Remember when you learned about new music through those little booklets called "zines"? You read a short paragraph review of a record, took a gamble on it by sending your well-concealed cash to the distro, and a few weeks later the United States Postal Service delivered the record to your door? Well, South By Southwest (SXSW) has been around since those halcyon days, too, but it doesn't mope around and wax nostalgic about the golden years prior to the Internet Revolution. Nowadays, it still organizes a bazillion live shows, as well as a film festival and a surprisingly diverse interactive portion that plays host to a slew of panels, such as those featuring bloggers who want to talk about blogging to other bloggers! Futuristic stuff!

Our pal Stephanie of The Lazy Smurf's Guide to Life has envisioned a panel for vegans to call their very own at the next SXSW in March 2011. Here's the official description of "Internet Activism Vegan Bloggers Take Over the World":

A surge of vegan bloggers has been using the internet to make change in the way people think about animals through new forms of activism. VeganMoFo (the vegan month of food) and worldwide Vegan Bakesales to raise money for causes and promote veganism are just some of the ways that we are breaking out of the stereotypes of the past and creating a revolution. Learn creative ways to promote your message and engage your community on & off the web and more about food activism and using your culinary skills to promote compassion.

SXSW panels are decided by crowd-sourcing, so please vote if you want to see SXSW get more vegan-friendly next year! Voting was originally scheduled to close last night, but it's been extended through this weekend, so cast your vegan vote by 11:59 CST Sunday, August 29th, and your vote shall be counted!

Do you know Puppets in South Park Slope? There's a lot to like about the place: a very vegan-friendly menu, full bar, back yard, late hours, and--most unusually for a veg restaurant--excellent music.

Seriously, live music at veggie restaurants tends to be pretty lousy, right? But Puppets puts the music first, while also providing real good eats. (And don't get me started on the chicken-finger-and-cobb-salad filled menus at typical jazz clubs!)

Anyways, Puppets is going through some tough economic times and they've declaring this weekend "Help Save Puppet's Jazz Bar Fundraiser." If you happen to see this post tonight and can make it over before 3am, go for it. Otherwise, head over on Saturday the 28th between 5pm and 3am (happy hour til 8! backyard til 11!) and have burger or hot dog or salad or guacamole (hell, read their whole menu yourself; it's short). And give them some money. They're waiving all cover charges during the fundraiser and instead just asking for you to give what you can.

Even if you're not a real jazzhead, I bet you'll have a good time. Let's do our part to keep this place open!

Puppets is located at 481 5th Avenue between 11th and 12th in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Jason Mraz is some guy who plays music of some sort. I guess he’s pretty popular. He has a fedora growing out of his head. He was a strict vegan until recently. He’s decided to eat eggs. Not just any eggs mind you: eggs from his neighbor’s chicken. Here’s the scramble from Spin.com.

What made you become a vegan?
I'm actually no longer a strict vegan. I don't hang out in the cheese section—I don't even eat cheese. I don't drink milk. But every once in a while I'll have an egg. I'm going to eat eggs that come out of my next-door neighbors farm, that's just the way it is. I just choose not to eat factory food, the processed food, just whole foods, real food. It all started with watching one too many documentaries, or reading one too many books. After a while you just lose your appetite.

I suppose I could go all haterade on the guy. I’m not. I haven’t had coffee yet. I will say two things though: 1. Vegan celebrities can be a double edge sword. 2. Mraz’s song I’m Yours is gonna’ be a big hit someday. It’s really catchy. It could even be in a commercial! Huzzah!

I was excited to see Jack White of the White Stripes' side project Dead Weather perform in Prospect Park's Bandshell the other night. But I walked out scratching my head about a couple of things. First, what was the point of the three dead animal heads that his roadie dragged out on stage right before the band came on? Seriously, I know he's a rock star with Michigan roots but I didn't take that to mean he was anything like that other one.

Then, as I was bumping around a dark Port-O-Potty during the set, I heard Jack say "I bet you read Brooklyn Vegan too. Any other vegans in the crowd out there? Come on stage and we'll kill a cow together." And then it sounded like he mentioned something about bringing an Amish person on stage (again, I was temporarily confined in a small, stinky potty at the time). He continued on to say something about people eating only "salmon and avocado," which seemed to upset him so he blurted out "get the fuck out of here."

OK, so a couple of issues: What was the Amish thing about? And since when did vegans eat salmon? (Avocado, well yes, obviously). And finally, WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM JACK WHITE? What did I (or any other vegans in the audience for that matter) do exactly--other than purchase a ticket (with Ticketmaster fees, mind you) and support the Bandshell?

Head to the rooftops of Bushwick this Saturday for Vegan Jam which bills itself as "New York's Premier Vegan Hip Hop And Fashion Event" (and who are we to argue?).

The event will feature performances by rapper Emcee Jermaine, poet Narubi Selah, and singer/songwriter Stephanie Rooker.

