How many times have you been to SXSW?
Three

What is your best story from years past?
Last year we stayed an extra day. There was a 'barn dance' flyer for the Felice Brothers so we were like, what the hell. We justified the $20 cab ride because we figured it was a Todd P party, some really obscure warehouse where kids would be dancing like maniacs to awesome bands. Instead it was an actual barn dance. You should have seen the two ladies at the gate when we said we were on the guestlist! They were pure steel: One of them raised an eyebrow and said real slow "Round these parts, there ain't no guestlist." Needless to say we were the only kids wearing Converse, and I drank my weight in Tecate to make up for the ticket price.

What are you looking forward to this year?
On top of the industry being in flux, the economy is in the tank. I feel like it's going to be a victory to even make down and it's all the more reason to rock out.

How many bands will you see?
I think last year I averaged a solid 16 bands a day? The sky's the limit. For me seeing a band live is really an indicator of their potential. I mean I might not care for the music or if the conditions are crappy, but if they pull it together and gig like their life depends upon it, hell yeah, I'll take notice.

How many beers will you drink? Tacos you'll eat? Gallons of BBQ sauce you'll consume?
If I have morning-after photo deadlines I try my best to go light on alcohol—but celebrating at the VICE closing night party often entails making up for good behavior. A lot of people miss their planes the following morning because of that—in fact it's easiest just not to go to bed the last day. I'm a vegetarian so there won't be too much BBQ sauce, but I do guarantee there will be several fried avocado tacos from Torchy's in my belly.

What are your favorite spots in Austin?
For food: There's an out-of-this-world place called Which Wich Superior Sandwiches. It's on West 3rd and Lavaca, and the hummus and roasted pepper one is definitely worth the trip west of South Congress. During SXSW that location is a giant beacon of light—it'll be pitch black for blocks, we haven't eaten for 12 hours, everything else is closed, and ta-dah, this amazing sandwich shop is there to save the day.

For gigs: If you can get into Stubb's, it's pretty amazing. Massive stage, great sound, lights and a photopit, part indoors and part outdoors. There are too many awesome house party BBQs to count- anything with Dave P's name on it I will definitely go to! Last year's iheartcomix JellyNYC party was pretty epic too: the Black Ghosts, Santogold and Cut Copy on top of a parking garage as the sun set? That's gonna be hard to top. If industry clusterflucking isn't your thing, the Mess With Texas Party in Waterloo Park can't be beat. 2008's lineup was like 'Oh, hai, come on down and see Yeasayer, F*cked Up, the Breeders and Simian Mobile Disco for free.' Hell yeah.

For shopping: You gotta pay homage at Waterloo Records of course. It's twice as cool because the flagship Whole Foods store is across the street (massive, it has it's own checkout counter for the gelato bar). The vintage shopping can't be beat either.

For random-surreal-phenomena bragging rights: Watching the bats fly out from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset. I thought my friends were lying when I heard about it.... but nope, it most definitely is the largest urban bat colony in North America coming out to play. It gets creepy though when you have to walk across it.

Who do you want to see?
Hockey: If you love the Virgins but think they could use some amphetamines, with a touch of Walter Meego.

US Royalty: For real, these guys make me want to start a record label, they're phenomenal. Like early Kings of Leon with a touch of the Killers. Let me clarify: A specific aspect of the Killers- the catchy harmonies where you kind of get swept up in an anthemic rush aspect. Not the aspect that makes some people want to punch other people.

Casiokids: Because I am utterly obsessed with music that comes out of Bergen, Norway (I mean hell-o, Annie, Ungdomskulen, Datarock?). These kids bring the party, so brace yourself for some epic synth-pop from a full on band.

Ladyhawke: Everything on the Modular label is magic. Pip is the audio equivalent of fluffy kittens, rainbows and me 'n' my brother battling it out on our Atari back in the day. I can't stop listening to the Fred Falke remix of 'Back of the Van.' I've had the album for ages but she's never made it to the states before so I need to see her live.

