Pre-SXSW week
Well one week from today I will be blogging from SXSW. Yeah, we got accepted. That means this week I am doing nothing but what all the other musical "luminaries" will be doing next week - fretting. And so begins the SXSW ritual. Make no mistake of it SXSW is a blast, it's a great feeling to be accepted and perform but it's a lot of work. I've probably already blown a whole tank of gas driving to Rockin' Robin for this and that, to Neil Sargent's place so he can fix my Jag and my Samik, to Allen's speaker repair to get my 75 Watt Celestion speaker fixed (which was broken last go round at SXSW), and god knows where else. Then there is this whole gotta finish my day job duties before I leave thing so I'm exceptionally busy at work right now and then there is transportation.
For good or ill, I've secured my dad's Catholic-mobile for the trip as I can't take the Toyota next week. God love my parents and all, they are good people and all, but it's pretty embarrassing to borrow the Mazda with Vote Huckabee scrawled all over it. The Huckabee thing I can deal with but the "pro-life" bumper stickers are another matter. Mind you, the stickers are actually quite tame comparatively speaking as once there was actually a bumper sticker that was so utterly offensive that even my dad had to admit he'd gone overboard and removed it after a few weeks of his clueless "Why are people honking and sneering at me?" shrugs. Mercifully McGyver hooked me up last time with some cardboard, duct tape, and three KTRU bumper stickers which saves the bumper stickers from being damaged while remaining unseen but more importantly you won't see me cringing behind the wheel.
Good news is that there will be lots of great bands playing including some great Houston bands like Hearts of Animals, Something Fierce, Young mammals, Fatal Flying Guilloteens, Born Liars, Indian Jewelry, Jandek, and the Jon Benet. Yes, Houston is getting some decent representation on the official stages. Throw in this Woozy Helmet party (PartyoftheFutureFlyer.jpg) and you just can't escape Houston in Austin.
So yeah, SXSW is always a chore but I'm glad we're doing it again. To me it's not so much about scoring a record deal but a simple hope that maybe you'll have someone see you whose never seen you before, meet some new friends, meet some old ones, and just generally work hard and have fun at the same time.
I'll let y'all know the LP4 does, who I see, and all that good stuff. I'm off to go make some quick and dirty handbills to pimp the show. See you suckas next week.
For good or ill, I've secured my dad's Catholic-mobile for the trip as I can't take the Toyota next week. God love my parents and all, they are good people and all, but it's pretty embarrassing to borrow the Mazda with Vote Huckabee scrawled all over it. The Huckabee thing I can deal with but the "pro-life" bumper stickers are another matter. Mind you, the stickers are actually quite tame comparatively speaking as once there was actually a bumper sticker that was so utterly offensive that even my dad had to admit he'd gone overboard and removed it after a few weeks of his clueless "Why are people honking and sneering at me?" shrugs. Mercifully McGyver hooked me up last time with some cardboard, duct tape, and three KTRU bumper stickers which saves the bumper stickers from being damaged while remaining unseen but more importantly you won't see me cringing behind the wheel.
Good news is that there will be lots of great bands playing including some great Houston bands like Hearts of Animals, Something Fierce, Young mammals, Fatal Flying Guilloteens, Born Liars, Indian Jewelry, Jandek, and the Jon Benet. Yes, Houston is getting some decent representation on the official stages. Throw in this Woozy Helmet party (PartyoftheFutureFlyer.jpg) and you just can't escape Houston in Austin.
So yeah, SXSW is always a chore but I'm glad we're doing it again. To me it's not so much about scoring a record deal but a simple hope that maybe you'll have someone see you whose never seen you before, meet some new friends, meet some old ones, and just generally work hard and have fun at the same time.
I'll let y'all know the LP4 does, who I see, and all that good stuff. I'm off to go make some quick and dirty handbills to pimp the show. See you suckas next week.
6 Comments:
Woo wee man have a great time and report back on all those Houston bands you'll see in Austin =)
Just kidding Houston scenester that you are, I'm sure you will take this opportunity to see some bands from outside the 610 Loop. Here's a list of Chicago bands at sxsw.
Old School punkers Naked Raygun ought to be great. Russian Circles will be there. I like Mahjongg a lot. And I played with two of the three members of Cocoma in THE LATEST. Cocoma is great, their guitarist is a powerhouse - she's good on the drums too.
Oh and your idea of a Catholic mobile is off. First of all Huckabee is an Evangelical Creationists. The Catholic Church official stance with regards to science is much more accepting. And the theory of Evolution is taught in most Catholic schools. I certainly learned that and heard nothing about Creationism. Second it's got to be a beat up minivan. Is the Mazda a beat up minivan?
Alright Man have a GREAT show, wish I could be there.
I expect, at the very least, five blown amps out of you fucks, Ramon. Get to it, and show Austin what it is about itself that blows. I'd go but every year it just sounds too much like a cluster fuck to me for it to be enjoyable. I would like to catch the LP4, as well as my friend, Luis, who is playing the Table of the Elements showcase, though.
Hey Kilian,
Thanks
Actually, I plan to peek my head in to see some of those Houston bands (as I'm going to be blogging for the Free Press while I'm up there) but while it typical SXSW fashion the best thing to do is just peek your head in for two songs and move on. Yeah I'm stoked about the Raygun reunion thing but I still need to plan out my map. Still any plan is more of a guideline. Stick too close to what you know and you miss out on some cool stuff. SXSW should be about finding new and cool stuff which also means stumbling upon a lot of crap too. C'ect la vie.
Oh yeah and nah it's a closed bed puck-up truck. Now that I think of it yr right my parent's mini-van is the mazda the truck is a Nissan.
But my parents are extremely conservative Catholics that often borders on pentecostal or that weird Mel Gibson sect. My dad even has had many an anti-evolution book which is funny as the Church officially has no qualms with evolution and it's only the freaking basis of modern biology! Liberal catholics they are not.
I'll let you know if the bartenders outnumber the audience this time. ;)
Thanks too John, Actually we should be pretty good I just got my Marshall cab fixed, my guitars will be set up (all three) so well be in good shape indeed. Oh Wait Lori Surfer is doing films for us!! OH God, Yr right only doom awaits us!!!!
NZ bands of note at SXSW 2008: Die! Die! Die!, The Mint Chicks, and infamous popular music butcher Wing (who I've never seen play here).
I particularly recommend the Mint Chicks; haven't seen Die! Die! Die! recently, but I hear their new album is pretty great.
Here's a few NC bands that will be at SXSW that I recommend:
Spider Bags (like a bar brawl in the best western you ever saw).
Weedeater (vomiting heavy stoner music, right to the gut).
Old Ceremony (this band is all class, great songs, superb instrumentalists, awesome show).
Chatham County Line (classic country, one mike, four people around it, superb songwriters).
This is amusing (as long as its not a band i like that is being judged in six words....).
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