For those who don't know what SXSW is, let me break it down for you. South by Southwest (SXSW), affectionately called "South By" for those in the know, is a 3 week conference held in March located in Austin, TX every year. Part film festival, part tech interactive, and a lot music, it's the conference that launched the likes of Twitter and Tumblr and is the gig to play if you want your band to "make it" in the industry.
We first attended SXSW in 2011, almost by accident, when Karl's parents invited us to go to Austin last year. We had music wristbands, which got us second priority into the venue's, waited in some lines, saw some amazing bands, and didn't really know what was going on.
|
One of the main venues, Stubb's. Barbecue by day, concert by night. |
But this year, oh yes, we understood what was going on. Badges purchased, plane tickets for the right month (a different story), and the right people on twitter followed, we headed for Austin in March. Karl left first in order to attend the Film and Interactive portion for his work, and a week later I came down for the party.
I made quite a comprehensive schedule in Excel with a plan A, B, C, D, and sometimes E and I RSVP'd to EVERYTHING. This worked out quite well in the receiving free stuff and booze department.
|
Example of a day schedule (@ the Paste Party) |
What to expect? LOTS OF DRINKING & a hipster level that's over 9000. I mean, really, who wears a metallic bikini top and a zebra print jumpsuit normally?
Here is a list of bands we ended up seeing:
Tuesday:
Neon Hitch
Outasight
Theopolis London
Santigold
Chuckie
|
Santigold at La Zona Rosa |
Wednesday:
Sugar & the Hi Lows
Cavemen
Tennis
Ben Kweller
Friends
Pond
Miike Snow
|
Geek Art found at the Fader Fort. This made me smile :) |
Thursday:
Yelle
Tycho
Girls
Gary Clark Jr.
Fiona Apple
|
A really bad picture of Fiona Apple at Stubbs |
Fresh Millons
Shiny Toy Guns
Dev
|
Art Showdown before the Shiny Toy Guns show. |
Friday:
Two Gallants
|
Me with a Android at the Google Rooftop Party. Don't hate on the shoes, you'd wear them too if you were standing for 12 hours for 5 days straight. |
Grimes
|
Grimes - <3 her |
Jimmy Cliff
Talib Kweli & special guests
The Shins
|
The Shins - Simple Song |
Ned Sheeran
Of Monsters and Men
Avalanche King
Saturday:
Blouse
SBTRKT
|
SBTRKT - Wildfire |
Ceremony
Sleigh Bells
|
Bad Picture - But Sleigh Bells rocked SO HARD OMG. There set was literally a wall of speakers :D |
Nas
|
LEGIT DJ BATTLE!
|
|
Nas - New York State of Mind |
Oops, I forgot to use my badge anywhere near the convention center >.>
So basically the badge price was totally worth it if you count $25 per 3 bands!
Now for my ratings of the SXSW 2012 as a whole:
Best show experience:
Santigold/Sleigh Bells
Best musical act:
Grimes/Sleigh Bells
Best free drink:
Gin & tonics at the Paste Party/Vodka and Monster Ice Tea Lemonade at the Hype Hotel
|
MMM, yummy Gin & Tonics |
Best free food:
Doritos Loco taco at the Hype Hotel
|
Best Idea Ever? Most Likely. |
Best celebrity siting:
Rooney Mara filming outside Stubbs
|
Rooney Mara - TOTAL STALKER PIC |
Look forward to going next year if it happens to be in the cards!
|
Last Day Pic <3 |