How About Some SXSW Day Parties? A LOT of SXSW Day Parties?

We here at Rocks Off are only about a week away from chafed inner thighs, weird Japanese punk bands puking in hotel pools and sweating out our morning mojitos while walking to an art space off 4th Street.

South By Southwest is now only a week away. It was all fun and games in December when we were posting our little suppositions of who would be playing, but now this shit is serious.

In addition to all the nightly mess, SXSW is also a great place to get loaded on the cheap during the day. Not to mention all the free cigarettes for those of us still giving our lungs the finger. All the live music at night is more than likely badge or wristband only, and in the Great Recession it's not easy to shell out a mortgage payment for a badge, or even two cell-phone bills for a wristband.

In that spirit, Rocks Off has compiled a list of the free day shows available to the public. Most kick off around lunchtime and close by 6 p.m. or so. Some require an RSVP, while others are free as long as there's room. There may be lines at these shindigs if you get to them late, but don't be discouraged. As folks stumble out, they let more thirsty people in.

And yes, there is free booze EVERYWHERE. Just remember to tip your hosts.

Rocks Off got our list from newmusictipsheet.com and other sources, but as always it's best to go digging on Twitter, MySpace and Facebook to get even more dirt.

Wednesday, March 18

The Austinist's "Gonna Gonna Get Down 4"

Mohawk, 912 Red River, 11 a.m.

DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives, Kevin Devine, Caitlin Rose, Vetiver, The Mae Shi, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Akron/Family

HearYa.com/QuinnStorm.com's "Stimulus Package"

Paradise, 401 E. 6th, 11 a.m.

Justin Townes Earle, Gringo Star, Tigercity

Affliction/MySpace Records/Ticketweb/Spaceland's "SXSW Throw Down!"

Maggie Mae's, 323 E. 6th, noon

The Boxing Lesson, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Titus Andronicus

Terrorbird/Force Field Day Party

Red 7, 611 E. 7th, noon

Beach House, The Thermals, Loney Dear

Can't Stop The Bleeding

Beerland, 711 Red River, 1 p.m.

The Homosexuals, Eat Skull, Psychedelic Horseshit

Thursday, March 19

Gorilla vs. Booze III

Peacock, 515 Pedernales, noon

Vivian Girls, White Denim, Wavves, free Red Stripe

The Artery Foundation/Casa De Awesome/Rise Records "SXSW Showdown 2009"

Emo's, 603 Red River, noon

The Devil Wears Prada, Dance Gavin Dance, I Set My Friends on Fire

Lose Control Party

Canvas, 105 E. 5th, 2 p.m.-2 a.m.

The Twelves, Don Rimini, Designer Drugs, The Hood Internet

Black Fontanelle Presents "A Compound Fracture"

The Black Fontanelle Compound, 5615 Jim Hogg Ave., noon

Aids Wolf, Magic Jewels, Bermuda Triangles, Snack Truck, Tyvek

Navdo/Go Entertainment/Obscure Magpie Music "Fourteen Hour Party"

The Compound, 1300 E. 4th, noon-2 a.m.

Dead Confederate, The Warlocks

Friday, March 20

Village Voice Media's "The Showdown 2009"

La Zona Rosa, 612 W. 4th St., noon

M.Ward, Gomez, Cursive, Crystal Antlers, Bear Hands

SPIN Party

Stubb's, 801 Red River, noon

Echo & The Bunnymen, the Black Lips, Glasvegas, The Crystal Method DJ set, free booze and BBQ

The Onion AV Club & Canvas Media Present "It's Pronounced Par-TAY"

The Radio Room, 507 E. 6th, noon

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Ra Ra Riot, Parenthetical Girls

"Shirts For A Cure" Presents

Red 7, 611 E. 7th, noon

The Bouncing Souls, Dillinger Four, Darkest Hour

Music Heals Party

Aces Lounge, 222 E. 6th, 1 p.m.

Paul Wall, Members of Swishahouse Records

Bloodshot Records' Annual SXSW Day Party

Yard Dog Gallery, 1510 S. Congress, noon

Andre Williams, Exene Cervenka, Justin Townes Earle, free Shiner and beer nuts

Saturday, March 21

Rachael Ray/Rose's Mojito "Feedback: The B-Side at SXSW '09"

Maggie Mae's, 323 E. 6th, noon

The Hold Steady, New York Dolls, Bob Schneider, The Cringe, free food and mojitos

The Smoking Section's "The Grand Ole Party of Bootleggers & Tastemakers"

Peckerheads, 402 E. 6th St., 1 p.m.

Lady Sovereign, King Khan and the Shrines, free Sailor Jerry's rum, Sweet Leaf Tea and Taco Cabana

"Mess With Texas 3"

Waterloo Park, 15th & Red River, 1 p.m.-10 p.m.

The Black Lips, King Khan & The Shrines, Japanther, Coalesce, Monotonix, The Bronx

Reeperbahn Festival Party

Habana Calle 6 Patio, 709 E. 6th, 3 p.m.

The Tontons, Murder, The Black Box Revelation, Wallis Bird, The Shackeltons, free German BBQ