This was year 7 of volunteering my way to platinum. I I took 2 weeks off from work and this time around I stayed at my own place (Yay for living close to downtown!).
(You should go back and read the daily recaps. I put this stuff out on the internet for you, little readers)
Total $ spent: ~61 tips, 2 dinners and a Go Local card.
Carbon Footprint: I biked at least 58 miles (from my house to downtown is about 7 miles round trip). The car was used once during the two week period (I was lazy and drove to the Alamo Lamar).
And now for the Rants/Raves (mostly rants though). (more…)
Yesterday morning I was so tired that I debated if I wanted to finish out this race. I made breakfast, wrote for a bit and decided to see my 18th film. It was the documentary about SXSW. I was surprised that the machine has survived all of these years with the amount of growth.
Since it was the last day, I decided that I should go see some music and attempt to find M (I think I hung out with her once in the last week). Wall to wall people and no bike parking (People go home, I would like my city back). Luckily the line for the party at Stubb’s moved quickly in comparison to the hunt for something to lock my bike to.
I walked in during the end of the Bravery’s set (not a fan). I grabbed a beer and found M. The next band was really good. J. Roddy Walston and The Business. M saw them the night before and said I should check them out. I stayed for Wanda Jackson. I was curious if she had given into the machine and altered her sound. Nope. She was the same as always, sass, jet black hair and a fringed jacket.
After Wanda’s set and 3 beers I headed back to the ACC for air conditioning and a film. PressPausePlay. Netflix this one. It talked a lot about the film and music industry being diluted with artists who make art because they have the tools, but most of them just don’t have the human aspect. My thoughts exactly. There are a lot of bands out there that have made a name for themselves on the internet but they just can’t put on a good live show. This is why I spent most of this SXSW in the movie theater. I wanted to feel something.
I made another pass at Style X. This time it was the fashion show. I was curious to see if there was anything new and innovative. Other than the awesome boots from Helm, the only thing that I liked was a yellow jacket (I need to find out who the designer was).
I checked in with M after the show and headed to Bar Congress for dinner with 2.0 and his friends from out of town. After dinner I made the executive decision to bike home. I wanted to shower and wash the SXSW out of my hair.
I decided to stay in and write for a bit. I checked in with my mom (to let her know that I didn’t get hit by a car on St. Patty’s day). I looked at the schedule and decided that there was nothing worth biking into town for until about 2.
Movie time. #17 was A Matter of Taste: Serving up Paul Liebrandt. If you are into food and art, check it out. After the film I explored the convention center. I was curious about Style X and I was tempted to go to the 70s house of porn American Apparel Garage Sale. It was Style X’s first year so I didn’t have high expectations. I had also surveyed some of my artist friends and it turns out that many locals were rejected (there was also a pricey booth fee). I am curious how Style X was curated, I may have to interview the man behind it at some point. I’ve been to his store and this was not what I expected. There was a mix of corporate (Keds), out of town vendors, and one or two locals. [BTW. I know that it is really hard to spend a whole day in your booth vendors. I've been there, but please, please find reps that know your products. Yesterday some guy tried to sell me glasses and he said that they had a deal going one price for all prescriptions. I told him that my eyesight was bad (not eligible for lasik bad) and he said that it didn't matter. I double checked with the owner and he said that I would probably have to pay extra.]
After a disappointing stroll, I left the convention center in search of free beer. I headed to Fader because I was curious about Smith and Westerns and I wanted to see Matt and Kim. I found a place to lock the bike and stood in line for about 5 minutes before someone came up to us and said the line was closed and that no one would be allowed in the rest of the night. I decided to stick around. They say that every year. Crowd turnover happens after every band.
…30 minutes later, I am in. Fiat Fader was ok. I still miss the Levi’s Fader though. Specifically, the one that was at Youthworks (aka The Honeycomb Hideout). After last nights trampling, I decided to steer clear of the front. Matt+Kim= Mosh Pit (You would think that they would be more careful after Matt messed up his back a few years ago. Nope) Great Show. I look forward to seeing them play this summer with the Thermals.
I biked to the ACC after the show to charge my phone and check in with a few people. I was on the other side of tired. I decided to go home early. I was in bed by 10:30.
My tolerance for “special” people is tanking. I don’t know if it is related to the string of violent films I have seen or what,. My field notes from TV on the Radio at Stubb’s say the following: To the girl with the “serenity” tattoo on the back of her neck, I have all I can do not go go Rainn Wilson on your ass with my bike wrench. [For those of you who don't know, that is a reference to Super. Watch the trailer. I am glad a wrote that down. In reality, I would turn her in to security. I would tell them that she was a danger to herself and that she was probably on drugs. Why the passive aggressive approach? Umm, APD doesn't like brown people.] I think that my surrounding concert mates would have liked to have a go at all the drunkards who felt the need to mosh around to a band that deserves more respect.
by Jen @ Thursday, January 27th, 2011.
Filed under concerts
It’s cedar season so I have been hiding out in my cave and writing you recipes. M has been schooling and interning. In addition to the mountain of bands on the SXSW web site, you may want to check out the following.
Wed. 2/2
*Tokyo Police Club, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, TV Torso at La Zona Rosa
Fri. 2/18
*Tapes ‘n Tapes, Oberhofer at Emo’s Outside
*Broken Social Scene at La Zona Rosa
Fri. 4/1
*Cold War Kids at Stubb’s
Sat. 4/9
*The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Twin Shadow at Emo’s Outside
“You can’t carry it with you if you want to survive. ” Florence and the Machine
This year, was definitely a year. Yenta said it would be my best year, definitely a transitional one. Moments were good, moments were bad, and some moments were down right craptastical. Other than my family and friends, my only other survival tactic was too keep moving and not look back. I probably lost some stuff along the way. There were probably a few people that I didn’t keep in touch with. I was probably less thoughtful than usual.
