Globe music critic James Reed at the SXSW music festival in Austin

Music critic James Reed will be at SXSW from March 13 to March 18. Follow along with his journey here.

Adrienne Lavidor-Berman 3/12/2012 3:02:00 PM

Globe music critic James Reed is headed to SXSW today. Check here for the preliminary list of bands James's planning to see on the first day of the festival. How many will he be able to check out? Come back here to find out. Have fun, James!
Headed to Austin in one short hour with a long list of bands I want to see at #sxsw. Including... t.co

by James Reed via twitter 3/12/2012 3:09:31 PM
The SXSW action starts in earnest tonight. In the meantime, I'm getting pumped with this playlist. t.co

by James Reed via twitter 3/13/2012 6:43:28 PM
by James Reed via twitter 3/13/2012 10:16:06 PM

With brand-new hat on head, I'm officially ready to start SXSW (and join Tom Waits's band). p.twimg.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 2:39:35 AM

And it begins! At my first show at SXSW: indie hip-hop band Vex
Ruffin. First of five more shows I'll see tonight. p.twimg.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 3:34:52 AM

At capacity and for good reason: Santigold is roaring back at #SXSW ahead of a new album. She's wearing a crown as crooked as her music.
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 3:38:44 AM

Santigold just invited fans onstage to dance behind her. #shouldhavebeenme
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 4:46:13 AM

Had no idea Bear in Heaven are so seductive. #SXSW yfrog.us
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 5:58:54 AM

Courtesy of Brooklyn's Caveman, here's the catchiest chorus I heard tonight at #SXSW: yfrog.us
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 10:29:25 AM

About last night at #SXSW.... bo.st
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 7:13:50 PM

At 2 p.m., Bloody Marys are flowing and Providence's Brown Bird is its usual crash course in multiple genres. p.twimg.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 7:15:56 PM

"It's not easy to play this early in the day." -- Brown Bird's MorganEve Swain. #SXSW p.twimg.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 8:02:59 PM

No music badge? No problem. Free music abounds at #SXSW, starting on the streets. I liked these guys. yfrog.us
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 9:11:07 PM

With the Rolling Stones' swagger and James Brown's soul, the Alabama Shakes are giving me the shakes right about now. #SXSW
by James Reed via twitter 3/14/2012 11:41:22 PM

The line to see Fiona Apple at SXSW included walking up and down different hills. In other words, I'm so not getting into this show.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 12:00:52 AM

Tonight's entertainment: watching the horrified looks on people's faces when they realize just how long this line is to see Fiona Apple.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 1:50:07 AM

Shot nerves. Visible anxiety. Wounded vulnerability. That's goes for both the artist and the audience. Welcome back, Fiona Apple.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 2:25:36 AM

"She's, like, really shy and has anxiety issues. My kind of woman!" -- a fan at Stubb's stoked to see @sharonvanetten about to start.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 3:42:24 AM

Reggae master Jimmy Cliff is three times as old as most bands here at SXSW. And he sounds twice as good, too. #youcangetitifyoureallywant
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 3:54:50 AM

You don't know fear until you've used a portable toilet in complete darkness behind Emo's at SXSW. #dontdropyourphone
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:23:04 AM

Barreling through downtown in a pedicab to see Dr. John. Just passed Reggie Watts, who's doing the exact same thing.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:00:04 PM

Four hours of sleep be damned, I'm up, caffeinated, and ready to see Springsteen's keynote address at SXSW.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:01:03 PM

RT @forcefieldpr: don't forget @MissFrankieRose plays the google music / youtube party today at 4pm www.google.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:03:18 PM

Yes, we know. Because there have been a dozen firm warnings that no audio, video, or photos during Springsteen's keynote. Why so shy?
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:14:38 PM

Leading up to Springsteen keynote, Nora Guthrie is celebrating what would have been her father Woody's 100th birthday. How fitting.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:16:01 PM

Jimmy LaFave and Eliza Gilkyson are singing Guthrie songs. #thistrainisboundforglory
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:30:24 PM

"She doesn't get all folk Nazi on you." -- Jimmy LaFave on how Nora Guthrie is open to other interpretations of her father's songs. #SXSW
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:39:20 PM

Qué chévere! Colombian rock star Juanes is special guest at this Woody Guthrie song celebration. Singing his own song "Fíjate bien." #SXSW
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 4:53:56 PM

This ballroom holds 2,500 people, and it's almost full for Springsteen's keynote. Does this man do anything on a small scale anymore?
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 5:12:59 PM

RT @nprmusic: Watch Bruce Springsteen's keynote from #SXSW now. npr.org
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 5:39:00 PM

"How important can this speech be if we're giving it at noon?" -- Springsteen launching his keynote address at SXSW.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 6:04:11 PM

Bruce Springsteen: rock god, SXSW keynote speaker, and hilarious stand-up comedian. Who knew?
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 6:06:12 PM

Springsteen: "Isn't there supposed to be a guitar up here? Anybody got one?" They did, and he's now using it to play music that shaped him.
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 6:14:29 PM

Springsteen on Dylan: "He gave us the words to understand our hearts." #SWSW
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 6:39:15 PM

Bruce's parting words of wisdom to young musicians: "Stay hard. Stay hungry. And stay alive."
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 8:57:32 PM

This is what Boston needs. And I'm not talking about SXSW. p.twimg.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/15/2012 9:00:07 PM

Sunny day. On the roof of a parking lot. Korean BBQ tacos. And Frankie Rose about to start playing. Suddenly I've found my second wind.
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 12:31:00 AM

Grimes and the city. #SXSW p.twimg.com
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 12:41:21 AM

This sounds even better on a parking garage rooftop with the wind blowing through your hair. yfrog.us
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 1:54:07 AM

After a 3-minute walk, just went from Chilean gypsy performance art to Ernest Tubb-style old country. That's why you come to #SXSW.
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 2:02:15 AM

It took me two days, but I finally found a band playing Hank Williams and Tammy Wynette covers at #SXSW. #boyhowdy
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 2:27:55 AM

The good news about Jonny Corndawg's awesome set at SXSW right now: he'll be at @Newportfolkfest this summer.
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 2:31:45 AM

I'm pretty sure cowboys aren't supposed to thrust their hips like that. But I'm awfully glad Jonny Corndawg does.
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 4:28:46 AM

Class Actress is seriously bringing back memories of big '80s electro beats. And shoulder pads.
by James Reed via twitter 3/16/2012 5:11:46 AM

My first shut-out at SXSW. And man, it hurts. p.twimg.com