AceShowbiz

The telethon performance which featured the ‘Mmmbop’ trio, Michael Stipe and more bands has appealed for viewers to donate to the American Red Cross and help victims in Japan.

Pop stars Hanson boosted relief efforts following Japan’s earthquake and tsunami disasters by staging a 12-hour telethon in Texas on Saturday, March 19. The “Mmmbop” trio teamed up with organizers behind the South By Southwest festival in Austin for the telethon, which featured performances and appearances from acts including R.E.M. rocker Michael Stipe, The Boxer Rebellion, Bowling For Soup and The Parlotones, among others.

The gig, which was streamed online and coincided with the SXSW festival’s close, saw performers urging viewers to donate to the American Red Cross and aid victims in Japan. Songs recorded at the event will later be sold as a part of a benefit project.

The earthquake and resulting tsunami earlier this month left countless dead and homeless in Japan.

NPR Music

The foursome of Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson rallied ’round the microphone one last time on Saturday night for the final edition of their late night dispatches from SXSW 2011.

Hilton called Bright Eyes‘ two-hour performance at Auditorium Shores one of the top five shows he’s ever seen, and the man’s seen a lot of shows. (In case you missed it, you can hear and watch the whole show on NPR Music later this week.) Thompson got nostalgic with Hanson, the trio of brothers who are still making music 15 years after “Mmmbop.” Powers also relived the 1990s, but a bit more violently — she took in Deer Tick‘s tribute to Nirvana, which included smashed guitars and fist fights. Boilen capped his festival with the comic book punk of New York’s Peelander-Z.

Powers saw two more shows on Saturday that might have represented both sides of the festival’s extremes: a “tiny bed concert” in a hotel room with singer-songwriter Jenny O and a bratty performance by Los Angeles hip-hop collective Odd Future. And after several attempts, Boilen got to see the electronica duo Mount Kimbie, who pushed Boilen’s ears past their limits. He loved it, but had finally had enough. Time to head home.

ContactMusic

Pop stars Hanson boosted relief efforts following Japan’s earthquake and tsunami disasters by staging a 12-hour telethon in Texas on Saturday (19Mar11).

The Mmmbop trio teamed up with organisers behind the South By Southwest festival in Austin for the telethon, which featured performances and appearances from acts including R.E.M. rocker Michael Stipe, The Boxer Rebellion, Bowling For Soup and The Parlotones, among others.

The gig, which was streamed online and coincided with the Sxsw festival’s close, saw performers urging viewers to donate to the American Red Cross and aid victims in Japan.

Songs recorded at the event will later be sold as a part of a benefit project.

The earthquake and resulting tsunami earlier this month (Mar11) left countless dead and homeless in Japan.