SXSW Day II

Lou Reed sounds off

14 March 08 - Lou Reed has hit out at the quality of music in the era of the MP3.

The former Velvet Underground man was a key note speaker at this year’s South By South West Festival and said:

"People have got to demand a higher standard," referring to the problem with sound quality when it comes to new recordings.

He went on for an hour and at times had the audience in stitches, not least when he referred to himself as having:

“A BA in dope, but a PhD in Soul,” he went onto to say that, “the thing I’ve got going for me is instinct, I can feel it, I try not to think.”

The highlight came later on in the day when he joined Moby on stage for an extended rendition of the classic, Walk On The Wild Side.

BBC Introducing

Elsewhere and the special BBC Introducing show pulled in a massive crowd. 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq handpicked many of the acts who played, including MGMT who were the main draw of the night. Despite the huge numbers turning out to see them, the band still find it hard to accept why they are so sought after:

“It’s kind of taken us off guard the reaction we have had, especially as the album is only just coming out and when we haven’t done much outside of the US.”

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong,  Lightspeed Champion and members of Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man managed to get inside to watch them.

Also on the bill was the hotly tipped Florence and the Machine, speaking to 6 Music the singer admitted the whole industry event was too much for her:

“I feel like I want to cry like it is the most amazing place, but I am so tired, it’s so amazing but like I wanna go home.”

Tomorrow at the festival there will be performances from the likes of Tapes 'n Tapes, Laura Marling and Lykke Li.

You can catch up with Matt Everitt and Tom Robinson's blogs from the Festival.

You can hear Matt live from Texas on The Music Week on 16 March 1pm.


Adrian Larkin