It's already been a week since SXSW descended onto li'l ole Austin, Texas, "monopolizing touring schedules for more than a week" (as Flavorpill New York put it). The festival keeps growing exponentially every year, with sunglass-donning hipsters packing the streets and unofficial daytime parties and shows starting to outrival even the official evening showcases (like why did I even bother to buy a wristband??). With so much to offer, it seriously becomes an embarras de richesse, and every year is a give and take; for every amazing band I saw, there's one or two I missed. That's why it's all about strategy (Which bands can I see for free during the day? Where can I get up close enough to make it worth it? Where can I even get in? etc.). But no matter what, there's always next year!
At any rate, my 2008 SXSW experience started out with The Kills at the Levi's/Fader Fort party. I scored me some free and refreshing SoCo lime and mosied on up to the front. (I'm always surprised at how easy it is to mingle with the press photographers in front of the stage. This usually a result of one of two things: either a high population of badge-carrying industry wannabe scenesters who have no real musical clue but are just checking off their "what's hot" list of bands to see OR the laidback attitude of SXSW and the genuine music fans who are just out there to enjoy the festival--which is luckily, in my experience, slightly more often the case.) It was the first time I'd seen The Kills since they played the Berlin Festival two or three years ago, and it was amazing to see them live so up close and personal. They get my second place prize for The Most Sexy and Photogenic Band of SXSW.
Check out the whole set here. Plus more photos (and videos) to come!
It's the final countdown! And the invites for most of my favorite parties are out: American Rag/Filter, Levi's/Fader, and IHEARTCOMIX (is Vice not saving Texas this year??). I RSVP'd for the IHEARTCOMIX party last year, but it got bust-ed before the official showcases had even ended. Here's hoping this year's different. At least this year it's downtown (aka easily accessible). And check this out:
DIPLO - MATT & KIM - SWITCH - DROP THE LIME - SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO (DJ SET) - CUT COPY - THE TOXIC AVENGER -
A-aaaaaaaannd...
COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGES - 2 POOLS - 4 STAGES - HEARTSCHALLENGER ICE CREAM TRUCK - FIREPIT - VIDEO GAMES - SHUFFLE BOARD - LIVE VIDEO ART BY DEMONBABIES - EVERYONEISFAMOUS.COM - PHOTOBOOTH - LOUNGE - LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN - BBQ - MORE!
No wonder I've had Deichkind's "Remmidemmi" stuck in my head the past week and a half. ESP.
For those of you who don't know German, here's a loose translation...
Your parents are away at a tennis tournament? You're throwing a party? How nice of you. Impulsive people know no bounds. Throw the furniture out the window, We need some dance space.
Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus
A little gold and silver, a little bling bling. Don't you have anything to eat here? I want pizza. Your mother said "Don't track so much dirt into the house". In the picture in the kitchen she looks like Katja Ebstein.
Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus
We're dancing on the tables. The vibe is shitty. I wanna be naked. You can refresh yourself in the pool. Gonna to take your Dad's speakers into the sauna with me. Gonna the pour water on the stones with the maid. And then I'm gonna turn it up.
Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus Yippie yipiie yeah, yipiie yeah, riot and ruckus
Hey, don't be such a yuppie, man. We just wanna experience something. In the private home of rich parents, what could be better?
Video killed the radio star indeed. For me, music has always been as much a visual as an auditory experience. This blog is about the music that gets stuck in my head and the music-related stuff (and enjoyment thereof) that catches my eye.
