Notes

Hello, hello. Please excuse my absence, but I sort of fell off the face of the earth with hope after the election was over. Now that my sigh of relief is over I shall return to dispensing bits and pieces of random music news.. and Abba videos.

So, what did I learn today...

So grand. So delightful. A match made in musical heaven.

It always amazes me how come summer and fall after any given SXSW if I see a breakout artist or hear something cool and go "who's that?", it turns out they played the festival and of course I missed them and not only that but I'm a total moron for not being clued in to start.

So, as we're hot on the heels of some exciting news for next year's fest (I can't believe it's that time again already), I'm starting a new little feature taking a look back at some of the artists I wish I'd seen at SXSW '08.

I'll start with England's Posted 10/29/08 by Linda Park in

• Notes

At the 1995 SXSW Softball Game and BBQ, a trio of kids from Oklahoma were singing for anyone who would listen. One writer recently recalled that day (in this story). Yup, Hanson came to Austin in '95, and a couple of years later, 'Mmm Bop' was implanting its fiendishly tuneful melody into everyone's head.

Guns n Roses are finally releasing Chinese Democracy which means free Dr. Pepper for everyone! But what does Axl look like now?

Probably not like this (gosh, they were dreamy):

Milestones don't come often in the conference game, but we mark one today with the inclusion of a SXSW trip as part of the Showcase Showdown on yesterday's 'The Price Is Right.' You'll have to watch the clip to see the outcome of the Showdown. I still think of Drew Carey as the new guy, as Bob Barker's presence still looms large over the whole operation.

For our friends across the pond. Sad news as MMJ have cancelled their European tour due to injuries Jim suffered recently in Iowa City.

From the band...

As of late I've done some Tuesday Releases lists, but I'm switching it up because, well, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. Or something like that.

The Beastie Boys have added three dates to their "Get Out and Vote" tour. Hopefully the shows will spur concertgoers to hit their polling places on November 4.

Here are the dates...

Oct 27 Charlotte, NC at Amos Southend - Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Santogold

Oct 28 Richmond, VA at Richmond Coliseum - Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Santogold

Congratulations to SXSW serial panelists Karen Glauber and Peter Rauh on the birth of their son Julian Michael Rauh yesterday. It's the first birth that we've followed via Facebook updates. Here's the announcement from the "Rumor Mill" column at Hits Daily Double: