"Tragedy."
"Did you hear?"
"Were you there?"
"Did you see anything?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"I don't want to think about it."
"How did it happen?"
"That's fucked up!"
"What's going to happen now?"
"How can I help?"
"Where can I donate?"
"SXSW Cares."
"Did you get tickets for Kimmel?"
"Did you get tickets for Kanye?"
"Did you get tickets for Andy Cohn?"
"Did you get a Fader wristband?"
"Did you eat Rachel Ray's brisket?"
"Did you get into the Spin party?"
"Did you get VIP for Hype Hotel?"
"Did you get invited to Willie Nelson's ranch?"
"How many bands did you see?"
"How many movies did you see?"
"How many panels did you attend?"
"Did you see anyone famous?"
"How is the line there?"
"I'm still in line."
"I'll see you soon, I'm still in line."
"This line isn't moving!"
"Are they at capacity?
"What's the capacity?"
"It's one in one out."
"If you leave, you'll have to get back in line."
"Is that RSVP?"
"Are they checking the RSVP?"
"Did we RSVP for this?"
"I RSVP'd!"
"I should have a +1!"
"I'm on the artist's guestlist!"
"The artist is a friend of mine and they put me on their list."
"OMG. They just KILLED it!"
"Did you see _____? They killed it last night."
"I got in to see Foster the People! They killed it!"
"You guys, Snoop Dogg just killed it!"
"The Hold Steady just killed it!"
"London Grammar killed it!"
"Coldplay just killed it!"
"50 Cent killed it tonight"
"Did you see Pitbull last night? He killed it!"
"Spotted Lady Gaga walking into Red River businesses just like a human!"
"Lady Gaga spectacle."
"Lady Gaga said..."
"I don't care about Lady Gaga!"
"Check out my picture with Lady Gaga!"
"I'm not doing any of that celebrity shit this year."
"Who have you seen so far?"
"What's been the favorite thing you've seen so far?"
"Who do I have to see?"
"I saw them last year."
"I saw them last week."
"I saw them yesterday."
"I saw them earlier today."
"I've loved them for years."
"I loved them years ago."
"I loved the first EP they put out but I haven't liked anything since."
"I used to love that band."
"Are they still around?"
"I saw them, I wasn't impressed."
"Oh, you LIKE that band?"
"This line is ridiculous!"
"Which line are you in?"
"Am I in the right line?"
"What is this line for?"
"Who are you all lined up to see?"
"Never heard of them."
"Who is that?"
"Where is that?"
"What time do they go on?"
"What time is it?"
"Where are we right now?"
"Where are you right now?"
"Why won't these cabs stop?!?!"
"How long ago did you call the cab?"
"What's the number for the cab?"
"Is there another cab company?"
"Uber charged me $50 to ride from Lamar to 35!"
"Public transit in this city is a joke!"
"$7 ATM fee?!?"
"$7 Lone Star?!?"
"$7 cover?!"
"Is this free?"
"What's free?"
"Where's the free food?"
"Tacos."
"Breakfast tacos."
"BBQ."
"Brisket."
"What time did you get in line?"
"What time should we get in line?"
"How long have you been in line?"
"Is this the end of the line?"
"What do all of these lines me?"
"Why is that guy smelling his key?"
"Why are those guys all taking turns smelling that key?
"I just want to sit down."
"Where is there someplace that we could sit?"
"Is there a place to eat nearby that also has a seat?"
"Why doesn't this Wendy's have a dining room?!??"
"Don't sit there that's gross!"
"My feet hurt."
"My legs hurt."
"I have a headache."
"Who was that?"
"Who's next?"
"Who's this?"
"What's the name of this band?"
"What is this place normally?"
"Remember when that was a parking lot?"
"Remember when that was a building?"
"Should we stay for the next band?"
"How long should we stay?"
"How long have we been here?"
"My phone's almost dead."
"My phone's dead."
"I have no bars."
"My phone service isn't even trying to work."
"Do you have a charger?"
"I need to find an outlet!"
"This alley smells like pee!"
"Keep watch, I'm going to pee behind this dumpster."
"I drank too much."
"I need to throw up."
"I just threw up, we need to get out of here."
"Future Islands."
"St. Vincent."
"Perfect Pussy."
"Protomartyr."
"Secret show."
"After show."
"House party."
"After party."
"Invite only."
"VIP."
"South by jumped the shark."
"South by's gotten too corporate."
"South by's lost its spirit."
"South by's not as important as it used to be."
"So tired."
"So drunk."
"So sore."
"Wish I could have seen ________."
"Bummed I missed ___________."
"Next year I'm going to do _________."
"Not sure I'm going back next year."
"Can't wait for next year!"
Read more!
Showing posts with label SXSW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SXSW. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
SXSW 2014: The Moral High-Ground
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary music wristband to SXSW so that I could cover it for this blog. Also, I get guest-listed to a lot of shows here in town and as you can see there is a Google Ad or two on this page. No one tells me what to cover or how to cover it but in the rest of this post I'm going to judge you for not spending enough money on the music industry so, I want to be very plain about the areas in which I am being hypocritical in this arena. I would also add that I subscribe to Spotify, have a collection of band T-shirts and own far more records than any person deserves. Now that all of that is out in the open, I'm going to start the scolding. If you're not into reading, you should just bail now because this is gonna get wordy y'all!
Most of the major media coverage about this year's SXSW festival has been the same Human Centipede that created this monster in the first place. It was decided before the festival even started that Lady Gaga was a bad fit and "forcing" people to jump through hoops/stand in lines to see one of the biggest artists in the world was somehow less ethical than say, working for a consultant-controlled, corporately-run radio station for instance. Once that narrative was set, it was easy for journalists from the New York Times, Billboard, Esquire and any number of outlets to focus all of their attention on the big names while rolling their eyes and complaining that the discovery element was lost to the corporate madness.
That's a great story, and an easy narrative to weave. It's an especially easy narrative to weave when you're going to all of the corporately sponsored gigs as a VIP and not even trying to go see lesser-known artists. The real problem isn't SXSW per se, it's a question of what is valuable in the music industry. I wait tables to pay my bills and in the service industry we have a phrase we call, "The Verbal Tip." That's when a customer goes out of their way to make eye contact and tell you that everything was great, that the service was fantastic, they can't wait to come back and then you get a 10% or less tip.
As a culture, we have been verbally tipping the music industry since the late 90's. Most people I encounter love to say how they are HUGE music fans and they listen to EVERYTHING. They'll tell you how important this artist, or that album was to their lives or how a key lyric inspired a major change in them. Then they'll tell you how they use the free version of Spotify/Pandora/YouTube/etc. but it's ok because they spent $10 to talk through one of the band's performances one time. Check out the selfie I took, you can see the band in the background because I turned my back to them while they were playing so I could take this photo.
In the weeks and months leading up to SXSW we scour the internet, making sure that our name is on every list for every party. We watch a free performance from a band, whose MP3 we downloaded from Hype Machine, while eating free tacos and drinking free liquor. Then we deride SXSW for being too corporate. We refuse to give our "favorite" bands our own-money then we criticize them for taking money from corporations.
I got heated last week because I saw a tweet from a young lady, whom I am sure is just a doll in person, but she tweeted that SXSW was the worst experience she had ever had as a music journalist. That tweet hit several of my hot buttons. First of all, unless you're using the upside-down triangle, writing pieces that are printed on actual paper maybe you should just keep that "music journalist" proclamation to yourself. Secondly, don't call whatever bullshit events you've been attending "SXSW" unless it's ACTUALLY SXSW. Just because you got on a plane and decided to wing-it in Austin DURING SXSW doesn't mean you can actually write shit about the festival itself. I'm sure your piece on how drunk you got at Willie Nelson's ranch was highly-entertaining and got your site plenty of hits but what are you bringing to the conversation? You came to Austin for SXSW, you left Austin, you drank free moonshine, then you came home. What an excellent piece of music journalism! Thank God you flew all the way from Queens.
That little piece of the conversation seems to be getting pushed toward the way-side lately. A lot of people have a lot of opinions about SXSW and what they are really talking about is all of the parties that happen at the same time. Also, don't complain about the lack of discovery if you're just following the herds. If you're standing in a line that's 100 people long, all you're discovering is last year's hottest artists. If you're a "music journalist" coming to Austin to cover SXSW you might be interested in checking out a SXSW music showcase? Maybe I'm wrong about that though.
I can tell you from my own coverage of the festival this year that the posts that got the most hits for me were the least-journalistic pieces. I wrote 8-10 pieces highlighting "discovery" artists from around the globe, representing a variety of genres and no one gave a single fuck. The piece that received the most attention on this site was the piece that was nothing more than a series of single sentences of imagined dialogue.
I watched full or partial sets (at least three songs) from around fifty bands this year. I went to a variety of venues to see a variety of artists. I went to some day-parties (non-RSVP) but mostly spent time at official showcases. I was able to see a different band every hour, at a different venue, without waiting in any lines several nights running. Out of all of those official showcases I only saw print journalists at one event, that was Perfect Pussy at Red 7 and we all know they were only there because NPR decided they were worth covering so the human centipede of coverage was perpetuated.
My no standing in line, no drinking free drinks policy was tough to maintain. I missed an artist or two that I would like to have seen but I also saw some great artists from all over the globe that weren't even on my radar. The key to my strategy was choosing venues wisely. I LOVE Mohawk and Red 7 but during SXSW that's where the more established artists perform so the venues have more lines and are more crowded. Same goes for Hype Hotel. First of all, they don't acknowledge me as one of their elite bloggers because I don't post free Mp3s on my site. Second of all, as I alluded to earlier in the post I'm not trying to "discover" the most blogged about artists according to some blog-aggregate. Lastly, I love tacos as much as the next guy but isn't the whole "Feed the Beat/Doritos Tacos Locos" the original SXSW shark jump?
