling at the audience something in Japanese along with the word "CD" I was very confused

Originally posted at Accent.

I actually wrote this blog during the festival but silly me accidently closed the window losing everything I written. That basically sums up how SXSW went for me. More on that later.

The Crookes @ Friends: young clean cut boys from UK playing music that reminisce of the 50s and 60s. Adorableness all around.

At Any Speed @ Aquarium: This folk rock band provided a much needed break from all the loud ruckus. A band to definitely keep on the radar.

The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! @ Karma Lounge: Showy costumes for band & fans made a party but strip to music proves they're not a gimmick.

Saint Motel @ El Sol y La Luna: Catchy tunes with tongue in cheek lyrics. Proof that a band needs good tunes, not a label to create a buzz.

Instrumenti @ Karma Lounge: I'll let the audience speak about them: "So this is what pandas sound like?" "They're endangered & hardcore."

Rocky Votolato @ Red Eyed Fly: This former frontman of Seattle band Waxwing played to a packed venue with his punk fused acoustic folk rock.

Titus Andronicus @ The Palm Door: I've heard this name a lot in the blogosphere. After seeing this band live, I totally understand why.

CHLLNGR @ Beauty Bar: Wearing the matching sweaters and coke bottle glasses reminded me of my bro & cousin as kids. But these dudes can jam.

Moonrats @ Beauty Bar Backyard: Only caught one song & sadly, I wasn't impressed. I'm burnt out on indie rock & they fall into this genre.

Eisley @ Maggie Mae's Rooftop: Only caught one song b/c it was crazy packed, but they played one of my faves "Golly Sandra" so that = win.

Riverboat Gamblers @ Red 7 Patio: Always fun & entertaining live show. Austin, if you haven't see this band live, what are you waiting for?

Originally posted at Accent.