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Doomtree

So, South By Southwest, that overstimulated, BBQ-braised, adult carnival of music, debauchery, pedicabs, and hangovers came and went. A good number of us pounded breakfast tacos, some of us attended workshops (show-offs!), many of us tweeted, most of sweat through every shirt we brought, and all of us saw live bands we can't stop listening to or talking about.

Here (in no particular order, by the way) are five bands that played SXSW you need to know. Some may be brand-new names, some might be bands you keep hearing about but haven't heard yet, and they all need to be on your radar -- and in your earbuds -- now.

1.) Doomtree: If we were an Auto-Tune-, airhorn-happy hip-hop artist who saw Minneapolis hip-hop collective Doomtree's SXSW set at Mohawk, we’d unplug our 808 forever and start looking into nighttime accounting classes. Dessa, P.O.S, Cecil Otter, Mike Michtlan, SIMS and the rest of the Doomtree crew blew up like a Dumpster full of dynamite, showcasing enough collective energy, rhythm, hustle and flow to make us wonder why these guys (and girl!) aren't playing the Super Bowl halftime show. Listen: P.O.S., "Stand Up (Let's Get Murdered)" and Mike Mictlan "Prizefight."

2.) Yuck: The name may conjure images of that unhappy green face warning you not to drink bleach, but the British foursomes’s fuzzy guitars, mopey bass lines and reticent Yo La Tengo harmonies cast sunny Sonic Youth shadows all over Austin. Listen: “Georgia” and “Getaway”

3.) Foster The People: Don't let the L.A. trio’s name trick you into believing they're some kind of Polyphonic Spree religious experience. Their must-listen track, "Pumped Up Kicks," is the sonic equivalent of a ray of sunlight, but it's actually this generation's "Jeremy." The Vampire Weekend-meets-MGMT vibe of "Houdini" made us feel a little better after we discovered what "Pumped Up Kicks" is about. Listen: "Pumped Up Kicks" and "Helena Beat"

4.) Smith Westerns: Don’t hate the Chicago threesome because they look like models and have hot-guy names like Cameron and Cullen. In fact, that’s partially why we love them. Hate them because the boys behind the garage-glam album Dye It Blonde (the name sounds like a Stones and Dylan compilation album, and the album sounds like the Beach Boys hung out with Pulp) aren’t even old enough to vote. And they’ve already toured with MGMT. Listen: "Weekend" and "Girl In Love"

Smith Westerns/ Credit: Angel Ceballos

5.) Funeral Party: The Cure-referencing L.A. band's no musical newcomer –- the foursome's been around for more than five years. But their upcoming album, The Golden Age Of Nowhere, which feels a little like Ian Curtis filtered through the prism of Tapes 'n Tapes and The Cloud Room, is on everyone's download-now list. Listen: "New York City Moves to the Sound of L.A." and "Finale"

+ Watch Funeral Party's "Finale" video:

Related Content More Yuck At MTV Iggy, Discover More New Music: MTV Music Meter

Tags Doomtree, Foster The People, Funeral Party, Lists, P.O.S., Smith Westerns, video, Yuck

The 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards are happening now in New York City -- a mash-up of music's famous faces, and on-point performances. And we're liveblogging it all on the MTV Buzzworthy blog. Stay here for the backstage, birdseye, and middle-of-it-all 2009 mtvU Woodies report. And watch the 2009 mtvU Woodies Friday, December 4, at 10 p.m. ET on mtvU, MTV, MTV2, and Palladia.

10:51pm -- We're off to the after party, see ya, it's been a blast! For more Woodies gossip, party reports and general madness check in with Buzzworthy tomorrow or check out highlights from the show on the Woodies site right now. We have tons of photos, red-carpet looks, rehearsal performances (some of which you saw here earlier today) and more. PEACE!

10:23pm -- Matt & Kim can't go anywhere without throngs of admirers following them. They're pretty much the Brangelina of the Woodies. Except they don't own several kids and possibly hate each other.

10:14pm -- Alexa Chung is swaying along to "Treat Me Like Your Mother." Jack White looks like a cross between a pissed-off vampire and The Crow. In a way that works, though.

10:09pm -- The Dead Weather is taking the Woodies to the church of bad news on all-white instruments. Allison Mosshart's on a square guitar, and I'm pretty sure it's got the devil inside.

10:04pm --Mary-Louise Parker drops an eff-bomb while intro-ing the Dead Weather! RAWK!!!!!!

10:02pm -- Kid Sister and Kim (of Matt & Kim) are exchanging phone numbers on the floor, David Cross is catching up with Matt Pinfield, and Leighton Meester and Cyndi Lauper, present, and they're each dressed totally future-forward. They're dropping Woodie of the Year.

9:51pm -- Jamie Tworkowski wins the Good Woodie for To Write Love On Her Arms, and dedicates the award to people battling depression and drug addiction.

9:43pm -- Cam'ron drops some knowledge on the Clipse. The vibe is straight-up old-school -- no tricks, no autotune, no stunts. Just hype hip-hop. And RICK ROSS , bossin' behind shades, centerstage. Appropriately the crowd is dancing on barstools.

9:37pm -- The men of Passion Pit are launching tiny burgers into each other's mouths and ordering extra whiskey shots. A saucer-eyed, autotuned Janelle Monae intros the Clipse as the crowd yells out "You're beautiful!"

9:33pm -- Matt & Kim win Video Of The Year, and as their friends in the crowd toss their drink about 40 feet in the air, M&K bypass the stairs, crawl on top of the crowd, and rush the stage. They accept the award, thank pretty much everyone in one swoop, and Kim takes another dive off the stage.

9:27pm -- Death Cab just performed meet "Meet Me On The Equinox" to a mesmerized crowd but pretty much got the U2 reception when they did "Sound of Settling"

9:23pm -- MTV alumni Jon Norris and Matt Pinfield are catching up on the floor.

9:18pm -- David Cross has crown shoved into his pocket, and he's telling a Tom Cruise Scientology joke, for those of you who don't know what Dianetics is.

9:12pm -- Overheard, P.O.S telling someone "I just hope I looked cool," after someone congratulated him on his performance.

9:10pm -- P.O.S.just rapped over live flipcup percussion.

9:06pm -- Asher Roth gives out the Best Performing Woodie to Green Day. They're not here to accept so Asher stagedives instead.

9:04pm -- I'm down on the floor where all of the talent's seated, not at tables but at dozens of narrow glittery bars. There's a 1:2 ratio of kegs to celeb bar, and Oh The Story has their own personal shot waiter. Wisely, one member of Oh The Story cut himself off and ordered a diet coke.

9:00pm -- A production assistant carrying the next Woodie just rushed the award backstage.

8:59pm -- David Cross and the Clipse are having a heart-to-heart. Intense!

8:57pm -- Just walked by David Cross, who's dressed like he's going to a Superbowl party.

8:55pm --  Alexa Chung gives out the Best Music On Campus Woodie -- an award she promises will lead to getting laid more -- to an ecstatic Hotel Of The Laughing Tree whose friends are freaking out on the floor behind me.

8:46pm -- Amber Tamblyn intros Passion Pit via Twitter. Passion Pit is clearly a crowd favorite -- we've got people on top of people's shoulders, air drumming (like the Rush scene in "I Love You, Man," but far far cooler...)

8:42pm -- 3Oh3! is presenting the Left Field Woodie... DRESSED AS LADY GAGA AT THE VMAS!!!! The red dress and the white bird's nest mask thing! Reference was made to soiled panties! :O  Tech N9ne wins it and makes a Woodie joke and drops a KRS-One lyric!!!

8:28pm -- Never Shout Never has the shortest acceptance speech ever: "Power to the people!" Talks least, says most!

8:26pm -- Zooey Deschanel, darling as always in a darling dress, cracked a joke about not taking off her clothes as they swept up Matt & Kim's castoffs. She's presenting the Breaking Woodie Award, which goes to Never Shout Never!

8:23pm -- Pete Wentz, red solo cup in hand, is going rogue. Give that guy a mic and he'll take a mile. He just cracked a swine flu joke and dropped the "douchebag" bomb as he kicked off the 2009 Woodies!

8:21pm -- How'd do you get to college parties? BIKE there! Matt & Kim just biked here from Brooklyn straight into the lobby of the Woodies. They brought some friends who aren't just singing backup, they're stripping down to their skivvies for lessons learned. Undies party!!! Extra points to Kim -- she jumped up onto the drumkit and WALKED ON TOP of the crowd!!!!

8:15pm -- Jack White and the Dead Weather didn't walk the red carpet -- they basically ran it. Jack White needs a role in "Eclipse." Dude is whiter than a natural-born Cullen.

8:10pm -- Never Shout Never's Christofer Drew wins Best Dressed at the Woodies. Hands down. That Mickey Mouse sweater deserves its own award.

8:03pm -- Woah... Nick Cannon just ran down the red carpet! No sign of Mariah Carey...