The one thing I think we can all agree on, is there needs to be a paradigm shift and it's not going to happen without less verbal tipping. If music is really as important to your life as you claim it is, then you need to attach a value to it. Is it worth $10/month for the paid version of Spotify? Is it worth $20 a week to buy a new record or two? Is it worth the $150-$200 for a SXSW wristband? Is it worth the roughly $300 for an ACL or FunFunFun pass? Is it worth $5 to see 5 local bands at a place like Beerland that gives the artist 100% of the door? If your answer to these questions is no, it's not worth it. Then you have no right to complain about corporate money taking over the music industry. If you don't want your favorite artists to become corporate shills then buy one of their shirts when you see them on the road, grab their CD at your local record shop, start your own blog and help promote your favorite artists.
The last point I want to make has to do with the title of this post. If you've made your career in terrestrial radio, which isn't about discovery of new artists, doesn't pay artists royalties, accepts cash, gifts, and trips from promoters and record labels in exchange for spins then maybe you should cool-it-out with your above-reproach moralism. I look forward to reading your article about how Doritos ruined SXSW in the advertisement-free magazine you work for as well.
Read more!
Most of the major media coverage about this year's SXSW festival has been the same Human Centipede that created this monster in the first place. It was decided before the festival even started that Lady Gaga was a bad fit and "forcing" people to jump through hoops/stand in lines to see one of the biggest artists in the world was somehow less ethical than say, working for a consultant-controlled, corporately-run radio station for instance. Once that narrative was set, it was easy for journalists from the New York Times, Billboard, Esquire and any number of outlets to focus all of their attention on the big names while rolling their eyes and complaining that the discovery element was lost to the corporate madness.
That's a great story, and an easy narrative to weave. It's an especially easy narrative to weave when you're going to all of the corporately sponsored gigs as a VIP and not even trying to go see lesser-known artists. The real problem isn't SXSW per se, it's a question of what is valuable in the music industry. I wait tables to pay my bills and in the service industry we have a phrase we call, "The Verbal Tip." That's when a customer goes out of their way to make eye contact and tell you that everything was great, that the service was fantastic, they can't wait to come back and then you get a 10% or less tip.
As a culture, we have been verbally tipping the music industry since the late 90's. Most people I encounter love to say how they are HUGE music fans and they listen to EVERYTHING. They'll tell you how important this artist, or that album was to their lives or how a key lyric inspired a major change in them. Then they'll tell you how they use the free version of Spotify/Pandora/YouTube/etc. but it's ok because they spent $10 to talk through one of the band's performances one time. Check out the selfie I took, you can see the band in the background because I turned my back to them while they were playing so I could take this photo.
In the weeks and months leading up to SXSW we scour the internet, making sure that our name is on every list for every party. We watch a free performance from a band, whose MP3 we downloaded from Hype Machine, while eating free tacos and drinking free liquor. Then we deride SXSW for being too corporate. We refuse to give our "favorite" bands our own-money then we criticize them for taking money from corporations.
I got heated last week because I saw a tweet from a young lady, whom I am sure is just a doll in person, but she tweeted that SXSW was the worst experience she had ever had as a music journalist. That tweet hit several of my hot buttons. First of all, unless you're using the upside-down triangle, writing pieces that are printed on actual paper maybe you should just keep that "music journalist" proclamation to yourself. Secondly, don't call whatever bullshit events you've been attending "SXSW" unless it's ACTUALLY SXSW. Just because you got on a plane and decided to wing-it in Austin DURING SXSW doesn't mean you can actually write shit about the festival itself. I'm sure your piece on how drunk you got at Willie Nelson's ranch was highly-entertaining and got your site plenty of hits but what are you bringing to the conversation? You came to Austin for SXSW, you left Austin, you drank free moonshine, then you came home. What an excellent piece of music journalism! Thank God you flew all the way from Queens.
That little piece of the conversation seems to be getting pushed toward the way-side lately. A lot of people have a lot of opinions about SXSW and what they are really talking about is all of the parties that happen at the same time. Also, don't complain about the lack of discovery if you're just following the herds. If you're standing in a line that's 100 people long, all you're discovering is last year's hottest artists. If you're a "music journalist" coming to Austin to cover SXSW you might be interested in checking out a SXSW music showcase? Maybe I'm wrong about that though.
I can tell you from my own coverage of the festival this year that the posts that got the most hits for me were the least-journalistic pieces. I wrote 8-10 pieces highlighting "discovery" artists from around the globe, representing a variety of genres and no one gave a single fuck. The piece that received the most attention on this site was the piece that was nothing more than a series of single sentences of imagined dialogue.
I watched full or partial sets (at least three songs) from around fifty bands this year. I went to a variety of venues to see a variety of artists. I went to some day-parties (non-RSVP) but mostly spent time at official showcases. I was able to see a different band every hour, at a different venue, without waiting in any lines several nights running. Out of all of those official showcases I only saw print journalists at one event, that was Perfect Pussy at Red 7 and we all know they were only there because NPR decided they were worth covering so the human centipede of coverage was perpetuated.
My no standing in line, no drinking free drinks policy was tough to maintain. I missed an artist or two that I would like to have seen but I also saw some great artists from all over the globe that weren't even on my radar. The key to my strategy was choosing venues wisely. I LOVE Mohawk and Red 7 but during SXSW that's where the more established artists perform so the venues have more lines and are more crowded. Same goes for Hype Hotel. First of all, they don't acknowledge me as one of their elite bloggers because I don't post free Mp3s on my site. Second of all, as I alluded to earlier in the post I'm not trying to "discover" the most blogged about artists according to some blog-aggregate. Lastly, I love tacos as much as the next guy but isn't the whole "Feed the Beat/Doritos Tacos Locos" the original SXSW shark jump?
The one thing I think we can all agree on, is there needs to be a paradigm shift and it's not going to happen without less verbal tipping. If music is really as important to your life as you claim it is, then you need to attach a value to it. Is it worth $10/month for the paid version of Spotify? Is it worth $20 a week to buy a new record or two? Is it worth the $150-$200 for a SXSW wristband? Is it worth the roughly $300 for an ACL or FunFunFun pass? Is it worth $5 to see 5 local bands at a place like Beerland that gives the artist 100% of the door? If your answer to these questions is no, it's not worth it. Then you have no right to complain about corporate money taking over the music industry. If you don't want your favorite artists to become corporate shills then buy one of their shirts when you see them on the road, grab their CD at your local record shop, start your own blog and help promote your favorite artists.
The last point I want to make has to do with the title of this post. If you've made your career in terrestrial radio, which isn't about discovery of new artists, doesn't pay artists royalties, accepts cash, gifts, and trips from promoters and record labels in exchange for spins then maybe you should cool-it-out with your above-reproach moralism. I look forward to reading your article about how Doritos ruined SXSW in the advertisement-free magazine you work for as well.
Read more!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
SXSW 2014 Film: Pulp
As a brit-pop fan since High School, I was very excited to hear that a documentary about Pulp was premiering at SXSW. I was not prepared for what a great concert film I just saw. I was expecting a film that documented the band members as children and talked about how they formed and all of their milestones but that is not what this film is at all. In a sense the filmmaker assumes you know that stuff and even if you don't it's not really important to the story. The film's focus is on the band's "final" gig, a big hometown show in the industrial city of Sheffield, England. Rather than get caught up in all of the minutia of interviewing schoolyard chums, former roadies and all of that business the filmmaker interviews the people that give the city its character. We meet Pulp fans of varying degrees and we get to know the city that informed the band's sound. The film also shows how the band's music has become so much larger than the band itself. Jarvis Cocker's lyrics have inspired books, classes and any number of enthusiastic choral arrangements.
Without a doubt, Pulp was one of the best contemporary concert films I have ever seen. If you enjoyed the LCD Soundsystem documentary, then you have to see Pulp.
I hate to tell y'all this but the Pulp documentary is only showing ONCE MORE at SXSW but don't fret because you can bet your ass this fine film will return to Austin at some point this year. In the meantime, you can still catch it at 7pm Wednesday night at the Stateside.
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Film: The Possibilities Are Endless
You may already be aware of the singer Edwyn Collins but what you may not know is that he suffered from a serious stroke. The film, The Possibilities Are Endless documents Collins' journey from the debilitating haze of brain trauma back to a more normal existence. Don't be fooled though, this is not your typical music documentary. The filmmakers' goal was to make an artistic film that felt like an extension of songwriting.
Most songwriters don't plainly lay out their message, they reveal it in codes and symbols leaving it up to the listener to create their own interpretations. The Possibilities Are Endless was done in a similar style. Rather than point a camera at a subject and let them speak, the subject's words are matched with beautiful, lyrical images that visually interpret the stories. This isn't a journalistic approach to documentary filmmaking, it's more abstract and emotional. It takes the viewer through the confusion and the fog and the fear and eventually back to the core of the artist, which is his art.
The Possibilities are Endless - Official Trailer
Art has the power to heal and regardless of obstacles, an artist must create art. In spite of everything that life had to throw at Edwyn Collins he remained a true artist and an inspiration. This film doesn't just show us the journey, it walks us down the path.
The Possibilities are Endless screens twice more during the festival. If you don't have official credentials the screening at Village is your best bet for rush tickets.
Tuesday, March 11 | 2:00PM - 3:22PM | Alamo Village
Thursday, March 13 | 7:00PM - 8:22PM | AMC Theater at VCC
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Film:Big Significant Things
Big Significant Things is the sort of film you make in your late 20's when you feel like you'll never do shit with your life and you're scared. At its heart it's a roadtrip film married to a coming of age film but unfortunately it's not a very good film. The themes are highly indentifiable and there were some great acting performances but there was far too much meandering. The protagonist meanders and the story meanders. I get what the film was trying to say but I don't think the filmmaker has developed their filmic vocabulary well enough yet. With that being said, I didn't walk out of this film and I wasn't miserable. I think that it's a very fine first film and that this filmmaker will go on to make great films within the next few years. However, when asked what I thought about this film yesterday after seeing it my response was, "I loved the Title Sequence and the Fonts!" To me, that says it all.
You only have two more chances to see Big Significant Things at SXSW 2014 and one of those chances is 90 minutes from now. So, if this brief review made you want to rush out and see this film, you better get some pants on now.
