SX Your Face

Lo, though my blog will not hold a candle to Sinclair’s, I will give it a shot. If for nothing else, to get some hits for people searching for bands, lol. Lookout-this one is full of whimsy!!

So last year, I decided to try SXSW again. I hadn’t been in like 4 years, since I exited my part-time gig at Waterloo Records, and thus no longer got a free wristband. I also made the assumption that moving into my mid-twenties meant that I was old and grumpy and could no longer make it through the week of insanity. This year I will be on the verge of my 30th birthday, and really know better.

Last year was a blast. I learned that it really isn’t all that necessary to buy a wristband for the festival, with so much free shit and since the showcases I like are mostly hip-hop and are usually only about $15 and not hard to get into. This year the wristband is once again free, so no complaints on that end (thanks austin.com). I am still looking for the perfect bag and shoes, though, because those are two very key elements. Oh, and I need to buy a new camera.

Some of last year’s highlights included seeing Kimya Dawson play a sweet acoustic set at the Good Magazine party, seeing Elijah Wood “spin” (his ipod) at the Bust Magazine party, almost having a drunken Bushwick Bill pee on me at a hip hop showcase at Scoot Inn, the Ice Cube/Talib Kweli/Jean Grae free show at Auditoreum Shores, and the last show of the week, Cunninlynguists at Prague.

Oh, I almost forgot about one of my favorite moments. I was sitting on a curb on Red River, alone, enjoying a veggie dog from the cart. The wind had kicked up, and I sat there watching the bands loading and unloading gear, people shuffling about with this great look of anticipation on their face, and for just a second I forgot where I was. I actually felt like I was on vacation and thought I was in some other world. It was nice to have that second of feeling what our visitors get to feel when they’re here.

I am already getting excited and a little woozy-headed about this year. Luckily, I know some awesome people who are good at organizing and looping me in. I am eagerly awaiting the artist page, but until then, here is a list of my highly probable sees:

Abstract Rude
Melissa auf der Maur
Au Revoir Simone
Beausoleil (for the Cajun in me)
Busdriver
Cadence Weapon
Camera Obscura
Camplo
Capsula
Margaret Cho
Paul Couture (I interviewed this super cutie last year-his music is infectious)
The Decemberists
Pamela des Barres
Dressy Bessy
Explosions in the Sky
Flosstradamus
Jean Grae
I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness
The Knux (So excited to see them again-highly recommended hip hop)
Lady Sovereign
Jon Lajoie (this guy will funny your fucking face off)
Lil Jon
Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
Katy Perry
Pong
Ra Ra Riot
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek)
Shout Out Out Out Out