Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton drew a huge crowd for his annual SXSW show at the new ACL Live venue Saturday night. The new location gave Hilton's event a more SXSW mainstream feel. Security was tight and many fans who waited in line for wristbands earlier in the day did not get in, though there was never a guarantee. Those who did get in, got to see performances by New Zealand's Kids of 88 and Zowie, Liz Phair, The Pretty Reckless, and Dirty Vegas. Here's the Austin 360's Matthew Odam's review of Taylor Momsen and her band The Pretty Reckless:
Yes, the lead singer is Pretty. The degree to which the band is actually Reckless is debatable. But there is no doubt Momsen — blessed with a strong voice and sexily strapped in garter belts and 4-inch heels — is more Courtney Love than Avril Lavigne.
The dance floor was packed and the balcony seats were mostly filled. A DJ duo with a talented violinist kept people dancing between acts. By 1 a.m. rumors were flying high of a surprise performance from Kanye West or Rihanna; that did not happen. After the lights came on some fans told KUT they had a good time, but they expected more from this year's show. Last year, Snoop Dogg hit the stage at Hilton's party.