Sunday, March 9 | 11:00AM - 12:25PM | Alamo Slaughter
Wednesday, March 12 | 4:30PM - 5:55PM | Alamo Ritz 2
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Film: Buzzard
I recognize that the SXSW film, Buzzard isn't for everyone but it's definitely for me. If history is fair, which it's not, Buzzard will be revered in the same way that Slacker was revered as a film that encapsulates the feelings of a generation. This dark-comedy follows a young man who is constantly trying to game a system that has failed him. His job is shit, his apartment is shit, his friends are shit and his decision-making skills are shit. In other words he is me and he is all of my friends. Marty spends the film making selfish decisions and doing his best to avoid their consequences. I don't want to summarize too much because I feel like there are so many great scenes that could be easily spoiled.
Buzzard - Official Trailer
You still have three more chances to see Buzzard at SXSW 2014 but it was also picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope Laboratories so even those of you not at the festival will get the chance to see this film soon.
Sunday, March 9 | 9:45PM - 11:22PM | Alamo Village
Thursday, March 13 | 7:00PM - 8:37PM | Alamo Ritz 1
Friday, March 14 | 7:00PM - 8:37PM | Rollins Theatre at The Long Center
If you're a local without credentials, this evening's screening of Buzzard at Slaughter is your best bet. It'll cost you $10 and you'll have to wait for tickets in the Rush line but I feel like your odds of getting in are fairly decent.
Read more!
Buzzard - Official Trailer
You still have three more chances to see Buzzard at SXSW 2014 but it was also picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope Laboratories so even those of you not at the festival will get the chance to see this film soon.
Sunday, March 9 | 9:45PM - 11:22PM | Alamo Village
Thursday, March 13 | 7:00PM - 8:37PM | Alamo Ritz 1
Friday, March 14 | 7:00PM - 8:37PM | Rollins Theatre at The Long Center
If you're a local without credentials, this evening's screening of Buzzard at Slaughter is your best bet. It'll cost you $10 and you'll have to wait for tickets in the Rush line but I feel like your odds of getting in are fairly decent.
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Film: Documentary Short Program 1
The great thing about a shorts program is the films are short. If it's a good film, it feels even shorter or makes you wish it were full length. If it's not a good film, at least it didn't waste a bunch of your time. There were six shorts in the program I watched at SXSW yesterday. The films varied in their subject matter and length but all of them were at least entertaining. The worst of the six was the shortest and it wasn't bad, it just felt like a web video. My favorite was Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace, which was the longest film in the set but also the most engaging. The subject matter was interesting and the film itself was very well-done. I would most certainly watch a full-length feature about or inspired by the artist Kehinde Wiley.
Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace - Official Trailer video via YouTube
Obviously, I'm a big music nerd so I was excited to see short films about the New Orleans Bounce scene, a DFA Records documentary, and a very short film about kid-metal group Unlocking the Truth. The Unlocking the Truth documentary definitely could have been longer. Since, the group played FunFunFun Fest last year I feel like there is a lot more to their story than what was in the short documentary but I suspect that festival appearance happened after this film was shot.
There was also a documentary about an openly gay baseball player who INVENTED THE HIGH FIVE. Isn't that crazy? Someone was the first person to give a high five and it turns out that dude was gay. As a gay man, I will think of this film whenever I see a Republican giving a high five. I'll think, I wonder if he/she knows how gay that is?
The feature in this program that I have yet to mention was a documentary about Shephard Fairey. I love art documentaries and I think Shephard Fairey is a really interesting person but this really should have been a feature-length documentary. The film makers crammed WAY too much story into this short, which made it feel like a trailer or show about a movie. It either needed more focus or more screen-time.
There are about a billion shorts playing at SXSW and I highly recommend checking them out especially if they're showing at the Topfer, which was very posh.
Read more!
Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace - Official Trailer video via YouTube
Obviously, I'm a big music nerd so I was excited to see short films about the New Orleans Bounce scene, a DFA Records documentary, and a very short film about kid-metal group Unlocking the Truth. The Unlocking the Truth documentary definitely could have been longer. Since, the group played FunFunFun Fest last year I feel like there is a lot more to their story than what was in the short documentary but I suspect that festival appearance happened after this film was shot.
There was also a documentary about an openly gay baseball player who INVENTED THE HIGH FIVE. Isn't that crazy? Someone was the first person to give a high five and it turns out that dude was gay. As a gay man, I will think of this film whenever I see a Republican giving a high five. I'll think, I wonder if he/she knows how gay that is?
The feature in this program that I have yet to mention was a documentary about Shephard Fairey. I love art documentaries and I think Shephard Fairey is a really interesting person but this really should have been a feature-length documentary. The film makers crammed WAY too much story into this short, which made it feel like a trailer or show about a movie. It either needed more focus or more screen-time.
There are about a billion shorts playing at SXSW and I highly recommend checking them out especially if they're showing at the Topfer, which was very posh.
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Film: For Those in Peril
Yesterday, I started my day with a film from a first-time filmmaker. For Those in Peril made its N. American debut at SXSW this year after receiving critical praise at the BAFTAs. The film used a blend of techniques to help the story unfold, mixing a fairy straight-forward narrative with poetic visual interludes to give us further insight into the protagonists state of mind.
The plot deals with a young man who is the only person to survive a commercial fishing boat accident. The film explores the depth and breadth of grief, loss, guilt and blame. This is not a light-hearted romp but it's not really a crier either. This film is a meditation. I can't say that I full understand every moment of For Those in Peril but it's hard to not identify with elements of this very human story. I give the film a B-. It's a great first feature-length and will certainly serve as a calling card for visionary storyteller Paul Wright.
For Those in Peril - Official UK Trailer
There are still three more chances to see For Those in Peril at SXSW 2014, including a screening that starts in two hours! If you're a local without SXSW credentials you could probably still see this film at Village or Slaughter, just look for the Rush Ticket line and be prepared with a ten dollar bill for the cashier.
Sunday, March 9 | 11:00AM - 12:33PM | Alamo Village
Wednesday, March 12 | 2:00PM - 3:33PM | Alamo Ritz 2
Thursday, March 13 | 2:00PM - 3:33PM | Alamo Slaughter
Read more!
Saturday, March 8, 2014
SXSW 2014 Film: Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton (This is Stones Throw Records)
I'm a total sucker for music biographies both fictionalized and documentaries. I'm also a big fan of turn of the century Stones Throw records. So, when I saw that there was going to be a music documentary about Stones Throw at SXSW I made it a top priority.
Lots of times music documentaries can feel like a television show, with the bad voice-overs and the cheesy, dramatic music. This film was nothing like that. It was very consciously put together to reveal a story, complete with Prologue and Chapter titles. There was no voice over and the music supervision was done by Madlib. Also, the title sequence and all of the on-screen graphics were beautiful and completely in-line with the Stones Throw brand.
Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton - Trailer video via YouTube
The problems with this film are the same problems you'll find with any label-sanctioned documentary. There are stories that are left under the surface, without a lot of exploration and there are some topics treated with kid gloves. In other words, it's not the most objective documentary you'll ever see but there are some really great stories.
It goes without saying but the soundtrack to this movie is killer. Not only do I want to go grab it on vinyl right now, I want to go crate digging for some of the amazing early releases featured in the film. I give this film a solid "B". It was interesting, it looked great and it sounded great. To earn an "A" I want interviews with ALL of the label's founders and I want to hear the dirt on Aloe Blacc.
This film screens twice more during SXSW. Check the official listing for more details. Also, next Saturday night the Official Stones Throw Records Showcase is happening at the ND so you can see a grip of the artists featured in this film all on one stage.
Read more!
Friday, March 7, 2014
SXSW 2014 Film: She's Lost Control
This evening I did my first official thing of SXSW, which is to see the film She's Lost Control. This evening was the N. American premiere of the film, which made it's International debut at the Berlin Film Festival. The film's lead character is a sex surrogate. She works with a therapist that deals with men who have various issues with sexual intimacy. The majority of the film is focused on her interactions with one particular client but there is certainly more to the film than that one relationship.
Dealing with themes of control and intimacy we watch what a person will put themselves through under the guise of protecting themselves. She's Lost Control is definitely a festival film, which to me means it takes some time to draw the story out but I felt the performances and the subject matter were strong enough to balance out any issues I might have had with the film's pacing. Overall, I give this film a B+.
Tonight's screening was just the first of four for She's Lost Control and it wouldn't surprise me if this film took home some awards at the end of the festival. If you're in Austin from out of town you're best bet at catching this film is the Thursday, 4pm screening at the Alamo Ritz.
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Preview
"Oh my God, is this the line?"
"Where's the end of this line?"
"This line is SOOO long!"
"Is this the VIP line?"
"Are you a VIP? I'm supposed to be in the VIP line?"
"My name should be on the list!"
"I have an email telling me I'm on the VIP list!"
"What is taking so long?!"
"Is this an RSVP party?"
"Do you know what we're standing in line for?"
"Is this the bathroom line or the drink line?"
"What's the free liquor here?"
"Oh my God! You look just like my friend! You don't know him but you look just like him!"
"What does THAT wristband mean?"
"Oh, I saw them play for like 20 people two years ago."
"Ugggh, this used to be so much cooler!"
"All they have left is the bean burritos! What the fuck?!?"
"This place is lame."
"These people are lame."
"This band is lame."
"WHO IS THIS BAND PLAYING RIGHT NOW?!?!"
"OH. I WANTED TO SEE THEM. THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD."
"WILL YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF ME WITH MY PHONE."
"THAT ONE MAKES ME LOOK FAT, CAN YOU DO ANOTHER ONE?"
"WHERE SHOULD WE GO AFTER THIS?"
"Who else has free beer?"
"It's so hot!"
"It's so cold!"
"What's the hashtag for this party?"
"Did you get in to Rachel Ray? The food was so good!"
"Did you get in to Lady Gaga?"
"Where do we get free Doritos?"
"Pro Tip."
"I'm a pro."
"Trust me, I've been coming here for years."
"$6 Lone Stars? That's ridiculous! I live here! You should have separate prices for locals!"
"They should have separate entrances for locals."
"I'm not cutting, my friend was holding this spot."
"Why is this line moving so slow!?"
"Ugggh! I hate hipsters!"
"Fucking hipsters!"
"Hipsters are ruining SXSW!"
"Iron Works is the best BBQ in Austin!"
"I love the sound of the banjo!"
