SXSW As It Happens: SXXpress, Kindles, Paradise for Little Girls and Finding Free Food

Photo by Dan Oko

Rock and roll hall of fame inductee and founder of Sire Records, Seymore Stein, answers questions oustide the "Stories From CBGBs" panel, Friday.

​Adam Newton, 12:46 p.m.: I'm at Paradise for Little Girls, a Canadian act making Bauhaus-inspired post-punk. There are three Jewish-Canadian emcees on stage.

Adam Newton, 1:00 p.m.: This is Radio Radio, out of Montreal. Fun lyrics, good day party energy and decent beats by a bro, a prep and a hipster. These are sunny, summertime dance floor jams. Radio Radio isn't actually Jewish, but they ARE over-the-top showmen who just want people to have a fun time with their music.

Adam Newton, 1:22 p.m.: Up next: DD/MM/YYYY, which is pronounced "Day Month Year." I'm kinda excited. A clever (anti-social?) nerd brought along his Kindle so he could read between sets. I see a guitar, bass, drumkit, two sythns, a keytar and an alto sax on stage. What we have here is a frenetic blast of arty, syncopated pop.

Dan Oko, 1:41 p.m.: Taking care of business most out-of-towners don't do at this conference: Met with my tax advisor. He used to own a club in Austin. How rockin is that?

Photo by Katharine Shilcutt

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

​Adam Newton, 1:51 p.m.: This DD/MM/YYYY set would be more balanced if not for the technical issues. It was still enjoyable - an exercise in barely controlled chaos.

Dan Oko, 1:45 p.m.: They've got a new badgeholder service this year - SXXpress - to help journos skip lines at most showcases. Nice idea but it's limited. Dirty Dog (Hole) and Stubb's are already "sold out," so get there early, sucker.

Brittanie Shey, 2:04 p.m.: At the Village Voice Media party representing the lowly freelancers. Free food in VIP section.

Adam Newton, 2:05 p.m.: Lights (from Montreal) is up next, and there are over 30 under 21 kids crammed against the stage like it's a tiny local show. Lights also have a

Dan Oko, 2:05 p.m.: Waiting for "What Becomes Legemd Most" panel featuring Jonathan Poneman of Subpop Records, Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith group and Andrew WK.