Greetings,

It's March and for some that means college basketball. But for those in the music industry, it means its time to head to Austin, Texas for the annual South by Southwest Music Conference. As we do every March, we are featuring bands and artists who are heading to SXSW. All artists mentioned in this newsletter and appearing on our front page are scheduled to perform at SXSW. Feel free to browse our website or visit the links below to get some free MP3s, read CD reviews or check out some interviews:
http://bit.ly/9Vt0Pu

PAPER CUTS IN THE PLASTIC AGE: Bands can promote themselves paperless-ly. How does a band release a record, play a gig, and generally let the world know who they are without using a single piece of paper? I'll be speaking on this SXSW panel along with Ilka Erren Pardinas of Fly PR and moderator Frank Mauceri of Smog Veil Records. It takes place on Wednesday, March 17 at 12:30 PM in the Austin Convention Center. More info can be found at:
http://bit.ly/aqAjm7

MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS: OnlineRock is giving away a StealthPedal with AmpliTube Fender® courtesy of IK Multimedia There is no purchase necessary. Now you can play, practice, and record with unbelievably realistic models of classic Fender® amps, stompboxes, and more, developed hand-in-hand with the tone gurus at Fender. From classics like the ’57 Deluxe and ’65 Twin Reverb, to the innovative new Super-Sonic and MH500 Metalhead, AmpliTube Fender models over $38,500 worth of Fender gear. To register for your chance to win, just visit:
http://bit.ly/cprm0n

CD SPOTLIGHT: Butterfly Explosion is smack in the middle of the shoegaze renaissance now upon us, recollecting not only contemporaries like M83 and Birthday Massacre but dipping deep into the well from whence it all began, shades of My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain and the like. Additional influences as varied as Arcade Fire, Garbage, U2 and Duran Duran can be heard here and there, and although there is a bit of sameness and formula in some places -- rise, crest, crash and fall -- this first LP from the band definitely stands on its own two shoe-gazing feet. Read the full review of their new release "Lost Trails" and download "Closer" at:
http://bit.ly/9Ye4bT

60 BANDS IN 30 DAYS: SXSW EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS - We have been busy interviewing artists performing at South by Southwest. Artists include Wye Oak, Hopewell, Little Black Dress, Bear Hands, You Say Party! We Say Die!, Alina Simone, Butterfly Explosion, :papercutz, Dan Black, Avi Buffalo, Via Tania, Bowling for Soup, Drink Up Buttercup, Twin Tigers, The Rocketboys, Dark Dark Dark, Bowerbirds and many more. Each interview is accompanied by a video and a list of SXSW show times. New interviews will be added daily so check back often. To read the interviews, please visit:
http://bit.ly/clwFRI

GEAR CORNER: In keeping with our SXSW theme we are featuring the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups in our Gear Corner. Take a set of vintage Fender Strat pickups and overwind them for more midrange, punch, and output and you get pickups with Attitude! Featured in the Stevie Ray guitar, they are calibrated for each position with a reverse coil, reverse-wound middle pickup for noise cancellation. If you want plenty of midrange bark and crisp high-end bite, get these Special Strat Pickups. For more information and reviews, please visit:
http://bit.ly/dBavZT

FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD: What we do know is that "The Recordings Of The Middle East" was originally self released by the band in 2008 and sold through their website. Last year Spunk Records re-issued it with new packaging and a new track-listing. We have yet to see how their beautiful live show and songs will translate in front of an American audience. Armed with lush-layered melodies, gut wrenching lyrics and polished sound I would aim to bet that they will win over many ears and hearts at SXSW. We have a free download of The Middle East's "The Darkest Side" at:
http://bit.ly/be8W6z

FEATURED ARTIST PROFILE: "Now we're born again," sings Zach Rogue on the closing track of Rogue Wave's fourth studio album, Permalight. The dreamy acoustic lament lasts just over a minute but in sound and spirit it neatly sums up everything that comes before it. A punchy, deceptively effervescent set of multi-instrumental pop tunes, the Northern California band's latest set represents a giant breakthrough for Rogue and his longtime musical partner, drummer- keyboardist- vocalist Pat Spurgeon. You can pickup a free download of "Good Morning" at:
http://bit.ly/chedcm

We'll see you in Texas!

Steve Beck
Founder
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