Last night I sat in bed thinking about what I was going to write as a recap of my year. I had to mentally recap the stuff that I have chosen not to discuss on the interwebs. That’s when the tears started. I am not sure I am ready to write about the dog days of summer (some good, some really bad, all of it extremely emotional).
For those of you who have been reading along, you know I had a plan:
1) Sell my house before the end of summer. 2) Live irresponsibly in someone else’s property (aka apartment) somewhere in the numbered streets. 3) Leave the country.
Well, that didn’t quite happen as I planned. This is what happened as I flew by the seat of my pants. 1)There are people living in my house but I didn’t sell it. 2)I moved (twice). I live near some numbered streets in the ’04. 3) My friends’ took me to Mexico for their wedding.
This year in non-live music: Here’s to this year’s new albums: Forgiveness Rock Record-Broken Social Scene Miike Snow-Miike Snow, Broken Bells, Wake Up!-John Legend and the Roots, The Suburbs-Arcade Fire, Sidewalks-Matt and Kim, All Day-Girl Talk, Halcyon Digest-Deerhunter, Rubber Factory-Black Keys, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Entanglements-Parenthetical Girls, Mixtape vol 4 and Anatomy Magazine x The Hood Internet- Hood Internet, LP4-Ratatat, Treats-Sleigh Bells, xx-The xx, The Satanic Satanist [Deluxe Edition]-Portugal the Man, The Mountain-Heartless Bastards, Together-New Pornographers.
This year on the interwebs: I got a smart phone. Here’s to more Twitter updates and Gowalla check-ins.
This year in Movies: This year I watched a lot on Hulu and other peoples Netflix. I meant to go out but that requires $$. (theater) SXSW (The Runaways, Tiny Furniture, Canal Street Madam, Barry Munday, the Freebie, Kick Ass) the Social Network, Exit Through the Gift Shop.
This year in Books: Sadly not much time for reading this year… Goodreads Tropic of Capricorn, The Tipping Point, Middlesex, Kafka on the Shore.
This year in kicking ass- (New category because I realized I rocked it out this year): SXSW Crew Chief, Volunteer Coordinator for BluesShout!, Natural Disaster Planner, Refashionista, Fun^3 Fest Blogger, and Wedding Stylist.
Plans for 2011 (in no particular order):
Leave the continent
Quit my job (10 years of state employment is more than a person should endure)
Take on a massive design project
Read more
Spend less money/time on home repair
Master Indian Cuisine
Here’s to 2011 and the hopes that the Dog Days really in fact are over.
by Jen @ Sunday, November 28th, 2010.
Filed under concerts, Music
The ticket farm is barren. Fun^3 Fest was the last thing in the stack. What now (other than letting our wallets recover from all the spending). M’s got finals. I have sewing to do.
…But wait! Now we have THIS! In the midst of all the chaos, SXSW decided to drop not one but two rounds of bands that will be gracing us with their presence during Spring Break. I guess it’s time to make the spreadsheet and get the assignments out. In the meantime I have starred the bands I plan on making time for.
by 2.0 @ Saturday, November 13th, 2010.
Filed under concerts, fun^3 fest
Fun Fun Fun Fest was in full swing when Snapcase hit the stage.The dying twilight and red light glow of the stage set the mood for one of the most prolific bands on the hardcore scene.For those of you that don’t know, Snapcase can be credited with spearheading the Upstate NY hardcore sound and capturing the attention of every teen to twenty something living in the late nineties punk/hardcore scene.
Snapcase tore through their set with a fervor befitting their reputation.Technical, looping guitar riffs floated over metronomic drums and heavy guitars.The breakdowns pulled me in and I instinctively found myself moving closer to the band with every photo that I snapped.Guitars were wielded above heads.Arms from the crowd reached out to accent the passion of their songs.It was a high energy, highly entertaining set and I’m glad that I got a chance to see them.
The whole experience took me back to the days when I had little else on my mind aside from girls and guitars.I looked at the faces of onlookers and it was pretty easy to spot the fans that grew up with this band.Their faces oozed nostalgia and it was nice to know that I was in good company.Part of me wishes that I still was a part of the hardcore scene.The camaraderie, the chaos, those dark upstate NY winters, it all stays locked in a corner of my mind.It is nice to revisit these memories and Snapcase served as the perfect conduit to do so.
I am still coughing up dust and remembering all the cool stuff that happened this weekend (and trying to purge some disturbing festival happenings from my memory). This marks my third (and hopefully not final) Fun^3 Fest. Each year it gets bigger and better (But please don’t make it as big as ACL. I am in favor of the 2.5 day, four stage festival.).
Media Credentials (M and 2.0 were able to shoot the fest officially with their BACs and M got some interviews). Additional thanks to Austinist for making that happen.
Amazing Bands. Ironically many of them are on the last two Hood Internet Mixtapes I downloaded.
And now for the extended recap of all the bands I saw this weekend (I apologize for not getting pictures of everyone. Between the sun and the dust the little camera did all it could). (more…)
For me one of the stand out sets for me was The Antlers. I won’t lie, I had heard of them but didn’t really listen to them before the fest. Wow! I was way impressed. I thought they put on a great show. Here’s some pics I shot below, the rest can be found on myflickr.
A group of women who decided that it was important to live their lives any way they wanted vs living up to certain cookie cutter standards.
Lucky for you they decided to share their adventure.