T. Leacock, will be showcasing her vegan fashion-line, "reciclaGEM", and DJ Henry C will be spinning old-school hip-hop.

Of course my first question was about the food, and here's what they're offering: "a number of platters made of pasta, and vegetables. There will be raw salads and mock-meat platters. We will also have a home-made vegan cheesecake made from tofu." Awesome.

The Jam happens Saturday July 3 from 3-7pm on the rooftop of Opera House Lofts at 27 Arion Place, Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Videos from Emcee Jermaine and Narubi Selah below. This is good stuff!

Philadelphia’s Vegan Straight-Edge Hardcore band Kingdom is everything I love about real hardcore: fast, loud, aggressive and completely unapologetic. Their music is a flavorful blend of old-school head-bobbing chug-chug and lighting fast raucousness. Amazing songs tinged with elements of both metal and punk rock; teeming with a brilliance not found in many of the perfunctory hardcore bands today. More people should know about this band; they’re too rad not to.

Recently, I reached out to Davin (lead vocalist) of Kingdom with a few questions. She responded in kind; this is what she had to say.

Who is Kingdom?
We're a hardcore band from Philadelphia (and various other locations on the east coast) named after Philly's infamous vegan Chinese restaurant- Kingdom Of Vegetarians (11th and Race St.- I highly recommend the walnut shrimp.)

When, where and how did Kingdom get its start?
We formed when Ben (our original drummer), Weezy (our original guitarist), and I screamed Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" at the top of our lungs in Richmond, Virginia from December 31, 2005 into January 1st 2006. A few months later we were all writing songs together in the spare room of my apartment in Philly (which sounded nothing like "Don't Stop Believin'", unfortunately.) We recorded a demo, booked a tour, found a bassist who learned our songs the week before we left, and in summer 2006 we hit the road.

Vegan. Straight-edge. These are two ideals that Kingdom carry on their sleeve; can you tell us more about this?

For those of you who missed Chrissie Hynde's new side project JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys' benefit show at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary last weekend, they will be doing a show tonight at Brooklyn Bowl in W'burg. Doors at 6pm, show starts at 8pm. Admission is free but donations are encouraged; all proceeds collected at the door and from advance ticket sales will be donated to Stray From The Heart, a non-profit dog rescue organization that rescues, rehabilitates and places homeless dogs in good homes.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, lead vocalist for The Pretenders and animal rights activist Hynde joined forces with Welsh songwriter JP Jones and his bandmates and the result is down home, blues-influenced, folksy rock. They played a benefit show last week at Housing Works bookstore with singer and WFAS supporter Tracy Bonham, whose husband Jason Fine of Rolling Stone organized the WFAS benefit--the first of a series of concerts at the farm. Stay tuned for updates about future shows!

I can’t think of too many things better than good music, vegan cupcakes and helping animals - with Rutherford, New Jersey’s CupcakeFest you get all three! The event is brought to you by Sweet Avenue Bake Shop, On the Verge and Big Picture Media; all proceeds will benefit the Passaic Animal Shelter.

HopStop will tell ya' how to get there. You can RSVP by visiting the event page on Facebook.

Folk Singer. Writer. Poet. Hobo. Modern-day Troubadour. Vegan. Son of a Beef Rancher. These are some of things that I’ve seen used to describe Johnny Houx. He is a man of few words, but his music speaks volumes: catchy without being sugary; poignant without being preachy. He embodies everything a folk singer should be but usually isn’t. He’s the man dressed in green.

He’s on tour now. Stuck on an Amtrak train for the next three days; barreling towards NYC. We had a brief email exchange. This is what he had to say.

Super Vegan: Who’s Johnny Houx?

Johnny Houx: Green Folk Man Shreds. Or so I'm told.

SV: What's your favorite thing about being vegan?

JH: I taste good. Or so I'm told.

The NYC Veggie Prom 2010 is tomorrow night, Friday May 14th at Littlefield in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Doors at 8pm. The event is 21+. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Team SuperVegan put together some questions for event organizers Jessica Mahady, DJ Lil Ray (of Vegan Drinks fame), and Robyn Lazara.

SuperVegan: Do people have to dress up fancy?

DJ Lil Ray: It's highly encouraged, but certainly not required. Theme parties are more fun when everyone plays along, but we're not haters.

Jessica Mahady: People are wearing all kinds of things ... '80s prom attire, '60s vintage ...

SuperVegan: What kind of music will you be playing?

DJLR: We've gotten requests for '80s and '90s dance music. DJ iLan and I both love all kinds of music, so we'll probably touch on party classics from a number of eras. We'll have a little Top 40, probably some Motown, Disco, and Funk ... music that makes everyone feel good!

SuperVegan: Will there be a prom king and queen?

DJLR: Heck yeah!

JM: Nominations for prom court closed on Wednesday. All of the nominees will wear a special "Veggie Prom Court" ribbon so everyone knows who they are. Our emcee, Michael Parrish DuDell of Ecorazzi and VegDaily, will introduce the court about halfway through the party.  Voting will then open, and the court will be crowned before midnight!

SuperVegan: Tell us about the vegan desserts that will be available.