SXSW in 2011 turned into a whole different animal for me this year. I remember several years back it felt way different, or maybe my version of reality is changing. When I first started it was less about RSVPs, and more about just choosing your own adventure, ending up at some cool spots, seeing really obscure and up and coming bands, getting drunk, and way less organized. Now I feel like this is not the case. Some takeaways from my third SXSW:
I saw only a handful of bands (much less than in year's past).
I didn't go to The Fader Fort .
I bought a battery case for my iPhone, and was on Twitter pretty much all day.
I Avoided lines.
Hung out with Hanson at an invite only party.
Was amazed by how many rappers I liked in the 90's were here for SXSW.
Talked about MTV with my friend Neil who was visiting from SF all week (he works there).
Was not amazed with all the non local mainstream sponsors.
Was impressed with the guys in front of me who had their knives taken from them by security when they were patted down at the Snoop Dogg concert.
I originally found out about Halos in 2009 at my first ever SXSW. We saw them several times, and their song Helium became our anthem for us. Now in 2011 we were able to catch an acoustic set, and a plugged in set at the Pure Volume House. Here is Helium performed live two years later.
At The Beauty Bar in Austin Texas, Death From Above 1979 played their first show in years on Saturday night. What started with dozens of fans climbing the roof and tent (fans who were climbing the fence had drinks and ice thrown at them, along with staff inside kicking the fence to try to knock them off the fence), led to one person climbing the main fence and doing a back flip down onto the concrete inside the venue. From there the fence ended up being ripped down, and the outside alley now was moshing on the fence closer to the band.
The band did not stop, and even welcomed the extended alleyway into the party! After about 10 minutes of moshing (with the now extended venue), the mounted police department came charging through the mosh pit. After the first pass, they turned back around, and attempted a second pass. Fans did not clear out, and one fan was beaten with a nightstick (who we later saw crying while getting his eyes flushed out with fluid). We also saw pepper spray used sparingly, but nothing beyond that. There were 12-20 cops on bikes, squad cars at both ends, and the mounted police (seen in video).While the scene was chaotic, it was never full on out of control. Before the cops arrived when a fan tried to climb on a car parked by the fence, we all told him to get off, and he did. The band took a 10 minute break to help calm the scene down, and ultimately ended up closing the night out with several songs as the police dispersed. Pretty awesome way to close out SXSW. Here is the footage I took on my Flip Cam:
I have been a fan of SOJA since I caught them on tour with my boys Rebelution last year. The vocals and horns are very unique, and have a sound that is very soothing and distinct. This was a show that I have been looking forward to for awhile now, and a great way to start off SXSW 2011!
SOJA will always hold a special place in my heart due to the extent that we listened to them on our honeymoon last year in Europe (video here). I made one mix cd for Italy (I wasn't expecting no Ipod hook ups in the rental car), and with well over 15-20 hours spent in the car traveling with some our best friends Magnus and Sofia (who were amazing hosts that live in Sweden), we listened to that mix cd until it was haunting us in our sleep, and ingrained into our memory. The wonderful thing about this is now anytime the four of us hear any song off of that cd we will think about Italy and our wonderful trip throughout Europe.
Track 7 on Mankie Mix Europe: SOJA - Decide You're Gone
Track 1 on Mankie Mix Europe: SOJA - I don't Wanna Wait
This will be my third SxSW, and it's looking like it is shaping to be a week long booze binge with some pretty good acts coming through (would I expect anything else). My wife is a volunteer photographer this year, and will have a platinum badge, so there will be a broken home feel to the week... I am exhausted thinking about it, and am having flashbacks to 2010 already (click here to see what I mean). My good friend Neil is coming in, along with an extended crew from the brothers Henry, so it should be quite the showdown. I've bought an I-Phone built in case charger thing that weighs about five pounds, but I'm sure I will need it, and am willing to have a case that is the equivalent of a European Man Bag... (because my phone will die). Cheers to a great week, and Live Happily Ever Now!
I recently took my Step Mom Sharon's encaustic art class and it was awesome! Encaustic art is Bee's wax, pigment, resin, and heat. I was very challenged at first, but being the excellent teacher that she is, she helped me find my creative side! I would highly recommend that you take this class, it is great for a day of creative fun! Not an intimidating at all! You will feel empowered and want to make more encaustic art! Here is Sharon's website, plenty of classes for you to choose from this Spring. I made a surfer piece with an aloha girl that my mom gave me. Along with a bunch of my old Mtv Raps and Wrestler cards. Cool childhood memories that are now preserved forever!
Sharon Teaching
Yo Vanilla, kick it to the Hulkamaniacs out there!