I’m sorry, but things just aren’t working out. We’ve been down a long road, and I haven’t been as good to you as I could have. But, because you are so loved by bloggers worldwide, I don’t think my new relationship with Tumblr will put too much hurt on you.

All my best,

Chicanisma.Tumblr.com/

P.S. I could never really stand how you loved to modify my text format mid-post.

Unfortunately, in the middle of editing this video, I lost half of my original video footage. I spent hours trying to salvage it, but to no avail. So, I took a deep breath and pulled another video clip from their show at Club DeVille and let it ride. The end result is a little schizophrenic, but hey, so is the band, according to frontman Alex Chavez.

Combined in this interview are two songs, one of which is brand-spanking new, produced in the band’s practice room just before and after the interview with the final product being what you see and hear below. The other song is called “Ofrendas”, a recently released single that I also happened to be dancing to at the time that video was shot. [Side Note: A lovely mutual friend has a prime spot in the "Ofrendas" music video as "La Miss."]

Interview shot and conducted by Jessica Sondgeroth.

Democratic Rep. Doggett said the health care reform bill would boost Medicare services and decrease the deficit, while Republican Rep. McCaul said the bill would cut Medicare spending and result in massive job loss. Click the links below to see how their claims measure up.

>>McCaul: Health care bill to have unintended consequences

>>Doggett: Health care reform promises better tomorrow

Written and Photographed by Jessica Sondgeroth

Alan Palomo, the frontman for VEGA and Neon Indian, has made a rapid ascent in the landscape of electronic synths and beats, defining a new space in the nameless genre.

In just the last few months, Neon Indian has become one of the most blogged about bands in the blogosphere, while music critics rain praise on Palomo, calling him a genius on the synthesizer and the 80’s god of synth.

Palomo said he takes the progression with a little conscious ignorance.

“It’s really difficult to kind of step outside the situation and be like, ‘Look at where Neon Indian is’ and I try not to do that, because if I get too caught up in my own press, it’s just weird,” he said.

PART ONE: “What’s with those synths?”

Palomo said if he plays into the hype, it could stunt his creativity.

“You have to create a line in the sand with whatever it is that you do,” Palomo said. “I definitely sort of, stand by that with Neon Indian.”

But Palomo said with music reviews in international newspapers and a guest musical appearance on the Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon, it’s a strange realization.

“It’s really quite bizarre,” he said. “It’s amazing that a little bit less than a year ago, I was writing this record here in Austin, 30 blocks that-a-way, just in my apartment, like on 45^th and Duval, just like hanging out, not really communicating with anybody and focusing on music.”

PART TWO: “Growing exponentially”

Now, having returned to Austin from his new home near the studio and his record label in Brooklyn, Palomo shares no lack of enthusiasm about the experience.

“It’s so great and weird and wonderful to kind of be back here and showing it to people and performing it at South by,” he said.

What Neon Indian and VEGA bring to South by Southwest is no shortage of trippy dance electronic sounds and beats that continues to attract a growing following.

PART THREE: “What’s the difference between Vega and Neon Indian?”

“I’m pretty obsessed with electronic music, and I think, these days, people are trying to hunt for the right instrument that can really personalize your sound,” Palomo said.

The hunt for that perfect instrument, however, may not be available at your local guitar shop.

“I feel like, in a decade when you go to guitar center and everybody has a microchord and the same exact three synthesizers, you know, almost as a direct response to that, I’m trying to find some new and interesting little toy, by which I can generate sounds with,” he said.

Interesting sounds hardly qualify to describe the place that Palomo takes his music. Palomo said the defining difference between his two bands, VEGA to Neon Indian, both of which performed showcases at South by Southwest, is in approach rather than sound.

“For me, VEGA kind of comes from wanting to have these sort of, musical reference points of really inspiring pop music for me, and like, listening to ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’, and realizing that I’ve been listening to that song my entire life and I had no idea who it was, and having that kind of catharsis, like ‘Oh, my God, like New Order is the most amazing band ever,” he said. “And Neon Indian is this weird extension of myself, just whatever it is that I’m feeling at the moment. I never really set out to write a particular kind of song. I just sit down and write, which I guess, probably, explains the varied sounds on that album.”

Palomo’s creative talent, ear for sound and focus will no doubt bring new and exciting things to the electronic-synth-pop-whatever-it-is world.

PART FOUR: “Should we even categorize music any more?”

The Cool Kids during South by Southwest was scheduled at the Hilton downtown, but due to the guys’ busy schedule and a few persuasive text messages to the band contact, I found myself at Rabbit’s Lounge in East Austin, on the set of a music video shoot featuring The Cool Kids and Bun B of UGK. Unfortunately, for me, by the time I had made the nine-block jog across town (in my new vintage leather pumps) the shoot had already ended and the boys were ready for lunch. Also, a basketball game just so happened to be playing on the television above my head, so you may notice the guys looking up over the frame from time to time. When I asked if they were ready, Chuck said “10 more chips”, to which Mikey said, “I’m done when he is.”

Part 1: Why do you call yourselves the “black Beastie Boys”?

Part 2: Is this the life, or what?

Part 3: What happens when you collaborate with other artists?

Part 4: When is your next album, “When Fish Ride Bikes”, coming out?

Here’s what I’ve got lined up so far.

Chico Mann

The Cool Kids

Bomba Estereo

Neon Indian

Got any questions you’d like to pitch to any of these artists?

Leave a question in a comment on this post and I’ll see what I can do.

3/16: Daily Juice Boat Party – free booze, entry and marine activities. Details tba.

3/17: Baby Blue Studios w/ {{{Sunset}}}, Oy (Switzerland), Sleep Good, & many more. Music at 7pm.

3/18: FG @ Agave on 6th st from 4-4:45pm.

3/20: Austin Moose Lodge SXSW Showcase