My Morning Jacket played “‘Head Held High” and “Oh! Sweet Nuthin”

The all-star Lou Reed tribute was one of those things that could only happen at SXSW. A ton of great bands came together to celebrate the former Velvet Underground frontman’s legacy as best — and as fast — as they could.

The hands-down best performance was by Kentucky’s own My Morning Jacket. Now, color me biased, because it was my first time ever getting to catch those guys live, but I thought they absolutely rocked. Honorable mention goes to Oh No! Oh My! for proving that they could play with the big boys. Unfortunately I had to be content to listen to them rather that see them, since the line was far too long at that point.

And of course it’ll be hard to top the Lou Reed/Moby collaboration on “Walk on the Wild Side” for Most Surreal Musical Moment of 2008.

Lou Reed and Moby did “Walk on the Wild Side”

Thurston Moore played “I’m Not A Young Man Anymore”

Joseph Arthur played “Pale Blue Eyes” and “Venus In Furs”