8:01pm -- What's a college party without flipcup! The mtvU Woodies have their very own flipcup game going on at one of the bars. Kenna, just took aim. Isn't that how you get swine flu?

6:58pm -- The red carpet is under way, and I just caught up with breaking band Sparks The Rescue, who informed me that votes aliens are the new vampires.

Tags 3OH!3, Alexa Chung, Asher Roth, Cyndi-Lauper, David Cross, Dead Weather, Green Day, Hotel The Laughing Tree, Jack White, Kenna, Kid Sister, Leighton Meester, Mariah Carey, Matt And Kim, mtvU-Woodie-Awards, Never Shout Never, Nick Cannon, P.O.S., Passion Pit, Pete Wentz, Sparks The Rescue, Tech N9ne, The Clipse, Woodie Awards, Woodies, Zooey Deschanel

P.O.S. is staying positive about his shot at the Best Performance Woodie, but if he doesn't go home with the wood, Animal Collective's got his co-sign. And 3Oh3!. Don't sleep on either he says, noting that Animal Collective, "blew my mind off." And 3Oh3!? "Everybody thinks they got silly jams, but they put on a good show too," he said.

Describing his performance at the Woodies he said it would, "contain some raps." Gee, thanks! But seriously, he also said they'll be some "some cups and clapping." Huh? Well, for that explanation, you'll have to see a teaser of his performance in this clip. You only get a small taste, but it looks kind of inventive and interesting (peep the red cup in the picture above)

Check out this interview w the Twin Cities Rhymesayer to see why he can't stop reading sci-fi godhead novelist, Philip Dick and why the sweet Swedish sounds of Refused are blowing his mind.

Watch the 2009 mtvU Woodies Friday, December 4, at 10 p.m. ET on mtvU, MTV, MTV2, and Palladia.

Tags 3OH!3, Animal Collective, mtvU-Woodie-Awards, P.O.S., video, Woodie Awards, Woodies

In this new Discover & Download interview, the enigmatic Minneapolis emcee/producer/singer/multi-instrumentalist P.O.S. talks about evolution.

In the clip, P.O.S. talks about the various meanings his stage name has had over the years, from "Pissed Off Stef" in his adolescence to "Promise Of Skill" in his emcee days. He also goes into detail about his varying levels of skill on various instruments, including drums, keys, bass, and even tuba (!!!).

You'll also find out about the evolution of the Minneapolis sound (from Prince to Atmosphere), the evolution of his Discover & Download track, "Never Better" (which he calls his "favorite song" he's ever written and which you can check out below).

Related Content The Buzz On: P.O.S., P.O.S. Gets Candy

Tags Atmosphere, Discover & Download, P.O.S., Prince, video

We posted a sneak peek of this joint--the title track from Minnapolis emcee/producer P.O.S.'s third album--yesterday, but, holy smokes, it's pretty creepy.

The track has a heavy limping beat with some dark lyrics about "dragging a lake." And the video perfectly fits the mood.

The plot for the video (directed by Isaac Gayle) is basically this: P.O.S. tries to survive through a Halloween from hell; getting attacked by kids dressed like vampires and ghosts as he staggers through alleyways and woods. It's like a really long version of the Kiefer Sutherland sequences in Flatliners (whoa, 90's movies reference, right?). And it's probably one of the more genuinely creepy videos of the year.

Related Content The Buzz On: P.O.S., Halloween Horrors With P.O.S.

Tags Kiefer Sutherland, P.O.S., video

Just yesterday we were learning about P.O.S.'s childhood romps through Minneapolis neighborhoods, braving blizzards to take in record candy hauls. Well, today we have something a little less candy-corny, though much more chilling than anything the Minny emcee/producer/singer discussed in his "Halloween Horrors" interview.

Here we have a 30-second sneak peak at P.O.S.'s forthcoming "Never Better" vid (taken from his album of the same name). And if the bone rattling beat doesn't freak you out a little, the shaky, hand-held camerawork, masks and hounds of hell certainly will.

And don't miss the MTV premiere of P.O.S.'s "Never Better" tomorrow.

Related Content The Buzz On: P.O.S.

Tags Halloween Horrors, P.O.S., video

In this episode of "Halloween Horrors," emcee /producer P.O.S. recalls his time on the ice planet of Hoth, also known as Minneapolis, Minnesota. In a remembrance of Halloween past, P.O.S. talks about the time he braved a serious blizzard resulted in a record candy take for the then-Spiderman-costumed youngster.