"I want to learn to play the banjo!"
"That banjo player is so cute!"
"I was going to see this metal band from Myanmar but I got tickets to see Jimmy Kimmel. Snoop Dogg is going to be there!"
"Is it Snoop Dogg now or Snoop Lion?"
"I'm so tired!"
"I'm so hungry!"
"Where are we going?!?"
"Do you have a lighter?"
"Shiner Bock. Is that local?"
"What do you have that's local?"
"Do you have draft beer?"
"What's good? What do the locals get?"
"What's a cool, out-of-the-way place that only locals know about?"
"What's your Twitter?"
"I don't think I have a QR thingy?"
"Do you have a charger?"
"I need to find an outlet!"
"What's the Wi-Fi key?"
"Where's the afterparty?"
"Where's the after-afterparty?"
"Who's the surprise guest at the Fader Fort?"
"How do I get tickets to the Samsung party?"
"Where is Kelis' taco truck?"
"Where can I sit down?"
"Is that too far to walk?"
"How do we get a cab?"
"Do you have a number for a cab?"
"How long ago did you call the cab?!"
"Why won't these cabs stop for us?!?"
"You can't pee behind that dumpster!"
"You can't pee in that alley!"
"You can't pee on that building!"
"Have you seen BAND X yet?!?! They are so good! I think they're playing again, you HAVE to see them!"
"Are you going to Fader this year?"
"Have you been to Fader yet?"
"I got my Fader wristband but I don't know if I'm going to go this year."
"Fader is such a clusterfuck this year, it used to be so much cooler."
"Fader was better when it was west of 35."
"Remember when Kanye played Fader?"
"Remember when Kanye played the power plant?"
"Remember when Prince played at La Zona?"
"Remember when Justin Timberlake was here?"
"Remember when Snoop Dogg was here?"
"Ever notice how that one Lady Gaga song, sounds kind of like that one Madonna song?"
"SXSW was better before."
"I hate Rainey St."
"I hate Dirty 6th."
"I hate the eastside."
"The sound here sucks."
"This venue sucks."
"This free event sucks."
"This band is boring."
"I don't see what all the hype is about."
"Sounds like The Strokes."
"Sounds like Gang of Four."
"Sounds like The Stooges."
"Jumped the shark."
"Andy Langer's Facebook post."
"I saw on Twitter that the line is short over there and they have free Bloody Marys."
"Red Bull."
"Coffee."
"I don't know, someone just handed it to me while I was walking down the street and now I'm ingesting it. It's ok. I probably wouldn't buy it but I'm hungry/thirsty now so..."
"It's free, you just have to tweet about it."
"It's free, you just have to download the app."
"It's free, you just have to give them your e-mail address."
"It's free, you just have to pledge your allegiance to a bag of Funyons."
"It's free, you just walk a block in that direction."
"It's free, you just have to like them on Facebook."
"I just drove here with no plan of attack and no place to stay."
"My friend's lodging fell through and he needs a place to stay, do you know of any cheap places near downtown?"
"My girlfriend and I are thinking about moving here."
"My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving here."
"Well, I'm from L.A. and in L.A...."
"Well in Brooklyn..."
"Do they have ______ in Austin?"
"OMG, THEY DON'T HAVE ______ IN AUSTIN!?!?! _______ is HUGE in San Francisco. I can't believe you don't have _______."
"I thought everyone would be wearing cowboy hats."
"Do people here like Rick Perry?"
"How long does it take to get to Salt Lick?"
"Nope, I missed it."
"Nope, I was in line outside."
"Nope, I didn't hear about it until today."
"So bummed I wasn't there."
"I saw that on Instagram."
"I saw that on Twitter."
"Who have you seen so far?"
"Where are you coming from?"
"Where should I go tonight?"
"Who's going to be there?"
"Who's playing?"
"I don't know, my phone is dead."
"I don't know, I lost my phone."
"I don't know, I don't have any reception."
Read more!
"Where's the end of this line?"
"This line is SOOO long!"
"Is this the VIP line?"
"Are you a VIP? I'm supposed to be in the VIP line?"
"My name should be on the list!"
"I have an email telling me I'm on the VIP list!"
"What is taking so long?!"
"Is this an RSVP party?"
"Do you know what we're standing in line for?"
"Is this the bathroom line or the drink line?"
"What's the free liquor here?"
"Oh my God! You look just like my friend! You don't know him but you look just like him!"
"What does THAT wristband mean?"
"Oh, I saw them play for like 20 people two years ago."
"Ugggh, this used to be so much cooler!"
"All they have left is the bean burritos! What the fuck?!?"
"This place is lame."
"These people are lame."
"This band is lame."
"WHO IS THIS BAND PLAYING RIGHT NOW?!?!"
"OH. I WANTED TO SEE THEM. THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD."
"WILL YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF ME WITH MY PHONE."
"THAT ONE MAKES ME LOOK FAT, CAN YOU DO ANOTHER ONE?"
"WHERE SHOULD WE GO AFTER THIS?"
"Who else has free beer?"
"It's so hot!"
"It's so cold!"
"What's the hashtag for this party?"
"Did you get in to Rachel Ray? The food was so good!"
"Did you get in to Lady Gaga?"
"Where do we get free Doritos?"
"Pro Tip."
"I'm a pro."
"Trust me, I've been coming here for years."
"$6 Lone Stars? That's ridiculous! I live here! You should have separate prices for locals!"
"They should have separate entrances for locals."
"I'm not cutting, my friend was holding this spot."
"Why is this line moving so slow!?"
"Ugggh! I hate hipsters!"
"Fucking hipsters!"
"Hipsters are ruining SXSW!"
"Iron Works is the best BBQ in Austin!"
"I love the sound of the banjo!"
"I want to learn to play the banjo!"
"That banjo player is so cute!"
"I was going to see this metal band from Myanmar but I got tickets to see Jimmy Kimmel. Snoop Dogg is going to be there!"
"Is it Snoop Dogg now or Snoop Lion?"
"I'm so tired!"
"I'm so hungry!"
"Where are we going?!?"
"Do you have a lighter?"
"Shiner Bock. Is that local?"
"What do you have that's local?"
"Do you have draft beer?"
"What's good? What do the locals get?"
"What's a cool, out-of-the-way place that only locals know about?"
"What's your Twitter?"
"I don't think I have a QR thingy?"
"Do you have a charger?"
"I need to find an outlet!"
"What's the Wi-Fi key?"
"Where's the afterparty?"
"Where's the after-afterparty?"
"Who's the surprise guest at the Fader Fort?"
"How do I get tickets to the Samsung party?"
"Where is Kelis' taco truck?"
"Where can I sit down?"
"Is that too far to walk?"
"How do we get a cab?"
"Do you have a number for a cab?"
"How long ago did you call the cab?!"
"Why won't these cabs stop for us?!?"
"You can't pee behind that dumpster!"
"You can't pee in that alley!"
"You can't pee on that building!"
"Have you seen BAND X yet?!?! They are so good! I think they're playing again, you HAVE to see them!"
"Are you going to Fader this year?"
"Have you been to Fader yet?"
"I got my Fader wristband but I don't know if I'm going to go this year."
"Fader is such a clusterfuck this year, it used to be so much cooler."
"Fader was better when it was west of 35."
"Remember when Kanye played Fader?"
"Remember when Kanye played the power plant?"
"Remember when Prince played at La Zona?"
"Remember when Justin Timberlake was here?"
"Remember when Snoop Dogg was here?"
"Ever notice how that one Lady Gaga song, sounds kind of like that one Madonna song?"
"SXSW was better before."
"I hate Rainey St."
"I hate Dirty 6th."
"I hate the eastside."
"The sound here sucks."
"This venue sucks."
"This free event sucks."
"This band is boring."
"I don't see what all the hype is about."
"Sounds like The Strokes."
"Sounds like Gang of Four."
"Sounds like The Stooges."
"Jumped the shark."
"Andy Langer's Facebook post."
"I saw on Twitter that the line is short over there and they have free Bloody Marys."
"Red Bull."
"Coffee."
"I don't know, someone just handed it to me while I was walking down the street and now I'm ingesting it. It's ok. I probably wouldn't buy it but I'm hungry/thirsty now so..."
"It's free, you just have to tweet about it."
"It's free, you just have to download the app."
"It's free, you just have to give them your e-mail address."
"It's free, you just have to pledge your allegiance to a bag of Funyons."
"It's free, you just walk a block in that direction."
"It's free, you just have to like them on Facebook."
"I just drove here with no plan of attack and no place to stay."
"My friend's lodging fell through and he needs a place to stay, do you know of any cheap places near downtown?"
"My girlfriend and I are thinking about moving here."
"My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving here."
"Well, I'm from L.A. and in L.A...."
"Well in Brooklyn..."
"Do they have ______ in Austin?"
"OMG, THEY DON'T HAVE ______ IN AUSTIN!?!?! _______ is HUGE in San Francisco. I can't believe you don't have _______."
"I thought everyone would be wearing cowboy hats."
"Do people here like Rick Perry?"
"How long does it take to get to Salt Lick?"
"Nope, I missed it."
"Nope, I was in line outside."
"Nope, I didn't hear about it until today."
"So bummed I wasn't there."
"I saw that on Instagram."
"I saw that on Twitter."
"Who have you seen so far?"
"Where are you coming from?"
"Where should I go tonight?"
"Who's going to be there?"
"Who's playing?"
"I don't know, my phone is dead."
"I don't know, I lost my phone."
"I don't know, I don't have any reception."
Read more!
SXSW 2014 Preview: SW/MM/NG
Each single SW/MM/NG released last year was better than the last and I liked the first one. The band has been around for several years releasing demos, singles and EPs but they only hit my radar in the fall of last year. With a touch of garage, a dash of psychedelia and enough melody to be a pop band this band will jangle their way into your cold, black heart if you let them. It doesn't look like you'll have too many opportunities to see SW/MM/NG at SXSW but the band is based in Fayettville, which leads me to believe they'll be coming back through Austin several times this year. If I lived in Fayettville I think I would try to be on tour at least 300 days a year.
