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Late Night Dispatches And Photos From SXSW 2011: Wednesday

by NPR Staff

Raphael Saadiq performs at Stubb's for SXSW. Enlarge image i

Raphael Saadiq performs at Stubb's for SXSW.

Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
Raphael Saadiq performs at Stubb's for SXSW.

Raphael Saadiq performs at Stubb's for SXSW.

Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

At one in the morning, with one day of South By Southwest under their belts — including the big Stubb's showcase — Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson huddle up to break down the days events before delirium finally settles in. In addition to talking about the Stubb's show, which featured live performances from Yuck, James Blake, Smith Westerns and Raphael Saadiq, the group shares its thoughts on some of the other artists that they squeezed into their busy schedules.

Some highlights include performances by the Lousiana-born quintet Givers, the big band Typhoon and Jeremy Messersmith, a singer-songwriter that incorporated a string quartet into his live show. You can listen to the gang talk about what they liked, loved and wished they'd seen more of at the top of the page.

  • Jack White brought the Third Man Records Rolling Record Store on its maiden voyage to Austin. To celebrate the event, he performed one song by Texas native Buddy Holly and one by his old band, The White Stripes.
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    Jack White brought the Third Man Records Rolling Record Store on its maiden voyage to Austin. To celebrate the event, he performed one song by Texas native Buddy Holly and one by his old band, The White Stripes.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • New Third Man recording artist Seasick Steve played the blues on just three strings in front of Jack White's mobile record store/studio.
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    New Third Man recording artist Seasick Steve played the blues on just three strings in front of Jack White's mobile record store/studio.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • You can't see it here, but the audience likely wept with joy while Sharon Van Etten played her vulnerable songs for KUT.
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    You can't see it here, but the audience likely wept with joy while Sharon Van Etten played her vulnerable songs for KUT.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • A familiar scene on the streets of Austin.
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    A familiar scene on the streets of Austin.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Musicians will play just about anywhere during SXSW.
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    Musicians will play just about anywhere during SXSW.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Like the Internet is a series of tubes, SXSW is a series of lines. Endless lines.
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    Like the Internet is a series of tubes, SXSW is a series of lines. Endless lines.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • NPR likes tote bags. What of it?
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    NPR likes tote bags. What of it?
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Not an uncommon sight: A band sets up on the streets of Austin.
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    Not an uncommon sight: A band sets up on the streets of Austin.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Mariachi musicians taking a breather against an iconic mural celebrating Austin's live music scene.
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    Mariachi musicians taking a breather against an iconic mural celebrating Austin's live music scene.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Behind the scenes as NPR Music sets up for the video webcast from Stubb's BBQ.
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    Behind the scenes as NPR Music sets up for the video webcast from Stubb's BBQ.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Yuck captured the frayed noise and hooky, guitar-driven melodies of '90s rock at Stubb's, even though its members, at 20, are too young to have experienced it firsthand.
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    Yuck captured the frayed noise and hooky, guitar-driven melodies of '90s rock at Stubb's, even though its members, at 20, are too young to have experienced it firsthand.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Mariko Doi of Yuck performs at Stubb's for SXSW.
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    Mariko Doi of Yuck performs at Stubb's for SXSW.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Yuck through the digital lens.
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    Yuck through the digital lens.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Bathed in blue light for much of his set, James Blake crafted a show that was alternately ghostly in its beauty and knee-rattling in its bass-heavy rumble.
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    Bathed in blue light for much of his set, James Blake crafted a show that was alternately ghostly in its beauty and knee-rattling in its bass-heavy rumble.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • The blue glowing bowl of the Stubb's stage during James Blake's set.
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    The blue glowing bowl of the Stubb's stage during James Blake's set.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Our hosts, production and technical crew at Stubb's.
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    Our hosts, production and technical crew at Stubb's.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Smith Westerns' set at Stubb's offered an engaging blast of candy-coated swagger.
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    Smith Westerns' set at Stubb's offered an engaging blast of candy-coated swagger.
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    Katie Hayes Luke for NPR
  • Smith Westerns' newer songs like "Tonight" and "Weekend" felt exceptionally sturdy at Stubb's, built on a foundation that conjures images of both Replacements-style rock and girl-group pop.
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    Smith Westerns' newer songs like "Tonight" and "Weekend" felt exceptionally sturdy at Stubb's, built on a foundation that conjures images of both Replacements-style rock and girl-group pop.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Raphael Saadiq was a big, bright ball of energy at Stubb's.
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    Raphael Saadiq was a big, bright ball of energy at Stubb's.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • The crowd smiles for Raphael Saadiq. Who wouldn't?
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    The crowd smiles for Raphael Saadiq. Who wouldn't?
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • We don't like to brag (okay, we do), but NPR has some of the best sound engineers in the business.
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    We don't like to brag (okay, we do), but NPR has some of the best sound engineers in the business.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR
  • Raphael Saadiq's SXSW set was a full-blown soul revue, complete with choreographed backup singers and buckets of sweat.
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    Raphael Saadiq's SXSW set was a full-blown soul revue, complete with choreographed backup singers and buckets of sweat.
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    Shantel Mitchell for NPR

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See more SXSW photos on our Flickr page.

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