(This is the first installment of a daily account of South by Southwest written by several Metromix editors and contributors. Check back for regular updates.)

1:10 p.m. (Pacific time)
Sean* and I take off from Los Angeles International Airport on American Airlines flight 1408 (the name, Sean reminds me, of a recent bad horror movie based on a Stephen King story and starring John Cusack). Even though virtually every single person on the flight is clearly bound for South by Southwest, I am disappointed that not one of them, as far as I can tell, is famous. Sean assures me, however, that Lemmy from Motorhead is in the first class cabin. Now that’s rock ‘n’ roll! – AH

*Sean, our video producer, will be referred to frequently throughout Andy’s blogs, since Andy will be spending a lot of time running around with him to make sure various video shoots are proceeding as planned.

6:05 p.m. (Central time)
After an uneventful flight, we touch down in Austin and join the scrum at the baggage carousel. Lemmy is there waiting for his bags, and we both wonder why someone isn’t there to do it for him. – AH

7:45 p.m.
After much rushing about to hotels and such, we arrive at the convention center to pick up our press badges—only to discover that the computers are down and there’s a line the length of the main lobby, filled with irritable music industry types who have clearly been waiting for some time. Some fresh-faced SXSW volunteers sustain us by passing out miniature Zone bars--“80 whole calories!” Sean observes. Finally the computers are back and we’re able to get our badges and rush, belatedly, to our first stop, the KCRW showcase, where we’re scheduled to shoot some performance footage of L.A. singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop and KCRW favorite Goldspot. – AH

8:15 p.m.
Kirk’s early day one highlight: awesome metal band the Sword, performing under the alias Zombie Eaters as a Faith No More cover band. Thanks to sound issues (a common problem at SXSW), not the transcendent experience it should have been. – KM

8:30 p.m.
“Does It Offend You, Yeah?” A Brit group with a great name, rocking Faith No More-style keyboard-based hard rock at Fader magazine’s outdoor tent. It’s like 1989 all over again! – KM

9:00 p.m.
Thanks to the great SXSW computer crash of ’08, we totally missed Jesca Hoop at Buffalo Billiards. KCRW DJ Nic Harcourt introduces the next act, Goldspot, to a fairly thin crowd. Sean tapes the first few songs of their very earnest set (the lead singer’s elaborately decorated oud—a Middle Eastern version of the lute to those of y’all who failed World Music 101—looks cool but is totally inaudible), then we hightail it to Antone’s for the Domino Records showcase. – AH

10:10 p.m.
Molly update: grabbing grub before heading over to a very packed Stubb’s to (hopefully) see R.E.M. – MO

10:15 p.m.
Lightspeed Champion lead singer Devonte Hynes is wearing a fur trapper hat or some such wintry thing and it’s making me sweat just looking at him. Why, Devonte, why? His set is, perhaps inevitably, a bit on the feverish side, ending with a rambling, nine-minute breakup song that would be awesome if it wasn’t, well, nine minutes long. – AH

11:10 p.m.
Still waiting to get in to see R.E.M. in a HUGE line and considering ditching to see the Blow at Emo’s. It’s the first night and already, having a press badge is meaningless. – MO

11:20 p.m.
Yup, we bailed. Now seeing “Juno” soundtrack darling Kimya Dawson at Emo’s IV and yes, she’s as cute as expected. – MO

11:30 p.m.
Scottish group Sons & Daughters kind of sound like Siouxsie and the Banshees doing old murder ballads. “Dance Me In” is, as expected, the highlight. – AH

11:35 p.m.
OK, Dawson’s cuteness has now become shrill, meowing and obscene. Mahjongg and the Blow are up next, which is good. – MO

12:00 a.m.
Sad: being on the same bill with “American Idol” also-ran Bo Bice. Not sad: God Fires Man, from Brooklyn, do the post-grunge, pre-emo thing with a fire that their 718 area code peers sorely lack. – KM

12:15 a.m.
The Kills are so badass I can hardly stand it. Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart make dueling guitars look like having sex, even when they’re standing at opposite ends of the stage. – AH

12:40 p.m.
Mahjongg’s fans are like hippie meets rave. It’s quite the dance party. – MO

1:00 a.m.
The doorman at Pangaea turns me away for having a backpack, so no Felice Brothers for me. I might’ve gone postal over it, but I’ll be seeing them in L.A. next week, so instead I just feel sorry for the Felice Brothers having to play at Pangaea, since at least half the badge-wearers wandering the streets have backpacks. It looks pretty empty inside Pangaea.

Instead, I go around the corner to Prague, where an obscure Norwegian electronica artist named Ralph Myerz is playing. I find an abandoned wallet at the bar and hand it over to the bartender, then get some instant karma in the form of a Shiner Bock, bought for me by two friendly locals I get to chatting with. Apparently Shiner Bock is the new Lone Star—and it tastes way better, too. – AH

1:30 a.m.
The Blow’s Khaela Maricich talks more than she plays—she’s much too self-conscious and so her gig feels more like performance art. But whenever she finally gets around to singing, she’s awesome. – MO

1:45 a.m.
Ralph Myerz goes on extremely late and is sort of disappointing—lackluster beats, a fairly lame female vocalist. An L.A. rapper named Jay Wells jumps on the mic for one song and he’s actually really fun. But just as the crowd gets moving, Wells’ cameo ends, and I realize that I’ve had enough for one night. Back to the hotel. – AH

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