Damn. Bright Antenna's SXSW 2010 was one for the history books. Calling it epic would be a gross understatement. Here are pics and reviews of our Basement Blast at Stubb's, our trip to Travis County Correctional Facility with Jail Guitar Doors USA, and our showcase at The Ghost Room.

Until then, enjoy our photo recap and stay tuned. We have some stellar music finding its way out of our back pockets from the likes of Middle Class Rut, Jimmy Gnecco (of Ours), Magic Wands and Spring Tigers, as well as other surprises we can't mention yet because some lawyer somewhere would get all eye-bulging hyper-climactic.

Still, if you never ever ever want to receive our newsletter again? Then simply click "unsubscribe" to your left or at the very bottom. It's just that easy.

Regardless, enjoy the pics, see you at SXSW next year and, remember, music is a necessity, not a pastime!
 

SXSW 2010 Pics & Reviews.

Bright Antenna: Presence on 6th St.? Check.

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The line begins to form for the BA Basement Blast.

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SPRING TIGERS get thing rolling at the BA Basement Blast at the world-famous Stubbs.

National Public Radio's Robin Hilton stumbled into a Spring Tigers' set a few days later at the 40 Watt and reported the following on NPR: "Spring Tigers was one of those bands with a lot of members," Robin says. "Everyone was standing up, including the drummer, and they had incredible energy. It was just one of those big, messy, rambling, grungy, dirty rock bands and it was a great show."

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MAGIC WANDS spread their ethereal love.

Don't miss Spinner.com's interview with the band!

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Lounging at the Bright Antenna Basement Blast between acts. Thanks to
Trumer Beer for helping to make it lounge-a-licious.

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JIMMY GNECCO delivers a truly impassioned performance.

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Paging Mike Hunt.

(Disclaimer: Two of the BA women in this photo forced us to write that! First person to guess which two gets a free Bright Antenna t-shirt. Send your guess to info@brightantenna.com)

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MIDDLE CLASS RUT begin to release their fury.

Whatsthatdudeplay.com: At Stubb’s earlier today, we caught a ferocious duo – guitar and drums – called Middle Class Rut. Guitarist Zack Lopez and drummer Sean Stockham pumped out a short set of tight rock songs that ranked as the loudest gig yet for us at SXSW.

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Stephen (Spring Tigers) & Zack (Middle Class Rut) debate health care.

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The Magic Wands & 3/5th of the Spring Tigers in the BA photobooth.
See more photobooth pics here.

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The whole Bright Antenna family - label and bands - together for the first time ever!

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Not our sign but it might as well be.

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BA's Sep V sets up the audio for the Jail Guitar Doors USA show at the Travis County Correctional Facility.

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Jail Guitar Doors USA finale at the Travis Country Correctional Facility. Inpirational.

**Listen to David Brown's story about the visit & performance on NPR.**

(l to r: Eric Gardner, Dave Gibbs, Chris Shiflett, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg,
Boots Riley, Carl Restivo, and one Tom Morello)

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Official SXSW showcase time at The Ghost Room.

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SPRING TIGERS bring it!

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Bright Antenna's Sep V McGyvers another sound system miracle.

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Dexy of the Magic Wands dials up.

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JIMMY GNECCO had The Ghost Room staff asking for CDs.

Show attendee Christine Cobb on Spinner.com: Totally amazing show! Very heart-felt moments lyrically displayed that moved the whole crowd. With a magical voice instrument that brings chills and strengths to a soul you can all relate to. The best show I experienced in all of sxsw. Jimmy has a way of making everyone feel warm, fuzzy, and real for a moment!!

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That blur on the left is Zack of MIDDLE CLASS RUT, and that's Sean at the kit.

Metromix.com : This Sacramento two-piece remains a pretty well-kept secret, but they’re unlikely to stay that way much longer. Imagine if Henry Rollins had discovered the Flat Duo Jets before Jack White did, and decided to bring some of that Black Flag fury to the stripped-down guitar/drums format. Then imagine if Rollins somehow learned how to wail like Perry Farrell and found a drummer who could sing backup and bash away at his kit like Animal. Still with me? If so, then do yourselves a favor and seek these guys out. Their energy level blew away pretty much everyone else I’ve seen at SXSW so far.

Shockhound.com: Over at the Ghost Room, Middle Class Rut, a two piece from Sacramento, played one kickass set of hard rock which mined everything from moldy old classic rock to screamo, without ever sounding contrived. The duo make more noise than two guys should be allowed to create, but god bless ‘em for it.

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See you next year in Austin!

Releases & Links

Recent…
4/08 - (US) The Wombats EP: iTunes & CD
11/08 – (US only) The Catholic Comb Vampire Life 7” vinyl
11/08 – (US) Middle Class Rut Busy Bein’ Born 7” vinyl
11/08 – (UK) Middle Class Rut Busy Bein’ Born 7” vinyl (SOLD OUT)
2/09 – (US only) Paul Hartnol & Robert Smith Please 7”                                                 Collector's limited-edition of 500 orange vinyl.
5/4/09 – (UK) Middle Class Rut 25 Years EP: iTunes & CD
5/26/09 – (US) Middle Class Rut 25 Years EP
                            iTunes, CD or limited-edition of 1000                                                       12” vinyl w/ download code.
6/7/09 – (US) Magic Wands Magic Love & Dreams EP
                           iTunes, CD or limited-edition of 1000                                                        12” picture disc w/ download code.
10/20/09 – (US) Spring Tigers mini-LP
                            iTunes, Amazon, CD or limited-edition                                                     of 500 10” vinyl w/ download code.
2/10 – (UK) Far Pony 7” vinyl

Next on deck…
Jimmy Gnecco 7” vinyl (US & UK)

Stay tuned in 2010 for…
Jimmy Gnecco full-length
Middle Class Rut full-length
Magic Wands full-length