Austinist's SXSW Highlight Reel: Wednesday

Austinist Presents Gonna Gonna Get Down 4: We were definitely pleased with the plethora of talent we had tapped for our day show on the 18th -- Telekinesis, Here We Go Magic, J. Tillman, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Vetiver, and The Mae Shi all made an impression on our guests. Highlights had to be the ferocious hardcore-metal assault of Young Widows, channeling the Jesus Lizard just hours before David Yow took the stage at the Austin Music Hall, and the amazing live show from Akron/Family, who are currently touring to support their upcoming release, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. Our generous sponsors helped both guests and artists feel right at home in our home town, offering delicious brownies, pizza deliveries, BBQ, fruit and absinthe mixed-drinks. The sizable crowd on the floor outdoors never thinned, as one by one the electric sets flew by. The Mohawk's intimate inside room was packed all afternoon as well, housing everything from low-key Vetiver, Caitlin Rose and J. Tillman sets to the raucous stage-diving antics of the Mae Shi. As always, we were quite proud to host such a phenomenal lineup on SXSW Music's first afternoon. -Adi Anand

The Mayor's Party: In conjunction with the official start of the music segment of SXSW on the 18th, Mayor Will Wynn and the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted a media reception at City Hall to welcome the plethora of journalists covering the festival. We’ve been fans of the Mayor ever since he inaugurated SXSW 2007 at our day show and we eagerly accepted this opportunity to have a quick bite and drink with the man himself. Extremely approachable and quite the good sport, the Mayor even posed for a few classic pictures with us in Annie Ray’s infamous photobooth. The event was not sans a few quality live performances-- introspective folk ditties from Amy Cook and the soothing jazz stylings of Kat Edmondson kicked things off before Dan Dyer’s soulful R&B tunes closed out the party around 7:30 p.m. Dyer, once of (90’s Austin staple) Breedlove, has recently returned to Austin after spending some time in New York and St. Louis, and has garnered a solid following in town already thanks to some electric performances at Momo’s. Texan musicians, perfect weather, delightful snacks, and an affable host -- the Mayor’s welcome was of the warmest kind. -Adi Anand