SW/MM/NG - Some Dreams Come True video via YouTube
Did I say a few chances to catch SW/MM/NG? Well, it looks like there is actually only one and that's their official showcase. If you don't have official SXSW credentials, don't fret. SW/MM/NG's showcase is at Valhalla, which is quite large and I expect the cover will only be around $10 if you don't have official credentials. You can find the full line-up on the Old Flame & Bar/None Records Official SXSW Showcase presented by Revolution Songs Event Page.
Spotify Playlists
Read more!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Doritos Doesn't Present: Saint Pepsi
SXSW film and interactive both start tomorrow, which means today is the unofficial start of the madness. Traffic is starting to thicken and the badge-selfies abound. Social media is abuzz today with the "news" of Lady Gaga appearing inside a 3-dimensional Dooreatoh covered in Stubb's legendary BBQ sauce. You may choose to point your attention at that glorious spectacle on the Thursday evening of SXSW Music or you could check out the Carpark Records showcase. Who knows, one of the artists you see at The Parish Underground Thursday night could be playing from the Takis stage in Stubb's Waller Riverwalk Amphidome at SXSW 2016, at which point you can roll your eyes and be like "Uggh! I hate what SXSW has become. It's like, so corporatized. What's the Snapchat for this party? I want Saint Pepsi to see my privates for 2 seconds. #PepsiStTakis" Or something.
If you have a badge or wristband for SXSW it shouldn't be too difficult to get into this showcase, if you're planning to hop around give yourself a 20 minute pre-set time cushion to anticipate standing in line after 10pm. Part of the reason I'm recommending this particular showcase is for my cash-line people. I expect the cover for this showcase to be around the $10 mark, which is pretty amazing considering you'll get to hear seven incredibly diverse acts in one place.
THE SHOW AT PARISH UNDERGROUND ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13
8pm Saint Pepsi (New York)
8:50pm Greys (Toronto, ON)
9:40pm GRMLN (Los Angeles, CA)
10:30pm Young Magic (New York)
11:20pm TEEN (NYC, NY)
12:10am Speedy Ortiz (Northampton, MA)
1:00am Cloud Nothings (Cleveland, OH)
My reasoning for highlighting Saint Pepsi, specifically in this post is because the whole Pepsi thing, worked with the whole Dorito thing I was trying to work. But also, I really genuinely love every single original track and remix I have heard from this artist. If you can't make it to the Parish Underground for the Carpark Records Showcase, you can also catch Saint Pepsi at the following times and places. It's possible that the saint will be playing more events than three mentioned in this post but that's what I found, so that's what I'm sharing with you.
- Friday, March 14th | Flatstock Stage | Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 4 | 1:40pm
- Friday, March 14th | Kitsune SXSW Showcase | The Madison | 1:00am
Spotify Playlists
Read more!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
SXSW Preview: Solids
I'm sticking with the Canadian band theme today. I didn't know Solids were from Canada when I fell in love with their record. That seems to be a recurring theme in my life. If you're looking for a visceral rock experience then you need to pick up the band's album Blame Confusion and proceed to pogo in your living room. It's like unearthing an early 90's college rock record that would fit perfectly in a set with Yo La Tengo or Dinosaur Jr.
I have yet to see Solids in-person but I am particularly excited for that opportunity. The amount of energy they managed to commit to tape for their recordings is incredible and I have a feeling it's going to be all the more impressive in a live setting.
Solids - Haze Away video via YouTube
I feel like I don't really have a gage for how much buzz this band has because I'm so enamored with them myself. In my mind, they are one of the most sought-after acts of the festival but upon further inspection it looks like they have two unofficial gigs and one official gig.
Solids' official showcase is at Maggie Mae's on Thursday the 13th. The band goes on at midnight, right after No Joy as part of the M for Montreal showcase. I'm kind of surprised that they're not playing a Fat Possum showcase but for all I know, that's not a thing.
The unofficial events where you'll find Solids are both seriously kick-ass. Thursday during the day they play The Midgetmen's Jumpstart Texas at Side Bar. Their set at Side Bar will be followed by sets from Speedy Ortiz and Diarrhea Planet so, yeah this party is worth looking into. Click the link to RSVP.
The only other shot at catching Solids during SXSW 2014 is the Exploding in Sound Records party on Friday up at Hole in the Wall. This party is north of downtown so, you'll kind of have to commit to it for several hours but there are lots of great bands on the bill. Check here for the full line-up.
Spotify Playlists
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SXSW 2014 Preview: Seoul
For all of the artists I'm featuring in these individual posts this year, I fell in love with them blindly. That's not to say that all of these artists are "unknown" but they were largely unknown to me before I started listening to samples from all of the artists on the official SXSW showcasing artist listings. Just like last year, I ended up falling in love with a lot of Canadians. Maybe it's because I'm originally from Maine but apparently I'm drawn to sounds produced in Canada.
Montreal band Seoul describe themselves as "...an ambient-pop aggregate..." and who am I to disagree with them? You won't find their music on any of my Spotify playlists, as they do not have any songs on Spotify. I know, it's shocking but don't worry you lovers of streaming music you can still hear Stay With Us on Soundcloud. As far as I can tell the group has only released one song but that four minutes of smoothed-out, stoner-disco is all I need to convince me to see Seoul while they're in Austin.
Seoul - Stay With Us video via YouTube
I did some extra scouring of the internet to make sure I am right on this but it looks like you will only have two shots to see Seoul during SXSW. The band's official showcase is Friday, March 14th at the Velveeta Room. They play the first set of the Pop Montreal Showcase, which will also feature Jessy Lanza later in the evening.
If you're going the free route and/or you don't want to commit to a 7:45pm showcase at the Velveeta Room, Seoul are playing the Pop Montreal Day Party on the Thursday the 13th. The day party has an RSVP so click that link back there if you want to attend.
If you're thinking of paying your way into the official showcase on Friday night, I would venture to guess the cover at Velveeta Room will actually be under $10. Last year was my first time setting foot inside that place and I was really pleasantly surprised. It's a very intimate space, shaped like a rectangle with a small stage in one corner. If you're going the cash route, arrive early enough to see Seoul but don't leave before Jessy Lanza because that room is going to get packed-out with badges about an hour before her set and you'll never get back in.
Read more!
Montreal band Seoul describe themselves as "...an ambient-pop aggregate..." and who am I to disagree with them? You won't find their music on any of my Spotify playlists, as they do not have any songs on Spotify. I know, it's shocking but don't worry you lovers of streaming music you can still hear Stay With Us on Soundcloud. As far as I can tell the group has only released one song but that four minutes of smoothed-out, stoner-disco is all I need to convince me to see Seoul while they're in Austin.
Seoul - Stay With Us video via YouTube
I did some extra scouring of the internet to make sure I am right on this but it looks like you will only have two shots to see Seoul during SXSW. The band's official showcase is Friday, March 14th at the Velveeta Room. They play the first set of the Pop Montreal Showcase, which will also feature Jessy Lanza later in the evening.
If you're going the free route and/or you don't want to commit to a 7:45pm showcase at the Velveeta Room, Seoul are playing the Pop Montreal Day Party on the Thursday the 13th. The day party has an RSVP so click that link back there if you want to attend.
If you're thinking of paying your way into the official showcase on Friday night, I would venture to guess the cover at Velveeta Room will actually be under $10. Last year was my first time setting foot inside that place and I was really pleasantly surprised. It's a very intimate space, shaped like a rectangle with a small stage in one corner. If you're going the cash route, arrive early enough to see Seoul but don't leave before Jessy Lanza because that room is going to get packed-out with badges about an hour before her set and you'll never get back in.
Spotify Playlists
Read more!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
SXSW 2014 Preview: Wet
SXSW showcasing artist, Wet makes pop music but it's not the music for the party and unless you live in England, you probably won't hear it on the radio. This is music for the after-party. It's pop but it's minimal, dreary pop. Pop music for a rainy day, or a wet day if you will. I would say those of you who enjoy London Grammar or Chvrches will probably want to check out Wet. So far, all they have out is a self-titled EP but I have a feeling there is a major label deal on the horizon. This isn't the next Lady Gaga or anything but England and AAA radio are going to go bonkers for this band. Also, their EP is out on Neon Gold Records, which has a pretty good reputation for making baby pop-bands into big pop-bands.
I have not seen Wet perform so, I'll be interested to see if they have any stage presence. Their official showcase takes place at Empire Auto on Saturday, March 15th. Their set will be in between a set from Tove Lo and a set from Haerts. If you like any one of these artists and you don't have official SXSW credentials, I recommend you get in the cash line outside Empire Auto early because your odds of getting in for around $10-$15 are pretty good if you get there around 7:00ish. If you have official credentials, check out the line-up for both the Neon Gold Showcase and the IHEARTCOMIX showcase, the venues are attached.
You don't have to wait for the last night of SXSW to see a set from Wet. They play Day 2 of the Spotify House on Tuesday the 11th. You can also find them on the Mohawk's inside stage on Friday the 14th for The Windish Agency and House of Vans Annual Day Party at 3:30p. Both of these parties are free with RSVP but they are also on the this official music party list so, if you have SXSW credentials you don't need to RSVP.
Spotify Playlists
photo credit: Wyn Herrick
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Monday, March 3, 2014
SXSW2014: What to Bring
Whether you are a SXSW veteran or newcomer, whether you're going Platinum (like Kid Rock) or totally free (like Freedom Rock(Turn it up)), there are lots of things you're going to want to have on or near your person at all times. How much you carry sort of depends on what sort of person you are. I'm sure you could survive the entire festival armed with nothing more than some form of government issued ID. Personally, I would have a panic attack if I wasn't more prepared than that.
When I head downtown for SXSW, I don't really see my apartment again for at least 18 hours. That means, I have to be prepared for a variety of situations. Those of you who are veterans to the festival already know that there are going to be a lot of people trying to give you a lot of things that vary in their usefulness and desirability. Free Mophie Juice Pack if I tweet using your hashtag? Yes please! Free frisbee with your App's logo on it? I'm sorry sir, you no longer exist in my universe. Goodbye. Oh, and you can fuck right off with that flyer. Don't even try it!
