SXSW 2011 is over.

Sitting on my couch last night, looking out the window at some blustery late winter weather, this finally sunk in. That said, it's not like I'm crying in my bourbon wholesome breakfast cereal. I had a blast down in Austin and the festival ended just about when it should have ended.

To crib Dave Eggers, slightly, I finished the festival tired. I finished the festival true of heart.

Anyway, below you'll find my SXSW 2011 Best of the Best List. The name comes from the 1989 film of the same name, which starred Eric Roberts and James Earl Jones. Unfairly, it didn't get even one Academy Award nomination. Also, the word "best" signifies "having the most positive qualities," or something.

Dave Jaffer's SXSW 2011 Best of the Best List

Best Set -- Wednesday March 16: The Dears, at Spill (M For Montreal Official Showcase)

Anyone/everyone who wants to piss on The Dears (I'm looking at you, Pitchfork guy) should have been there. It was epic. They laid the room to waste. Anyone who was there can tell you that it was triumphant and magical. And hey, I just did.

Best Set -- Thursday March 17: The Kills, at Emo's

Screw the Dead Weather; Alison Mosshart is back where she belongs, and my boy Jamie Hince looks good. And hot damn, the new stuff sounds (and feels) good. Also, I thought about apologizing, in this space, to the hipster I scared half to death when I grabbed him by the collar and explained, loudly, concert etiquette. But anyone who makes the mistake of a) shoving by me, rudely and b) shoving women, rudely, while around me, probably deserved a lot worse. So screw you, unnamed hipster. Also: My Flip cam is way better than yours.

Best Set -- Friday March 18: Shad, at Paradise (CMW Showcase)

Wonderful even when his mic cut out. Listening to Shad do his thing makes me feel really good about the future of hip-hop, Canadian or otherwise.

Best Set -- Saturday March 19: Rich Aucoin, at Paradise (Halifax Pop Explosion Showcase)

The most fun I had all festival. Rich is magic, man. His show is more fun than Pop Rocks and Coke on Christmas morning at the Playboy Mansion. I told Lightfoot's Jessica Louise Dye that she had to stay and experience it with me and she did, and this is what she had to say about it:

True say, Jess. True say.

Best Showcase: Truth told, I bounced around a lot, and, consequently, liked a lot of different showcases for a lot of different reasons. The Canuck stuff (M For Montreal Official, M For Montreal + CBC Radio 3 day party, etc) was dope; the Doomtree showcase (at least what I saw of it) killed; the Halifax Pop Explosion one rocked; CMW one was pretty solid; Outlaws & Gunslingers Femmes Fatales left nothing to be desired...

So it's a tie. Sorry.

Best Random Discovery: Shunda K (Tampa, FL)

After watching The White White Lights (Austin, TX) we were leaving Beauty Bar when we were entranced by this incredible MC from Florida. I talked to her after -- she's a sweetheart to boot.

Best Outfits: Austra

I felt like I was in the middle of a David Bowie sex dream after he watched a bunch of Star Wars. That can't be bad. Right?

Best Free Shit: Free earplugs, beer koozie, bratwurst (+ sauerkraut, mustard) and Crispin cider at the MN Music Showcase put on by Vita.mn

Best Bartender: Andy at Spill

He rules. 'Nuff said.

Best Taco: Grilled fish taco at Wahoo's

Good for what ails you. Also, myself and Yannick Cimon Mattar from Get A Room indulged in bulldogs. They went down easy.

Best Burger: The Yucatan at the Jackalope

If you click the above link, read up on the Yucatan, and don't start salivating you are either a vegetarian/vegan or have no soul. Or you lost a loved one in a tragic pulled pork accident.

Best Food Truck: My heart will go to Annie and mmmpanadas, but truth told, the place I frequented most often was the taco truck across from Barbarella. Pulled pork tacos, brisket tacos and chicken tacos. Big-ass jalapenos that burst in your mouth like spicy candy. Fresh garnishes and piping hot queso. It was enough to make me feel like I was bi-winning. So yeah. Them.

Best Interview: M For Montreal's Mikey Bernard (I did this for Montreal's Hour Magazine)

Because I got to make fun of him and get him to blush on camera when I suggested that he was a cad.

Best Stranger Met: David Calvin Meigs, at the Rural Alberta Advantage show

Dude was kind enough to give me some video he took. This is noteworthy because everyone I asked to send me pictures they took of me, or videos they took of me, didn't. This dude was kind enough to hook a brother up. Props. If you're on Twitter, follow this dude. And, if you're thankful for the video he gave me to use, um, say thanks from both of us (I'm @combatdavey).

Best Riot: I think I'm going to have to go with the one at the "secret" Death From Above 1979 reunion show.

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I could write a lot more, here, but I won't. What I will write, however, is a big thank you to FFWD and music editor Mark Teo for allowing me to be a guest blogger for SXSW. You Calgarians have a great publication to read in FFWD, and good people involved in the running of it. Big thanks also go out to you, FFWD readers, for taking the time to read my stuff.

I hope you liked it.