SXSW For Free: Day 1 and 2 photos

Here are some pictures of the acts I caught during Day 1 and 2 of South By Southwest. Stay tuned for my Day 3 and 4 posts along with photographic evidence that I rocked just as hard, if not harder than anyone with a badge or wristband. The cover fee to see all the bands below? Only $5 over two days. That's what I like to call a bargain.

Titus Andronicus welcomed the masses to SXSW with an afternoon set at Maggie Mae's, March 18:

Swedish singer-songwriter and not-so-tall, The Tallest Man On Earth at the Red-Eyed Fly, afternoon, March 18:

Akron/Family from Williamsburg, PA got everyone dancing, sweating, and pondering facial hair during its jam-filled set at The Mohawk during evening action, March 18:

8bk OK showed us all the limitations of rocking out on a souped-up Gameboy. The music might be great, but the visual aspect of the performance can only go so far when you're a dude dancing around with a video game in your hand. DataPop '09 Festival, Old Salvation Army Space on S. Lamar, nighttime, March 18:

We Have (no) Band at the nighttime Monstrosity Party on Wilson Street. The San Antonio Current arrived just before Austin's men in blue shut down the live music due to a neighborhood noise violation, March 18:

One-third of Brooklyn's killer DJ trio, The Rub, showing us that pink vinyl can be downright sexy. Beso Cantina, nighttime, Gigacrate party, March 18:

One more third of The Rub, proving that wearing glasses while DJing definitely makes you look smarter. Beso Cantina, nighttime, Gigacrate party, March 18:

A chance run-in with the nighttime, Cedar Room showcase featuring underrated NYC band, The Cloud Room, signified the point when SXSW started getting really good. I had no problems shilling over five bucks to see this great act, March 18:

Belfast, Ireland's General Fiasco brought the punk-pop to close out the first night of South By Southwest action, late-night Cedar Room showcase, March 18:

Halifax, Nova Scotia's Jenn Grant (far left), kicked off Day Two early afternoon, dazzling us with her lush melancholia during her live set at the SESAC Day Stage, Austin Convention Center, March 19:

Scotland's Glasvegas drew a big mid-afternoon crowd at the Rhapsody Rocks party at Mohawk's. No, that's not Joe Strummer's ghost playing on stage:

Alberta Cross harkened Led Zep fueled, psych-rock that made the muggy heat a tad muggier as the group played the afternoon Red-Eyed Fly set, March 19:

L.A. duo Rumspringa brought the blues-riffage a la White Stripes to the Red-Eyed Fly, afternoon, March 19:

Viva Voce had the prettiest guitars at SXSW 2009. Anita Robinson of the Portland, OR group had a pink-colored Gibson to go with her roses-inlaid version seen here at the impressive Red Eyed-Fly afternoon show, March 19:

Shooting bands with no flash is hard, yo. The Von Bondies kicked ass and took names at the Direct TV filming, Bat Bar, late-afternoon, Austin Convention Center, March 19:

The Rosebuds from North Carolina were the most endearing act seen by this reporter at SXSW. The indie-pop group took requests, danced with the audience, started mad singalongs, and looked mighty fine during the Old Kentucky Blog party at Peckerheads, evening, March 19: