GUEST SXSW REPORT, TERRIFIC PHOTOS AND ALL! / UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS, SUBSCRIBERS WHO'VE MOVED! by Jack Rabid

The new Big Takeover 64 is in the works (if you have moved in the last six months and you’re a subscriber, please alert us to your new address as our mags are almost never forwarded!), and I’ve got my hands full, but we’re in luck, because Luke Giffen, singer/guitarist for Fresno’s awesome dreampop-shoegaze band The Sleepover Disaster (see my Top 10 review of their brand new Hover album in the current issue 63!) , has consented to send in a long and detailed diary-report of he and the group’s excursion to Austin for this year’s recent SXSW, complete with copious, terrific photos from his associate, Heather Bernard.

SXSW Report 2009: Part II by Rachel Pesin

SXSW Report 2009: Part I by Rachel Pesin

CMJ 2008: October 21-25, New York, NY by Rachel Pesin

I was a busy bee at CMJ this year, with at least one gig to attend every night. Here are the highlights.

All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by My Bloody Valentine) Day 3 - Kutsher's (Monticello NY) Sunday, Sept 21, 2008 by Tim Bugbee

My Bloody Valentine end sixteen years of American live performance silence via a deafening roar to close out the massively successful All Tomorrow’s Parties/New York festival.

All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by My Bloody Valentine) Day 2 - Kutsher's (Monticello NY) Saturday, Sept 20, 2008 by Tim Bugbee

Shellac put in the best gig of the day, on day 2 of ATP which was filled with great shows.

All Tomorrow's Parties (curated by My Bloody Valentine) Day 1 - Kutsher's (Monticello NY) Friday, Sept 19, 2008 by Tim Bugbee

All Tomorrow’s Parties, the stamp of excellence. Day 1 looks at the “Don’t Look Back” section, with bands like Thurston Moore and Tortoise playing entire records from their discography.

Pitchfork Music Festival (Day 3) - Union Park (Chicago, IL) - Sunday, July 20, 2008 by Matthew Berlyant

KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES were just pure, animalistic, rocking garage punk fun!

Pitchfork Music Festival (Day 2) - Union Park (Chicago, IL) - Saturday, July 19, 2008 by Matthew Berlyant

It started raining during JAY REATARD’s set, but it didn’t matter. In fact, it might have even made it that much more intense.

Pitchfork Music Festival (Day 1) - Union Park (Chicago, IL) - Friday, July 18, 2008 by Matthew Berlyant

Despite being absent for “Bring the Noise”, FLAVOR FLAV emerged right before they were set to perform “Don’t Believe the Hype”.