SXSW roundup: Schneider wins big at Austin Music Awards; crowds trump cold

Schneider wins big at Austin Music Awards

For the first time, the Austin Music Awards were at Austin Music Hall on Saturday night instead of Wednesday. The switch was designed in part to make it easier for Austin residents to attend the local lovefest without having to go to work the next morning (you mean everyone doesn't take SXSW week off?).

The big winner this year was Austin Musician of the Year Bob Schneider, who also picked up awards for male vocals, songwriter, song of the year ("40 Dogs"), album of the year ("Lovely Creatures") and band of the year (Lonelyland).

Teen bluegrass phenom Sarah Jarosz picked up three awards, for country/bluegrass, folk and female vocals.

Other winners included Los Lonely Boys (rock), the Sword (metal), Speak (new act) and Kat Edmonson (jazz). See the full list at austin360.com/music.

Crowds trump cold

Lines continued despite the cold weather, as people tried to get a last dose of music and fun. Ben Gibbard at the Parish, the Black Keys at Mohawk and Surfer Blood at Urban Outfitters were among the day party sets that packed in crowds.

And the queue to get into Perez Hilton's Saturday night party (officially known as Swagg Presents Perez Hilton's One Night in Austin) started forming at least an hour and a half — outside — before doors opened at 7 p.m., later swelling to several blocks long.

More, yawn, celebrities

Also continuing? The South By sport of celebrity sighting. Reported at the Fader Fort on Saturday: Adrian Grenier ("Entourage"), Kristen Stewart (in town for a screening of "The Runaways") and Colin Hanks.

The party never ends ...

If SXSW didn't tucker you out, it's not too late to head to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, where New York-based concert promoter Todd Patrick kicked off Patrick's MtyMx on Saturday. More than 50 bands will play across two stages through Monday. Patrick, already known in Austin for a series of free outdoor shows at East Side venue Ms. Bea's during SXSW, says his festival isn't intended to be adversarial to SXSW.

"Ideally they wouldn't overlap at all — but there are people who live there who wouldn't be happy with it starting on Sunday and running until midweek, and you have to respect that. It's never been about trying to steal South by Southwest's thunder," Patrick said a few days out from MtyMx.

Patrick's pitch to bands, many of which are making the trek from playing SXSW to Mexico, was that MtyMx offers bands leaving Austin the chance to play better-
attended shows against less competition than they might face in other cities in Texas, Oklahoma or New Mexico.