2007 SXSW: A Festival in Photos

March 19, 2007

Most of us weren't lucky enough to get down to Austin for Southwest by Southwest, but that doesn't mean we can't relive the experience through good music and very cool photos. (Combine the two, and it's almost like being at a concert!)

Looking through some of the best shots from SXSW, I was struck by what a British Invasion there was this year, from keynote speaker Pete Townsend to much-discussed performances by Lily Allen, Bloc Party, Amy Winehouse, and The Pipettes (above). I've got photos from all of those shows and more, so check out my SXSW gallery when you read more

Photos include Winehouse, Allen, Townsend, Bloc Party, Mika, the Bravery, the Pipettes, and — just because it's funny to see him actually performing — Cisco Adler.

Source

7 Comments

JessNess 6 years

PP RAW- you are taking this way to serious. You have to remember that no everybody here listens to indie music. There is actually quite a large amount of people who listen to mostly mainstream. Sure SxSW is an "indie" festival but with all the recent coverage of it it is quickly losing that. You really are sounding like a music elitist which is not a good thing. Just because it is indie doesnt mean it is the best. If you actually check out some of the older posts on this site you will notice that Buzz does an EXCELLENT job of covering more indie acts.

PP RAW 6 years

While these are some talented artists, this does not even begin to sum up what SXSW is all about. Having just returned from tropical Austin, I can say that these pics are deceiving and make SXSW look more like the induction ceremony to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, rather than one of indie-music's most important fests of the year. Where are the front yard shows? Parties? Street performers? Obscure performances? And just as a weird observation, why did you choose to only cover English artists (not including Cisco Adler, as I am in no way prepared to label him an artist in any capacity)? At the risk of sounding like a total music snob, these pictures could have been taken by my hip aunt, not an in-the-know photographer for a pop culture oriented blog. Give your readers the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure they would have loved to see pictures of some of the more unknown bands, as well as the more popular ones. I'm not discrediting the performances that these bands/artists put on, but if these were the types of shows you checked out, then you missed some of the best and most intriguing moments of the entire week. I am a big fan of The Who, and to see Pete Townsend would have been great...but come on, he doesn't embody what an indie-music festival should be all about. But I guess you played it safe. I can give you the link to a few flickr accounts that better represent SXSW. You can also check out Rollingstone.com to see pictures of our impromptu kitchen show, as well as some very talented bands that played five times a day for five days straight in hopes that someone somewhere will give them the exposure that they deserve.

catstarr 6 years

Mmm, MIKA and the Pipettes. I'm envious. I really can't stand Amy Winehouse. A few amazing bands from SF played at SXSW too! The Lovemakers! Street to Nowhere! Maldroid!

JessNess 6 years

I LOVE Amy!!! Im buying her CD this weekend!!!