JANDEK BLOWS UP!

If SXSW is about anything, it is about getting the word out about acts that are still under the proverbial radar (well, for the bands – for the rest of us it is about the proverbial wicked free day parties). Exactly how low that radar goes, of course, depends on what level of Chuck Taylor and beard density one is looking for in their fan-base – so it therefore might come as some surprise (or perhaps not, but we were surprised) to find that the Houston’s SXSW media winner was none other than the Whole Foods-shopping man of mystery himself, Jandek (congrats to Bun-B, who was a close second, but as a consolation prize will sell millions more records).

In addition to mentions in the Chronicle and the Austin American Statesman, our friend on Corwood picked up mentions in old media outlets across the country, including Style Weekly(!) , Canada's National Post and the old grey lady herself, the New York Times. And let us not even begin to talk about the eZines and the blogosphere. Ok, just kidding, let’s begin to talk about that.

Posts that contain Jandek per day for the last 30 days.


The chart above shows the number of posts that Technorati has found on blogs where Jandek is discussed (a big thanks to Jandek for being named Jandek and not something completely un-googleable like Joe Smith). Go here for a list of blogs. And of course you know that the kids over at Pitchfork got some coverage (they also have the best pictures of his set). Add on to that the several Chron.com blogs about waiting for and going to the show, and it’s clear that, in terms of publicity, our local recluse was the one with the big spotlight. Congratz to Jandek. Alanis Morissette is writing a song about it as we speak.