Titus Andronicus: I've seen Titus Andronicus a billion times over the past two years, but it just keeps getting better. Straight outta Glen Rock, New Jersey they are everything that is right about American music nowadays. XL just remastered and re-released their debut album, so one of my top 10 records of 2008 will probably be in my top 10 of 2009. I just had the best photoshoot with them for 'Sup Magazine, we went out to Glen Rock and set off bottlerockets and stuff. It was epic.

Abbey's links:
punkphoto.com/blog
supmag.com
hypem.com

How many times previously have you been to SXSW?
This will be my sixth year.

What is your craziest story from years past?
Probably the time some friends and I went over the wrong side of the tracks to get some "authentic" BBQ. Our driver urged us to call him back for a ride home, since it was not rare for culinary explorers such as ourselves to get mugged by the local crackhead/gypsy cab drivers.

What are you most looking forward to about this year's festival?
Eating lots, drinking less.

How many bands do you estimate you're going to see?
Probably about 75 all in.

How many beers do you think you'll drink? Tacos you'll eat? Gallons of BBQ sauce you'll consume?
Not a big fan of beer, so not many. Tacos on the other hand...

What is your favorite spot in Austin?
Las Manitas, a Mexican restaurant that's now closed (RIP).

Who are you excited to see?
BLK JKS: Because they are the truth.

The D'ubervilles: Because they are from Montreal and we are putting out a great single of theirs on RCRD LBL.

Francis and the Lights: Because not many white boys can pull off what they do.

Lemonade: Because they have been killing it live lately and it will be good to see them "win over some new rooms."

White Denim: Because this is their city and you can't fake the funk on rock and roll in Austin.

Elliot's links:
rcrdlbl.com

How many times previously have you been to SXSW?
Four or five? I've lost track at this point.

What is your craziest story from years past?
In 2004, Pete Rock DJ'd a tiny bar to about 20 people total. He was kind of wasted and at some point stopped DJing to deliver an extremely emotional monologue on the mic. He talked for 15-20 minutes on CL Smooth, how producing was hard, how times were hard, but he was grateful for everything. When he was done, he played a bunch of records from the '90s. It was amazing. After my friend and I left, we happened upon an unrelated-to-SXSW live rap show upstairs in some sort of downtown community center. The dudes on the mic were rapping Christian lyrics over crunk tracks—God, as you know, loves 808s. I can't remember any of the rappers' names except for Game Tyte.

Also, I kinda bugged last year at the FADER Fort watching Pharrell rap along during Spankrock's performance. Like, Pharrell knows all of Spankrock's lyrics? Is this some kind of inverse universe? Did I quantum leap inside the Internet?

What are you most looking forward to about this year's festival?
As ever I am looking forward to the FADER Fort, because I helped curate it.

How many bands do you estimate you're going to see?
794 bands total, plus about 93 DJs.

How many beers do you think you'll drink? Tacos you'll eat? Gallons of BBQ sauce you'll consume?
I am feeling like 2009 is a cocktail year, but all bets are off after midnight, so I will probably drink a total of 12 beers in four days, but I won't remember any of them. I am a vegetarian so unless someone is hawking fake meat tacos and BBQ, I estimate the total consumed to be zero. Las Manitas, the amazing vegetarian Mexican spot, is now closed, so I'll probably be relegated to a life of PF Chang's for the duration.

If you're a festival veteran, tell us your favorite spot in Austin:
The aforementioned Las Manitas. RIP. Also down the way there's a really cute shop that sells Mexican pottery, Guatemalan and Peruvian earrings, Milagros, amazing Cuban movie posters and the like. I always stop by for a bracelet or two before I leave. I can never remember the names of clubs. The one with the outdoor backyard is chill.

Who are you excited to see?
Wavves; I missed his show in Brooklyn because it was too cold to leave my apartment. Who wants to see Wavves in the freezing cold? It's incongruous. I hope he skates in to the show on a really skinny board, which probably means I am romanticizing his music.

Buraka Som Sistema: How are they gonna take this insanity and awesomeness live? Or will they just DJ?

