Paula Gould Paula Gould

SXSWorld Magazine

If anyone happens to have a copy of SXSWorld Magazine, please proceed directly to page 26. I submitted an edited excerpt from my post-sxsw blog and they published it! Yeah! Go team. xop



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Paula Gould Paula Gould

OSLO To Be Featured On THE UNIT Season Finale

As Friday winds down what can only be described as an "Awesome" week, we've just learned that the CBS hit series The UNIT will feature OSLO's "Rhyme or Reason" on Tuesday night's season finale!! "Rhyme or Reason" is from Oslo's forthcoming (and much buzzed about) album "The Rise And Fall of Love And Hate." You can add "Rhyme or Reason" to your Profile or buy downloads from Oslo's self titled debut HERE.

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Paula Gould Paula Gould

SXSW--oBLOGatory Post Fest Recount

"This room is non-smoking, right?" I meekly inquire in a voice barely audible. The receptionist looks back at me, distracted and hesitating, "yes." I don't believe her. As I walk down the hall to room 106, slip the key card into the door, and step into the nicotine soaked air of my smoke-free room, I mentally wave a white flag and recall the tea bar I saw on my way in. Even the peppermint can't soothe away the days of beer, salsa and salted meats from my tender throat. Each swallow shreds and grates, summoning flashbacks of the previous nights, of me, enthusiastically shouting over crowds and bands and singing every word to every song before wooooing both the bands performance and my own.

The misadventures of my delayed arrival feel like weeks ago but still sting a bit nonetheless. I walked away from the Hilton, wounded by bad timing and with bags in tow to Emo's Jr. to see The Ponys; damned to let the annoyances of my travels further interfere with my evening. Now after midnight, my luggage served as my badge and I immediately sent texts alerting my friends of my whereabouts and continued on with the boys of OSLO to the Blender Bar for Albert Hammond, Jr., then... and so on before retiring back to the band house for a morning nap. Unlike last year, I didn't plan out every moment of my day and night, nor race from showcase to showcase. I simply happened upon many great performances and people, sharing moments with friends old and new, running into many serendipitously. SxSW is great that way.

MUSIC.COM had a successful adventure with the launch of the music download and ringtone store, a great day party and a warm reception from artists at the convention center. All four of OSLO's performances went well, Waves (Upstairs) particularly. The night sky was warm and open to us, and the room full and driven, with the band invigorating the audience and audience reciprocating the energy. Saturday's shows seemed to resonate with me better than any of the other nights, Kings of Leon at Stubb's standing out most among them.

The HEEB party was fun (HEEB parties always are), as were the SPIN and FILTER sponsored events. BLENDER House was nice, once we passed the pretense of the door shenanigans. Each night saw the beginning of the next day. Upon word the Maxim party was shutdown, an impromptu gathering with Music.com, Oslo, YOUTH GROUP, and several of our friends who had also found themselves at the Driskill, punctuated the pleasantries of the day by enabling conversation among us all. Seeing the live shows is what we were here for, but the opportunity to actually converse with, rather than shout over, those you were partying with, was an unexpected treat.

Today, with most everyone gone, the few of us lingering aimlessly wondered 6th street before inevitably retiring home for naps and comfort or to enjoy time alone. To end my adventure, I grabbed dinner and a drink at Chuy's with Arrica Rose, a Dot, and some Los Angeles ex-pats before leisurely strolling through the beautiful night back to the band house to pack up my things. The river was black and silent beneath my feet and the last bit of spontaneity in me wished I would cannonball the stillness of the water and that of the town. It's an amazing transition how quickly Austin returns to itself only hours after the chaos. There was a lull to the day today that left me sleepy and content and ready for home.

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Paula Gould Paula Gould

Cows, Hootenanny and OSLO, Oh My!

The question eliciting the shortest response this week would be "What ISN'T happening right now?" So much brewing...

GLEN WEXLER is currently featured on APPLE.COM's Start Page highlighting his new book The SECRET LIFE OF COWS. We hand delivered a 6' print of an image from the book, featuring a cow in a trebuchet about to be launched over a castle wall, to the Grail Theatre at the Wynn Las Vegas. The print will hang in the main hallway amidst the Monty Python artwork for the duration of Spamalot!!

MUSIC.COM, who you'll see in every peticab you get into at SxSW this week, will release their Artist-controlled music download / mobile download and customizable ringtone store Thursday (March 15). It rules, and makes it possible for the ARTISTS to get the most money for their music sales!

MUSIC.COM has a booth at the convention center where bands will be performing and are sponsoring the High Wire Hootenanny day party Thursday at Habana Calle 6 from 12-5p.

OSLO, who just played an amazing show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles Monday, has new tracks posted to their MySpace and is down at SxSW (isn't everyone??) playing several shows this week:
Mar 15 2007 9:00P Waterloo Icehouse

Mar 16 2007 3:15P Music.com @Convention Center

Mar 17 2007 3:00P Dirty Dog Bar

Mar 17 2007 11:45P Waves (upstairs)/Texas Rock Fest

The album cover for Oslo's forthcoming release "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate," shot by Glen Wexler is nearly complete.

Here's a fun wrap pic of a very disheveled me, Photographer Glen Wexler, "the talent" and Vu Ong from the set (shot by Carsten Steinhausen):

Reports from Austin soon...

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