I've broken things into three categories. Remember when you went to Summer Camp and you got that list of things to bring? I used to love those lists. The first list is your Must Haves. Now, admittedly the concept of a must have is very subjective so, let's assume that you're me for the purposes of this list. This is what you as me have to have. Ideally, we can cram all or most of what's on this list into a small messenger back or even fanny pack. That's right, I'm suggesting you wear a fanny pack. They're handy!
I broke-up sunglasses, sunscreen and hat on my must-have but really you just need some combination of those things and that's mostly for those of you hitting the day-party scene. However, even if you're doing SXSW film there will be times in which you're standing in line in the sun so remember sun protection. Also, you're going to have your phone and charger with you but consider it a bonus if you find someplace to plug in your phone and/or you have cell-service. That's also the reason I suggest you have an analog information source. Don't presume you're going to be able to access digital information on your phone. Even if you have downloaded pdf files or screen-captured the info you want, your phone may die before you get to use that information.
I made sure to include food on the must-have list this year because it's easy to lose track of food consumption during the festival. When you're creating your daily schedule allow a couple of hour-long breaks for food. You're going to need something to soak up all of that alcohol. Austin's bus system is cheap and easy to use but it's going to be overcrowded and running WAY off schedule. Plan ahead, learn the routes that will get you to and from your bed and downtown. We have cabs, and Car2Go and Uber and all that but learning the bus is a great safety net in case all of those other options fail. Check out CapMetro online now. Access to bicycles is also outrageously handy during SXSW but it can be tough to find a spot to lock it up. This year we also have the option of the Austin B Bike. It's new to our city so I haven't tried it yet but I have a feeling I'm going to be taking advantage of this new service at some point during the festival.
The it'd be nice list is pretty self-explanatory. These are things that make the day a little bit nicer. The spare socks can be especially refreshing. I almost added "some form of portable seat" to this list because that's the one thing I'm always on the hunt for, someplace to put my ass. However, I feel like if I were in a crowded bar/venue and someone hit me with one of those folding stools while walking by, I might freak out on them. With that being said, I know that there will be a point next week when I'm standing in line fantasizing about one of those stupid camping stools.
The don't haves list is mostly selfish and I admit the use of tenses and phrasing is suspect at best. However, each of these points is based on real life experience. Each one of these items made the list because I've seen people doing these things and it really harshes my mellow. I accept that I will have to deal with most of these violations and I will accept them in that moment but if this post prevents even one person from wearing Jelly Shoes then my job is done.
Read more!
When I head downtown for SXSW, I don't really see my apartment again for at least 18 hours. That means, I have to be prepared for a variety of situations. Those of you who are veterans to the festival already know that there are going to be a lot of people trying to give you a lot of things that vary in their usefulness and desirability. Free Mophie Juice Pack if I tweet using your hashtag? Yes please! Free frisbee with your App's logo on it? I'm sorry sir, you no longer exist in my universe. Goodbye. Oh, and you can fuck right off with that flyer. Don't even try it!
I've broken things into three categories. Remember when you went to Summer Camp and you got that list of things to bring? I used to love those lists. The first list is your Must Haves. Now, admittedly the concept of a must have is very subjective so, let's assume that you're me for the purposes of this list. This is what you as me have to have. Ideally, we can cram all or most of what's on this list into a small messenger back or even fanny pack. That's right, I'm suggesting you wear a fanny pack. They're handy!
Must Haves
- Government-Issued ID Card
- Smartphone
- Hand Sanitizer
- Tissues/Napkins/Paper Towels
- Handkerchief
- Phone Charger
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Comfortable Shoes
- Analog Information Source
- Cash ($1's & $5's for tipping)
- Mints/Gum etc.
- Earplugs (to muffle the people talking around you)
- A General Sense of Appreciation and Awe
- Food
- Bus Pass/Bus Knowledge
I broke-up sunglasses, sunscreen and hat on my must-have but really you just need some combination of those things and that's mostly for those of you hitting the day-party scene. However, even if you're doing SXSW film there will be times in which you're standing in line in the sun so remember sun protection. Also, you're going to have your phone and charger with you but consider it a bonus if you find someplace to plug in your phone and/or you have cell-service. That's also the reason I suggest you have an analog information source. Don't presume you're going to be able to access digital information on your phone. Even if you have downloaded pdf files or screen-captured the info you want, your phone may die before you get to use that information.
I made sure to include food on the must-have list this year because it's easy to lose track of food consumption during the festival. When you're creating your daily schedule allow a couple of hour-long breaks for food. You're going to need something to soak up all of that alcohol. Austin's bus system is cheap and easy to use but it's going to be overcrowded and running WAY off schedule. Plan ahead, learn the routes that will get you to and from your bed and downtown. We have cabs, and Car2Go and Uber and all that but learning the bus is a great safety net in case all of those other options fail. Check out CapMetro online now. Access to bicycles is also outrageously handy during SXSW but it can be tough to find a spot to lock it up. This year we also have the option of the Austin B Bike. It's new to our city so I haven't tried it yet but I have a feeling I'm going to be taking advantage of this new service at some point during the festival.
It'd Be Nice to Haves
- Spare Socks
- Extra Phone Battery
- Clean, Empty, Refillable Water Bottle
- Hand Lotion
- Emory Board
- Eyeglasses Clean Cloth
- Nail Clippers
- Tooth Flossers
- Lots of Cash
- Kindle/Analog Book
- Deodorant (Non-melting)
- Travel-Size Mouthwash
The it'd be nice list is pretty self-explanatory. These are things that make the day a little bit nicer. The spare socks can be especially refreshing. I almost added "some form of portable seat" to this list because that's the one thing I'm always on the hunt for, someplace to put my ass. However, I feel like if I were in a crowded bar/venue and someone hit me with one of those folding stools while walking by, I might freak out on them. With that being said, I know that there will be a point next week when I'm standing in line fantasizing about one of those stupid camping stools.
Don't Haves
- Jelly Shoes
- Sandals (Even super-cute ones)
- White Girl-Wasted in Daylight
- General Disregard for Your Fellow Human/The Planet
- Cell Phone Photos Using Flash
- Cell Phone Video Shot Whilst Dancing
- Selfies With Your Back to the Band
- Conversations in Front of the Stage While the Band is Performing
- Dudes With Ponytails
- A Lack of Tip Money for Bartenders/Waitstaff
The don't haves list is mostly selfish and I admit the use of tenses and phrasing is suspect at best. However, each of these points is based on real life experience. Each one of these items made the list because I've seen people doing these things and it really harshes my mellow. I accept that I will have to deal with most of these violations and I will accept them in that moment but if this post prevents even one person from wearing Jelly Shoes then my job is done.
Spotify Playlists
Read more!
Sunday, March 2, 2014
SXSW: RSVP for Nothing
This post is bound to elicit some negative reactions and I'm totally ok with that. SXSW is on the horizon and if that doesn't induce a mild panic attack then I can't even talk to you right now. Most of us are freaking out because we still aren't ready, or at least we don't think we're ready. We never think we're ready and you know what? We're right. No matter how many times you go, or how much planning you do, you are never ready for SXSW. You can plan your ass off but I guarantee something will come up that throws a wrench in the works. Whether that means the event you were planing to attend is full, or running behind, or you missed your bus, or broke a heel. Something is going to fuck up your plans. So, have three plans and be flexible.
This year, I am armed with a music wristband, a film badge and a sense of entitlement. That is why my goal is to RSVP to as little as possible. For those of you who have been keeping track of me and/or this blog over the years you know that this is a sea change that has been in the works for a few years. My first few SXSW festivals I participated in strictly free events, just as many of you are planning to do. I am not judging those of you who enjoy all that SXSW has to offer free of charge and chances are I'll be joining you for some of these events. However, my goal is to avoid the things that are giving my favorite festival a bad reputation. Namely, outrageously corporate events that have little-to-nothing to do with the festival itself. They entice you with free booze and they might have a stage with bands you like but if you're there to hear the band perform, you're in the minority. Even some of the most well-intentioned events fall prey to spring break syndrome. Honestly, how can I expect a tent full of people plied with free domestic beer to listen to an intimate set from Inc.? That's not gonna happen.
So, rather than get angry about the crowd, or the event, I'm just not going to go. Also, as I mentioned I have official SXSW wristband, which means I don't have to RSVP to the biggest parties anyway. That's right, if you check the OFFICIAL SXSW website you'll notice that Spotify House, House of Vans and several other big day parties are listed. That means if you have official credentials you ain't got to RSVP to that shit. I honestly don't know what that means in terms of your free alcohol consumption but maybe you could focus on the music instead of the booze? Just kidding, that's crazy talk.
Here's what I propose for those of you who don't have official SXSW credentials. Go to the official SXSW website and pick three showcases each day that interest you. Now look at your top 3 selections and narrow them down by artist and venue. Ask yourself, are these top tier bands? If you answered yes, then just cross that showcase off your list. Trust me when I tell you that you're not buying into the Pitchfork showcase at Central Presbyterian Church and you're not buying into the NPR showcase at Stubb's. Also, if you're hoping to buy your way into the iTunes Festival shows you can just fuck right off. The next thing to consider once you've picked your three favorite showcases for the day, find the showcase that features THE MOST bands you want to see. Chances are you're not going to be familiar with every band on every showcase but hopefully you find one with at least three bands that excite you. The next step is arrive at the venue early. In years past, when I didn't have official credentials I would usually walk from a day party, to someplace with easily portable food, take that food to the official venue and eat in line.
When you arrive at the venue you should see some volunteers near the door. Ask the volunteers which line is the cash line. Each venue, whether it be music or film should have three lines. The badge line, the wristband/film pass line, and the cash line. They will let everyone in the badge line enter, then the wristband line, then the cash line. These lines will continue to form and re-form over and over all night. So, if you're in the cash line before the doors open you're chances of getting in the venue before a new badge line forms are pretty good. Occasionally, you will arrive at the venue before the volunteers arrive, in this instance be prepared to direct strangers and form your own lines. If you act like you know what you're doing, people will believe you. As new people arrive tell them which line is which and they will follow suite.