The Woodie-nominated P.O.S. goes on to discuss his dislike of salted peanut candies and, in stark contrast to the boys from needtobreathe, firmly places his support in the Vampire camp (in our ongoing Vampire v.s. Werewolves debate).

Check out more MTV Halloween Horrors here.

Related Content The Buzz On: P.O.S.

Tags Halloween Horrors, mtvU-Woodie-Awards, needtobreathe, P.O.S., video

The leaves are leaving the trees and the kids are back in school. It's starting to look like Woodie weather out there, no?

MTVU's annual award show--held this year on December 4th--honors those artists who put it down on college campuses everywhere; celebrating the music the kids listen to while studying to become the future leaders of America, etc. And the best part about this show? You can vote to determine who wins!

This year features a really healthy crop of artists. Let's take a gander at some of the categories and nominees, shall we?

For the Woodie of the Year Award, for the artist who made the biggest splash on college campuses this year, we've got Asher Roth, Kings Of Leon, Drake, Silversun Pickups and MGMT.

In the category of Breaking Woodie, which honors up and coming artists who have made headway with the kids, the nominees are Grizzly Bear, Never Shout Never, Wale, La Roux, Friendly Fires and Passion Pit.

Probably my favorite category, Left Field Woodie, which features artists who defy classification, features nominees like Amanda Blank, Major Lazer, Janelle Monae and P.O.S.

You can also vote in the categories Performing Woodie, Good Woodie and College Radio Woodie, BMOC Woodie and Best Video Woodie.

Tags Amanda Blank, Asher Roth, Drake, Friendly Fires, Janelle Monae, Kings of Leon, La Roux, Major Lazer, MGMT, mtvU-Woodie-Awards, P.O.S., Passion Pit, Silversun Pickups, Wale, Woodies

You may have seen P.O.S. pull off an astounding one-man-band take on Pearl Jam's "Why Go" earlier this year. It's an interesting look for the Minneapolis producer/MC. At once ingenious and virtuosic, it shows P.O.S. as a dude who owes as much to the god known as Eddie Vedder as he does to the god of Rakim.

P.O.S.'s music is largely a self-produced hodgepodge of abrasive noise and block-rocking beats wrapped up in a thoughtful, idiosyncratic flow that betrays his roots in the backpack/indie rap scene that thrived in the early '00s: P.O.S. releases music through one of that scene's cornerstone labels, Rhymesayers, the home to Atmosphere).

In the video below, P.O.S. declares there's no AutoTune in grunge, but for him, there seem to be no rules, period. He's a beat-juggling, sampler-punching, mic-rocking dynamo. His album, Never Better was released in February, and his video of the same name is coming soon, so be ready. Follow P.O.S. on Twitter at @YEAHRIGHTPOS and check out his Pearl Jam cover and his video for the track, "Purexed" below.

Related Content Watch The Uncensored Version Of Jeremy, Ultimate Pearl Jam Playlist

Tags Atmosphere, P.O.S., Pearl Jam, Rakim, The Buzz On, video

Pearl Jam is one of those bands that is so distinct -- with a sound so defined -- that, while it doesn't take a huge amount of courage to cover them, it does take a huge amount of talent to do it well. In fact, being able to approximate Pearl Jam without sounding like a loser is a legitimate basis for starting a new band. Look at Staind. Stone Temple Pilots. The list goes on.

William Beckett doesn't sound like Eddie Vedder, and he doesn't try to either. He doesn't make evil faces or scary hands or pantomime pottery with his eyes closed as he sings. He just sings "Jeremy" plainly, "Clearly I remember, picking on the boy," like earnest karaoke on an overnight choir trip. And I actually mean that as a huge compliment. He sings it as himself and sings it well, just like any deep down fan would. Only William Beckett's actually got a great voice.

P.O.S. isn't trying to do any impersonations either, although he is in flannel. The Minneapolis hardcore-kid-turned-Rhymesayer howls the lyrics to "Why Go," punctuated by the occasional hypeman's "Wooo," over a programmed beat, adding keyboard flourishes when appropriate. It's more a metamorphosis than it is a cover. Aside from the melody (P.O.S. apologizes for lack of auto-tuner -- ha!), the old "Why Go" is all but unrecognizable in the new.

Something tells me Pearl Jam would be way into that. Something tells me you will be, too. Watch William Beckett covering "Jeremy" below, and P.O.S. covering "Why Go," after the jump.

+ Watch the Ultimate Pearl Jam Playlist

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Tags P.O.S., Pearl Jam, staind, stone temple pilots, The Academy Is, William Beckett