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Hungover festival attendees drained bloody marys and mimosas, as the conversation shifted from "When'd ya get in?" to "When ya leavin'?"

HENSLEY’S SXSW DIARY

Our Man in Austin Gets Around the Block
An exclusive HITS SXSW report by Todd Hensley

My Texas SXSW “vacation” continued yesterday following Ivana’s panel and Alabama Shakes at Stubbs, with the mtvU Woodie Awards, in addition to performances by Kimbra, Gary Clark Jr., Of Verona, Wallpaper and Chiddy Bang. While we can’t confirm it, word is that Epic’s Geli and Jacqueline Saturn chowed down on BBQ from the famous Salt Lick, as Jac knocked back a rum drink with a Capri Sun Chaser.

After the VEVO show at Spaghetti Warehouse/Nike Fuel Venue with Neon Trees, we headed back to Weasel Central at the Four Seasons to hang with the upper crust at the Grammy block party. Academy members grazed on samosas and braised ribs, while discussing how Adele and The Civil Wars were their faves from the broadcast and that they still didn’t understand what Nicki Minaj was thinking. We were just busy wiping the curry stains off our shirts.

The Spotify Live secret show with Grimes, SBTRKT and A$AP Rocky, seemed anything but, as DA Wallach needed security from everyone that wanted to get up close and personal. All the Springsteen fans filed out on cue, while the cool kids (read: those of us not named Ivana or CMT’s Leslie Fram, who were both seen in the front row ogling the Boss) headed to the Quantum Collective showcase at Rusty’s on 7th to see Bronze Radio Returns, Jenn Bostic, Connie Lim, Voxhaul Broadcast, Blondfire and The Royalty. The MGMT’s Pete Galli's pompadour proved he’s always the coolest guy in the room, as long as Andrew W.K. isn't around, while Coyle from The Chevin stood stoic in the crowd doing a spot-on impression of rock star charisma.

With the night just getting started, we shlepped over to The Stage on Sixth for the BET Music Matters Showcase. Miguel and Big Sean closed the show while the likes of Russell Simmons, Timbaland and BET’s Tracy Cloherty, Reggie Williams and Kelly G, KWL EnterprisesKevin Liles, HOT 97 MD Carlie Hustle and Chris Nadler; and iTunes goddess Thuy An Julien nibbled on desserts from Whole Foods.

When you’re up you might as well stay up, so we trekked back to Spaghetti Warehouse as Girl Talk was just about to start his set. He played to a ridiculously over-capacity crowd. The venue go so jammed, the fire marshal was counting attendance on his fingers and toes, ready to shut down the event at the drop of a hat. VEVO boss Doug McVehil’s auto-response when e-mailed to get in was “Sorry, but you’re f'n nuts.”

This morning got off to a good start with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Auditorium Shores, where HDNet will be broadcasting the Counting Crows show live tonight. The Four Seasons was the scene for a BMI brunch, where we recognized no one in attendance from the Billboard "Power 100." Meanwhile, hungover festival attendees drained bloody marys and mimosas, as the conversation shifted from "When'd ya get in?" to "When ya leavin'?"

In either an example of how brands are now deeply vested in SXSW, or that Austin is simple out of venues, we found ourselves at the original Whole Foods, where acts like Diane Birch and The Chevin played on the rooftop to gatherers nibbling on gluten-free, free-range chicken sandwiches while sipping ONE Coconut Water. The Fader Fort featured a peformance by Kimbra, the Gotye collaborator who is someone else you want to know, before a collection of the "Walking Dead" trekked to Rudy's for oak-smoked brisket and ribs. Just glad I caught Alabama Shakes yesterday because I'm betting on a food coma to follow. Redneck...Out!

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THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
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CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
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THE NEW UMG
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TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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