As I mentioned, both music and film events have cash lines but I can tell you from experience that it is MUCH harder to buy your way into films. If you're interested in the film festival and you would like to purchase tickets to individual screenings, my advice to you is stay away from downtown. Your best bet for buying into film screenings is to head to Alamo Slaughter, Alamo Village, or the Marchesa Theater near the Highland Mall. These theaters are harder for tourists to find and many of them are showing encore screenings of films that already played the Paramount, Ritz or Stateside theaters. If you're hoping to buy your way into the Wes Anderson screening or the premiere of the Veronica Mars movie, I can tell you right now that you're not getting in. I suspect those particular screenings are going to be tough to get into even if you have a Film Pass.
Is anyone still reading? Well, if you are I appreciate that fact and I hope you are inspired to attend at least one official SXSW event this year. Don't get caught up in the hype, don't be enticed by celebrity or alcohol, think about the goal of the festival. Discover new music, watch indie-cinema, don't say the word "synergy". Don't worry, I'll have lots more pre-coverage this coming week including the always popular SXSW survival bag.
*UPDATE*
I just want to make it explicitly clear that I don't think every event with free stuff isn't worth your time. I will definitely be consuming my fair share of free stuff. I'm just saying that the official showcases are a superior experience and that if you really love SXSW you might enjoy the ACTUAL FESTIVAL as much as all of the parasitic, free events that surround it.
Read more!
This year, I am armed with a music wristband, a film badge and a sense of entitlement. That is why my goal is to RSVP to as little as possible. For those of you who have been keeping track of me and/or this blog over the years you know that this is a sea change that has been in the works for a few years. My first few SXSW festivals I participated in strictly free events, just as many of you are planning to do. I am not judging those of you who enjoy all that SXSW has to offer free of charge and chances are I'll be joining you for some of these events. However, my goal is to avoid the things that are giving my favorite festival a bad reputation. Namely, outrageously corporate events that have little-to-nothing to do with the festival itself. They entice you with free booze and they might have a stage with bands you like but if you're there to hear the band perform, you're in the minority. Even some of the most well-intentioned events fall prey to spring break syndrome. Honestly, how can I expect a tent full of people plied with free domestic beer to listen to an intimate set from Inc.? That's not gonna happen.
So, rather than get angry about the crowd, or the event, I'm just not going to go. Also, as I mentioned I have official SXSW wristband, which means I don't have to RSVP to the biggest parties anyway. That's right, if you check the OFFICIAL SXSW website you'll notice that Spotify House, House of Vans and several other big day parties are listed. That means if you have official credentials you ain't got to RSVP to that shit. I honestly don't know what that means in terms of your free alcohol consumption but maybe you could focus on the music instead of the booze? Just kidding, that's crazy talk.
Here's what I propose for those of you who don't have official SXSW credentials. Go to the official SXSW website and pick three showcases each day that interest you. Now look at your top 3 selections and narrow them down by artist and venue. Ask yourself, are these top tier bands? If you answered yes, then just cross that showcase off your list. Trust me when I tell you that you're not buying into the Pitchfork showcase at Central Presbyterian Church and you're not buying into the NPR showcase at Stubb's. Also, if you're hoping to buy your way into the iTunes Festival shows you can just fuck right off. The next thing to consider once you've picked your three favorite showcases for the day, find the showcase that features THE MOST bands you want to see. Chances are you're not going to be familiar with every band on every showcase but hopefully you find one with at least three bands that excite you. The next step is arrive at the venue early. In years past, when I didn't have official credentials I would usually walk from a day party, to someplace with easily portable food, take that food to the official venue and eat in line.
When you arrive at the venue you should see some volunteers near the door. Ask the volunteers which line is the cash line. Each venue, whether it be music or film should have three lines. The badge line, the wristband/film pass line, and the cash line. They will let everyone in the badge line enter, then the wristband line, then the cash line. These lines will continue to form and re-form over and over all night. So, if you're in the cash line before the doors open you're chances of getting in the venue before a new badge line forms are pretty good. Occasionally, you will arrive at the venue before the volunteers arrive, in this instance be prepared to direct strangers and form your own lines. If you act like you know what you're doing, people will believe you. As new people arrive tell them which line is which and they will follow suite.
As I mentioned, both music and film events have cash lines but I can tell you from experience that it is MUCH harder to buy your way into films. If you're interested in the film festival and you would like to purchase tickets to individual screenings, my advice to you is stay away from downtown. Your best bet for buying into film screenings is to head to Alamo Slaughter, Alamo Village, or the Marchesa Theater near the Highland Mall. These theaters are harder for tourists to find and many of them are showing encore screenings of films that already played the Paramount, Ritz or Stateside theaters. If you're hoping to buy your way into the Wes Anderson screening or the premiere of the Veronica Mars movie, I can tell you right now that you're not getting in. I suspect those particular screenings are going to be tough to get into even if you have a Film Pass.
Is anyone still reading? Well, if you are I appreciate that fact and I hope you are inspired to attend at least one official SXSW event this year. Don't get caught up in the hype, don't be enticed by celebrity or alcohol, think about the goal of the festival. Discover new music, watch indie-cinema, don't say the word "synergy". Don't worry, I'll have lots more pre-coverage this coming week including the always popular SXSW survival bag.
*UPDATE*
I just want to make it explicitly clear that I don't think every event with free stuff isn't worth your time. I will definitely be consuming my fair share of free stuff. I'm just saying that the official showcases are a superior experience and that if you really love SXSW you might enjoy the ACTUAL FESTIVAL as much as all of the parasitic, free events that surround it.
Read more!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Review: Angel Olsen at Red 7
The buzz behind Angel Olsen has been building steadily surrounding the release of her latest record, Burn Your Fire For No Witness. Angel is not new to the indie scene by any means but it seems audiences have finally caught up to her sonically. Like many contemporary indie artists, it is almost impossible to nail down what genre she plays and I'm sure that's just the way she likes it. Contemporary musicians live in the same iPod universe you live in and they listen to a huge array of musical styles just like you, and the best of these musicians have found a way to acknowledge their many influences without merely ape-ing them. I could hear Grace Slick, Loretta Lynn and Ronnie Spector in Angel Olsen's songs last night. As a performer she is absolutely captivating, she has that quality in which each audience member feels as though they are being personally serenaded.
Angel Olsen - Hi-Five video via YouTube
Before leaving my apartment last night I was dreading a disrespectful audience. I knew that there was a lot of buzz surrounding Angel Olsen, which means there are a lot of people who will want to say they were there who might not actually care about listening. I haven't listened to a lot of songs from Angel but I knew that the arrangements were delicate and that there would be lots of quiet moments during the performance. Luckily, the audience last night was incredibly reverent. I'm not saying that it was pin-drop quiet and that's not what I expect but people weren't yelling over the music about completely inane matters. For the most part the sold-out crowd just stared, trying to catch all of the lyrics as the dark, brooding music swelled. There was a moment during the last song in which a dude started shouting at someone who was apparently trying to quiet down their section of the crowd. The yelling dude kept saying that the shoosher was the rude one for scolding everyone around them. The outburst was HIGHLY noticeable and it made Angel Olsen visibly uncomfortable. She continued performing her song but that song turned out to be the last one with no encore, which the audience was DEFINITELY waiting for. Even when the houselights finally came up, at least a third of the crowd stood in place staring at the stage in hopes of hearing another tune.
Part of my logic for going out to Red 7 last night was to see Angel Olsen before SXSW so that I wouldn't have to take time during the festival to see her. That may sound odd to those of you who don't attend SXSW but for my fellow veterans, you get me. I know that most of you reading this were not at the show last night and you WILL be going to SXSW so I can tell you that the hype is substantiated. Angel Olsen is not famous for being pretty, or popular because the cool blogs said she is, she is the real deal. This is a performer with star quality, who writes beautiful, haunting music and she is backed by an incredibly solid and versatile group of musicians.
In other words, I highly recommend her as an artist to watch during SXSW however, I have to add some caveats. Angel Olsen has two official showcases during the festival and those are the only events that will do her act justice. If you're planning to see her during some drunken day-party in a parking lot filled with people grappling for free, domestic, light beers then just don't. Also, I expect that Angel will be playing the summer festival circuit and I think that's great for her and that she will win new fans that way but that is not the ideal environment for her music either. You want to see Angel Olsen in an environment that encourages rapt attention. Ideally, you will see her Friday night Pitchfork showcase performance at the Central Presbyterian Church. That will be her first official showcase THAT NIGHT, then she will play again at Red Eyed Fly the very same evening.
I just wanted to add that I had mentioned to a friend last night that both Angel Olsen and Jess Williamson have that haunted country quality that I love about T-Bone Burnett produced music. Then after Angel's first song, while she was changing the tuning of her guitar she asked the audience if they've been watching True Detective. I thought that was funny because T-Bone is the music supervisor for that show and Angel Olsen's music would fit perfectly in the show tonally. Turns out Angel is fixated on the paper dolls that Matthew McConaughey's character constructs out of Lone Star cans. But that is neither here nor there.
Read more!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
SXSW 2013 Wrap-Up Vibes: Bloggy Is Snobby
SXSW is what you make of it. It's that simple. I've seen lots of post-festival coverage railing against the corporate-vibes, the platinum-artist-vibes and the festival's authenticity. To which I say, that's your fault. You don't jump through all of the hoops to get into the Justin Timberlake show then complain about how it's detracting from the focus of the festival. You jumped through the hoops, you stood in lines, you wasted an entire day of the festival to get your ass in that door. Accept that you ruined it for yourself and move on.
So, before you ask or wonder, no I didn't see: Usher, Justin Timberlake, Green Day, Prince, Third Eye Blind, Dave Grohl or even Local Natives. I spent my SXSW at smaller events, trying to catch up-and-coming and/or under-discovered artists. I snobbed-the-fuck out and I am SO happy that I did. I'm proud of all of you for getting to share intimate experiences with multi-platinum selling artists but I was watching bands who are hungry. I'm sure Justin Timberlake put on a great show but that motherfucker is far from hungry. He is about as well-fed as you can get and he doesn't need any of my time, money or attention now or ever. Of course I'd love to see Prince in a venue the size of La Zona Rosa and I invite him to do another pop-up show in our fair city any other time of the year he chooses but SXSW is my time to see International acts in tiny clubs. So, I'm going to focus on that.
