大象传媒

Bethan Elfyn - 大象传媒 Radio 1

Ok, two days of blog to catch up on, and its 4am and I'm starving - its thirsty and hungry work this mental gigging schedule. Ok here goes again...

"The Flaming Lips - they're maturing like good wine, improving with every sip."

Thursday began with a small rendezvous at the radio one afternoon barbeque, rumours of Beastie Boys and Morrissey appearances were circulating, and in my experience of working for the station, what they want they usually get. Zane was broadcasting live for 4 hours, with the perfect time delay to take the show back into Thursday night back home. It was a chilled vibe as tunes, people, drinks, and the all-essential sunshine just made everything super laid back.

Without moving an inch I saw Aussie rockers Wolfmother, retro Glaswegian cheeky monkeys The Fratellis, raw acoustic guitar playing rapper Plan B, noise mongerers Two Gallants, ehem and Snow Patrol while I chatted to the Mystery Jets, my pal the crazy hyperactive Vic Galloway from R1 Scotland and the lovely ladies from Beggars Records. OH, YES and I WAS THIS CLOSE TO THE Bl**dy Beastie Boys! Highlight!

Just when I thought the day couldn't get much better I ran around the Vice party listening to some crazy metal (absolutely no idea what or who it was sorry!), taxied back into the main strip for the rumoured Beastie Boys gig - just to despair at the queue round the entire periphery of Austin, ate Japanese instead, went to see London's spiky punk Noisettes, then New York's cool sisters in strutting, The Rodger Sisters, before getting a real breakthrough in the old secret-gig-rumour-but nightmare-getting-in-scenario - The Flaming Lips were apparently playing the R1 party that very night! I could only believe it seeing the queue, which was again skirting the state of Texas.

I won't reveal my blagging techniques but I was soon dancing, sweating and 'bohemian rhapsodising' with the best of them, throwing coloured balls, and multi coloured confetti at each other in a psychedelic mess of 'Yoshimi' happiness, and 'yeah yeah yeah song' stupidness. Highlight no 2!

I watched three more bands before retiring for the night, but the Flaming memory lived on - The Flaming Lips - they're maturing like good wine, improving with every sip. Rubbish analogy, but it 4 am and I'm delusional. Night,Beth

Huw Stephens - 大象传媒 Radio 1

Second day, and a big bowl of oatmeal sets me up with high energy for the day. And I needed it, because now I'm knackered.

"Lonely Dear from Stockholm are probably my favourite band so far"

Starting in a shop Annie Nightingale recommended, Factory People is a unique, vibrant store over the bridge in Austin. Bands drop in there all the time to get kitted out apparently.

First band I saw were Field Music, Sunderlands best kept secret. They have big 'ba ba ba' harmonies and a certain sparkle that makes them shine. Richard Hawley at Emo's was a treat, with the whole crowd in a vulnerable state of emotions by the end of his set. We were eating out of his hands- the man's a star! Albeit a crooning, countrified star from Sheffield. You could tell he was loving it too.

It was up and down 6th street doing inserts into Zane Lowe's bbq show, before getting back there to watch Snow Patrol play acoustically.

Got to the Vice party where Plan B played an amazing set, spitting rhymes and strumming guitar, with a hypnotising effect. I'm converted.

Bumping into Mr Steve Lamacq on 6th St, he recommends me go to see They Shoot Horses Don't They, a Canadian band with an ace name. They have a lot of trumpets, and bonkers songs. I bought their album.

Lonely Dear from Stockholm are probably my favourite band so far-incredible songs, incredible noise. Just beautiful really! The Organ played a great set, another band from Vancouver, and Tunng, as always, were pretty perfect.

LA beat maker Daedelus was a total joy to watch after being a fan of his records for a few years. He plays the oldest looking sampler I've ever seen, and makes mashed up, beautifully produced electronica. Unlike Part Chimp from Scotland, who just blew me away. My ears are still ringing from their set!

MC Busdriver is a wicked rapper and highly enjoyable to watch on stage- messed up rhymes and loads of energy.

I saw so much, and yet so little. Couldn't get in to a lot of venues because of cues, but heard loads of ace music.

And in celebrity spotland, saw Jamie Cullum, Be Your Own Pet, Wayne Coyne, Elijah Wood and a man wearing a pink thong walking round today.

Newton Faulkner

I flew in on Tuesday. Slept on someone's sofa then got up at 5.00am to be warmed up for a broadcast on KGSR at 7.00am, luckily due to jet-lag 5.00am felt vaguely like the afternoon, so all was well. After that straight to KSBJ for another thing, had a delightful Mexican breakfast, then off to film a couple of songs for ME TV. Which was great fun , an absolute bunch of Grade A nutters. Had the afternoon to myself and had a wander round Austin, then on to Maggie Mae's at 9.45pm. So all in all it was a pretty good day!