Micachu: Love her album, and imagine her live show will be revelatory in the hardware sense: She probably makes all those poppy noises on weird sheets of metal and, like, emptied soup cans and a bootleg saw.

DJ Class at the Unruly Records showcase: He is a veteran producer/DJ of Baltimore club music and his latest track, "I'm the Ish," is on repeat in my iPod. Need to shake it!

8Ball and MJG: Last but not least. They are legends, and seeing them for the first time in the South seems right.

Julianne's links:
thefader.com

How many times previously have you been to SXSW?
Three times

What is your craziest story from years past?
It is always insanity. Something(s) ridiculous happen every year. Crazy shows—Peelander-Z climbed the Mohawk and threw meat while performing last year. Crazy people everywhere; drunkeness abounds, so that leads to seeing some pretty weird shit. I walked a few blocks with Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips a couple years ago. We talked about TV mostly. He was as genuine as you would've hoped...he's like the Mayor of SXSW. Then later that night I ended up backstage at the Flaming Lips show talking to Peaches and helping throw out all the balls and crazy things that get tossed out during their stage show.

What are you most looking forward to about this year's festival?
This is the first year I'm putting on my own parties. An official showcase Wednesday night (at The Radio Room) and then a day party Thursday (at Peckerheads). I'm pretty stoked about my lineups. Then the blog conglomerate party, Hot Freaks!, on Friday and Saturday (at Mohawk and Club DeVille at the same time) is always nutty pants. I can't wait for all of it.

How many bands will you see?
I would estimate at least 60... I mean, I will likely really intently watch/listen to that many...sometimes you socialize and party and such, and a band might be playing, but I wouldn't completely call that "seeing" them.

How many beers do you think you'll drink? Tacos you'll eat? Gallons of BBQ sauce you'll consume?
I will drink a lot of beer... that's all I know. I will eat a lot of late night tacos. I will only probably consume one or two BBQ sandwiches. I'll put on at least five pounds guaranteed. All the walking helps though. I'll come back swollen and more tired than when I left. SXSW isn't a vacation where you rest. It's vice central...which is why it is so amazing.

What are your favorite spots in Austin?
I love The Mohawk... I mean, it is the best. If I could take that club, uproot it, and plant it in Indianapolis, I'd probably live there during the warm months. I'm a "Cliff & Norm" kinda guy though...I like one or two places and stay loyal to them. I'll be trying out some new venues this year, though, since I have my own parties at different locations.

Who are you excited to see?
Hmmm... New Villager and That Ghost are a couple insanely talented new bands on the Twosyllable label... you'll be hearing a lot about them in years to come. You always gotta see White Denim at SXSW... they're kinda hometown heroes in Austin and their live show is a thing of beauty. I'm keen on Lemonade and Starfucker, too. Oh, and Port O'Brien... their "I Woke Up Today" live-show ending incorporates the audience and all sorts of pots and pans... it's something everyone should be a part of at least once.

Craig's links:
myoldkyhome.blogspot.com
www.laundromatinee.com

How many times previously have you been to SXSW?
Seven or eight

What is your best story from years past?
Nothing too crazy, I usually try to pace myself. But probably seeing Feist at the FADER party about five years ago during a really intense thunderstorm. I swear the tent almost collapsed and killed everyone inside.

What are you most looking forward to about this year's festival?
Gorilla vs. Booze III, our annual day party at the Peacock Lounge. This year's lineup features Vivian Girls, Wavves, White Denim, the Golden Filter and more. And free beer.

How many bands do you estimate you're going to see?
No idea, but I'm hoping the number includes Grizzly Bear at least once.

How many beers do you think you'll drink? Tacos you'll eat? Gallons of BBQ sauce you'll consume?
Depends on what's free.

If you're a festival veteran, tell us your favorite spot in Austin:
My favorite spots are probably the Mohawk on Red River, Hamilton Pool, and my dad's house in Dripping Springs.

Who do you want to see?
I'm also really looking forward to seeing Nite Jewel, Girls, Bosque Brown, Woods, and a bunch more I can't remember right now.

Chris's links:
gorillavsbear.blogspot.com