WHEELS & DEALS: SADDLING UP FOR AUSTIN

WAIT, THERE’S MORE: By the time you read this, SXSW will be in full effect. If you’re there, we hope you’re drowning your music-biz sorrows with another round of Jack & Coke, while watching some college hoops. But before you go on your drunken, merry way, here’s our updated, non-Austin weasel report... The Brandon Schmidt-repped Elefant performed to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour last week. Label and pub reps from Capitol, Atlantic, Hollywood, DreamWorks, RCA, Arista, EMI Music, Warner/Chappell and Chrysalis Music were in the house. The group is scheduled to play this year’s Coachella fest, so expect the heat to continue… The Brian Schwartz-repped Rose Hill Drive were spotted last week in the Big Apple, where the Boulder, CO-based rock trio showcased for more label peeps. Will the band be off the market before they hit the stage in Austin?… In case you haven’t heard, Crush-managed acts Midtown and Butch Walker have gotten the mad signing love from the folks at Sony. Former Drive-Thru act Midtown inks with Columbia, courtesy of Will Botwin, John Doelp, Stu Bergen and Matt Pinfield, while former Marvelous 3 frontman Walker pacts with Epic, courtesy of Steve Barnett and Kaz Utsunomiya. Rumor has it that Crush manager Jonathan Daniel was so ecstatic about the signings that he got a big, fat Sony tattoo on his ass… Chicago hip-hop act Bumpy Johnson signs with Free 4 All though Atlantic. Windy City airplay spurred serious weasel courting… Word on the street is that the big pub derby for Evan Taubenfeld (guitarist/songwriter for Avril Lavigne) has finally ended, with EMI Music the victor. Buzzers buzzing that a record deal is up next for the Avril collaborator. Meanwhile, rumor has it that the EMI deal did not include Taubenfeld’s songs for a solo record. Could another pub play be on the horizon?… Lastly, if you don’t get enough boozinger, networking—done in Austin, the 2004 Atlantis Music Conference is just a few months away. The Atlanta confab is set for July 21-24; the artist submission deadline is April 1. We’ll see you there… POST-AUSTIN BUZZ-GIGS: The Yards at the Mercury Lounge in N.Y. on Mon. (3/22) at 7pm; Leah Siegel at Loaisada in N.Y. on Wed. (3/24) at 7:30pm; and Happyendings at the Outland Ballroom in Springfield, MO on Sat. (4/10)… BUZZIN’: The Casanovas, Jason Tillery, Classic Case, David Andreone and Fueled By Ramen… Hit me up: [email protected]

Now, back to more of our SXSW picks:

WEDNESDAY (3/17)

Darker My Love at Emo’s at 8pm

Static Age at Emo’s at 9pm

Jesse DeNatale at Tambaleo at 10 pm

THURSDAY (3/18)

Morningwood at the Soho Lounge at 11pm

FRIDAY (3/19)

The Pleased at the Copper Tank at 12:10am

Paige at El Mercado Be-Side Lounge at 11pm

Stinky Records Showcase at the Copper Tank feat. Gram Rabbit, Another Blue Door, Low Flying Owls and Singapore Sling…

SATURDAY (3/20)

Shooter Jennings at the Levi’s Party at 3pm

Fenway Recordings Showcase At Club DeVille feat. The Love Scene, Read Yellow, Consonant and Buck 65