The Circuit

by Phil Gallo/The Set List

One item I did not have a chance to slip in. A performer was near the end of set and when she was told one, she started talking about her last number of the night. The person holding up the single finger corrected her, shouting "one minute." She regrouped, walked to the step ladder at the side of the stage, reached  back into musical theater history and started singing "the sun has gone to bed and so must I" from  "The Sound of Music's" "So Long, Farewell" as she lowered herself down the steps.

The sun has set on yet another festival and here's a rundown of our coverage.

Overall, the 22nd edition of South By Southwest was a success thanks to a lack of overly hyped bands and an abundance of acts making music on their own terms.   

Day Four was a spin through international sounds.

Day Three found winners in Kate Walsh and Billy Bragg and impressive sets from Duffy, Lykke Li and Laura Marling.

Day Two's revelation: Some bands attract audiences who actually know the music and the charm of Jens Lekman.
Day One was old-timer's day: Daryl Hall, Joe Ely, Daniel Lanois and Van Morrison.

A photo gallery is here

Notes on parties: New West Records, Guitartown and the Ponderosa Stomp.

When all was said and done:
INTERVIEWS: 18, 16 of which are on video

PERFORMANCES: 36

HOURS LISTENING TO LIVE MUSIC: 35

SPEECHES ATTENDED: 1

PANELS: 0

REGRETS: Not taking the RMAT trivia test; missing the Lou Reed tribute; having to pass on the Rolling Stones movie in IMAX;

FAVORITES: Talking residential architectural styles in the Northeast with Daryl Hall;  Billy Bragg's  "Old Clash Fan Fight Song"; everything about My Brightest Diamond in conversation and performance; Torchy's trashy trailer park tacos; Kate Walsh's "Tonight"; four days of never hearing the word "ringtone"; Van Morrison singing about drinking wine; the elk at Jezebel restaurant; the remarkable interplay between the members of Abigail Washburn's Sparrow Quartet; a big band playing on a rooftop around 6 p.m., a glorious brass sound cascading over 2nd Street and masking uneventful hard rock from several blocks away.