D I A N A - Born Again video via YouTube
Just like last year, I did a blend of day-parties and official showcases at night. Each year I become more disillusioned with day-parties and unofficial events though. There are always bands I want to see who are playing the parasitic events surrounding the festival and I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Then, after standing in horrifically long, sweaty lines amongst people who should have been aborted, I get into an overcrowded space surrounded by drunken assholes who couldn't care less about what's happening on the stage.
I adore the band, Inc. and I think they have released one of the best records of 2013 so, when I saw they were playing the Fader Fort I planned my day around their set time. Sadly, they started around 5pm which means the crowd had already indulged on free alcohol for several hours and they couldn't care less about Inc.. Even with my earplugs and intense focus it was difficult to enjoy the set surrounded by 1000's of drunken neanderthals.
This brings me to another point, which is that the sound-mix at most of these unofficial events is reprehensible. Fader Fort is known for bringing out big or up-and-coming hip-hop acts so, their sound design is set up to have a HUGE low-end. This means that a band like Inc. sounded completely muddy and out-of-balance. This problem is not exclusive to Fader or day-parties in general. Lots of the sound during SXSW sucks ass and it's not entirely the fault of the sound engineer. Sometimes it's the equipment, sometimes it's the space, sometimes it's the band itself. If you're playing in a tiny room and your guitar amps are mic'd then you don't need to crank the amps up. If you have your amp on 8, then you stick a mic connected to the PA in front of it, do you think anyone's going to be able to hear the vocal? If you answered yes to this question, you're wrong.
So, let's get to the point shall we? We all know that no one has the attention span to read all of these words regardless of how much I enjoy writing them so, here's ten artists that made 2013 one of my best SXSW festivals to date:
Some of these artists, like Orthy and Caveman I had seen before and I was pre-disposed to like. Others I had listened to extensively but had not seen perform and a couple I didn't expect to be good ended up completely blowing me away.
When people ask me, who was my favorite act this year I tell them without hesitation that it was Diana. I had only heard one song from Diana and it's good but the recording doesn't give you any indication how spectacular they are live. This band hails from Canada and features zero members named "Diana." I saw them at Empire Control Room Wednesday night and it was one of the most magical experiences of my life. This band is the reason I love SXSW. Each year there is at least one set that gives me an epiphany moment and I find myself contemplating what I can do to make this band famous. Diana was the first band to trigger that irrational thought-process this year and they became the high mark that all other sets had to live up to. I can't even describe what was so arresting about their set other than to say it was visceral, it was groovy and it was the coolest.
Blue Hawaii was the other band that truly blew me away this year. Dan from End of an Ear had suggested I listen to them because he is a fantastic record-shop owner and he knew I would like them based on other things I've purchased. When I listened to the record I wasn't really impressed. I thought their name was too precious and their music was too sterile. I popped in to catch their set at Swan Dive on a whim. Their soundcheck was truly bizarre as these two figures shared a mic to communicate with the sound-engineer trying to tweak their sound until it was just right. As their set started I wasn't immediately drawn in. The thing that really got me about Blue Hawaii is how primal it is. It's almost as if you don't notice the song at first but before you know it you're entranced and dancing uncontrollably. Their set progressed like a fantastic DJ set, with the whole thing building toward a mid-set climax that had the entire room screaming, jumping, dancing and clapping. By the end of the set the crowd erupted, cheering, clapping and screaming for more. Those of us who were at Swan Dive for Blue Hawaii Friday night truly shared a moment and I can not WAIT to see this band again.
Since my SXSW was so highly curated, I had very few low-lights. I did my research before hand and I wrote out an achievable plan each day. I saw many of the artists I wanted to see and didn't waste a lot of time moving between venues or standing in lines. The only major exception to this was seeing Brooke Candy. Somehow, I had never heard of this person and my world was better then. I arrived too early for XXYYXX and was subjected to this fake, plastic bitch. At first I was enjoying the incredibly shallow songs I was hearing and then I started to really look at the stage. I noticed that Brooke was barely even trying to mime along to the tracks. Basically, the audience was "treated" to Brooke's songs being played from a laptop as she stalked around the stage looking like some sort of Mad Max prostitute with a Mic in her hand mostly for show. Her songs professed her realness while everything about her and her performance stood in stark contrast to that message. Do not support this fake-ass, art-school-project, faux-feminist, Daddy-didn't-give-me-enough-attention BULLSHIT! I would have preferred a performance from Brooke Hogan to a performance from Brooke Candy.
So, there you have it. If you get the chance to see any of the ten artists I highlighted above I STRONGLY URGE you to do so. Conversely, if someone tries to get you to attend a "performance" from my one low-light artist tell them you'd rather contract an STI. I had lots of fun with Instagram at SXSW this year so you can find some fun pictures over there.
Read more!
So, before you ask or wonder, no I didn't see: Usher, Justin Timberlake, Green Day, Prince, Third Eye Blind, Dave Grohl or even Local Natives. I spent my SXSW at smaller events, trying to catch up-and-coming and/or under-discovered artists. I snobbed-the-fuck out and I am SO happy that I did. I'm proud of all of you for getting to share intimate experiences with multi-platinum selling artists but I was watching bands who are hungry. I'm sure Justin Timberlake put on a great show but that motherfucker is far from hungry. He is about as well-fed as you can get and he doesn't need any of my time, money or attention now or ever. Of course I'd love to see Prince in a venue the size of La Zona Rosa and I invite him to do another pop-up show in our fair city any other time of the year he chooses but SXSW is my time to see International acts in tiny clubs. So, I'm going to focus on that.
D I A N A - Born Again video via YouTube
Just like last year, I did a blend of day-parties and official showcases at night. Each year I become more disillusioned with day-parties and unofficial events though. There are always bands I want to see who are playing the parasitic events surrounding the festival and I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Then, after standing in horrifically long, sweaty lines amongst people who should have been aborted, I get into an overcrowded space surrounded by drunken assholes who couldn't care less about what's happening on the stage.
I adore the band, Inc. and I think they have released one of the best records of 2013 so, when I saw they were playing the Fader Fort I planned my day around their set time. Sadly, they started around 5pm which means the crowd had already indulged on free alcohol for several hours and they couldn't care less about Inc.. Even with my earplugs and intense focus it was difficult to enjoy the set surrounded by 1000's of drunken neanderthals.
This brings me to another point, which is that the sound-mix at most of these unofficial events is reprehensible. Fader Fort is known for bringing out big or up-and-coming hip-hop acts so, their sound design is set up to have a HUGE low-end. This means that a band like Inc. sounded completely muddy and out-of-balance. This problem is not exclusive to Fader or day-parties in general. Lots of the sound during SXSW sucks ass and it's not entirely the fault of the sound engineer. Sometimes it's the equipment, sometimes it's the space, sometimes it's the band itself. If you're playing in a tiny room and your guitar amps are mic'd then you don't need to crank the amps up. If you have your amp on 8, then you stick a mic connected to the PA in front of it, do you think anyone's going to be able to hear the vocal? If you answered yes to this question, you're wrong.
So, let's get to the point shall we? We all know that no one has the attention span to read all of these words regardless of how much I enjoy writing them so, here's ten artists that made 2013 one of my best SXSW festivals to date:
Some of these artists, like Orthy and Caveman I had seen before and I was pre-disposed to like. Others I had listened to extensively but had not seen perform and a couple I didn't expect to be good ended up completely blowing me away.
When people ask me, who was my favorite act this year I tell them without hesitation that it was Diana. I had only heard one song from Diana and it's good but the recording doesn't give you any indication how spectacular they are live. This band hails from Canada and features zero members named "Diana." I saw them at Empire Control Room Wednesday night and it was one of the most magical experiences of my life. This band is the reason I love SXSW. Each year there is at least one set that gives me an epiphany moment and I find myself contemplating what I can do to make this band famous. Diana was the first band to trigger that irrational thought-process this year and they became the high mark that all other sets had to live up to. I can't even describe what was so arresting about their set other than to say it was visceral, it was groovy and it was the coolest.
Blue Hawaii was the other band that truly blew me away this year. Dan from End of an Ear had suggested I listen to them because he is a fantastic record-shop owner and he knew I would like them based on other things I've purchased. When I listened to the record I wasn't really impressed. I thought their name was too precious and their music was too sterile. I popped in to catch their set at Swan Dive on a whim. Their soundcheck was truly bizarre as these two figures shared a mic to communicate with the sound-engineer trying to tweak their sound until it was just right. As their set started I wasn't immediately drawn in. The thing that really got me about Blue Hawaii is how primal it is. It's almost as if you don't notice the song at first but before you know it you're entranced and dancing uncontrollably. Their set progressed like a fantastic DJ set, with the whole thing building toward a mid-set climax that had the entire room screaming, jumping, dancing and clapping. By the end of the set the crowd erupted, cheering, clapping and screaming for more. Those of us who were at Swan Dive for Blue Hawaii Friday night truly shared a moment and I can not WAIT to see this band again.
Since my SXSW was so highly curated, I had very few low-lights. I did my research before hand and I wrote out an achievable plan each day. I saw many of the artists I wanted to see and didn't waste a lot of time moving between venues or standing in lines. The only major exception to this was seeing Brooke Candy. Somehow, I had never heard of this person and my world was better then. I arrived too early for XXYYXX and was subjected to this fake, plastic bitch. At first I was enjoying the incredibly shallow songs I was hearing and then I started to really look at the stage. I noticed that Brooke was barely even trying to mime along to the tracks. Basically, the audience was "treated" to Brooke's songs being played from a laptop as she stalked around the stage looking like some sort of Mad Max prostitute with a Mic in her hand mostly for show. Her songs professed her realness while everything about her and her performance stood in stark contrast to that message. Do not support this fake-ass, art-school-project, faux-feminist, Daddy-didn't-give-me-enough-attention BULLSHIT! I would have preferred a performance from Brooke Hogan to a performance from Brooke Candy.
So, there you have it. If you get the chance to see any of the ten artists I highlighted above I STRONGLY URGE you to do so. Conversely, if someone tries to get you to attend a "performance" from my one low-light artist tell them you'd rather contract an STI. I had lots of fun with Instagram at SXSW this year so you can find some fun pictures over there.
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