My SXSW part 1

I don't know how people blog/MOG during SXSW, as I would pretty much get home and fall asleep, and I wasn't even going to the evening shows. But here's what I can recall post-fun.Life as an unconnected Day Partier can be fickle - if I can get in to a party, then so can anybody else - but the price is right. Wednesday was rainy so I ditched my initial plans and caught Ghostland Observatory at the KEXP broadcast, and while they were more subdued than their truly amazing performance at the Austin City Limits festival last fall, can't hardly hold that against them. They know how to work a crowd and create a fun atmosphere, and while their dance-pop is often a bit standard, when they fully lock onto a groove they don't let go.I then made it down to some Denton TX party featuring Midlake, who had some tech problems with their piano (pet peeve #1 - when a band does a 45 minute sound check for a 20 minute show) but fortunately played long enough to make it worthwhile. And their performance of "Roscoe" further cemented it's position on my Great Song list. Yes I almost wept.Thursday I met up with a couple friends and we did some aimless wandering around Red River, catching a mini-set of Sally Timms and Jon Langford, then over to the Scoot Inn for a taste of the Brooklyn Vegan party. The new management has really opened up the back patio for shows, plus the Ice Cream Man was there giving out free treats, so that’s a good start. Hella started playing and I admit that’s not really my thing, so I opted to go inside for Brothers and Sisters instead, then back out for Mew. Considering they’ve apparently been around for a while, boy do they all look like 16-year-olds. That Danish lifestyle must be good for ya. I was also pleased that they could really pull their layered sound off live (effects pedals = layered sound, I guess).Okay this is getting long so I think I'll stop here before I make the whole Mog-o-sphere scroll for 20 minutes.