SXSW Diary

Day Five

Wait, which was day five? I’m confused and tired. I guess it was Tuesday. I don’t think I did anything Tuesday.

Day Six

The music portion of SXSW begins and all hell breaks loose. It also happens to be St. Patrick’s Day. I picked up my wristband at the convention center around 1:30, then headed over to the Caucus Club to meet a couple of my poker buddies for Experimental Aircraft and a band that wasn’t called My Cousin From Norway, but I’m calling them that anyway. Swirly indie rock stuff. Some big lummox next to me was doing an unsightly spazz dance. We also played some foosball. Not me and the lummox, me and the poker buddies.

Went home to tidy the house in anticipation of late arriving guests, then headed out to the Music Hall to catch a bit of the Austin Music Awards. Stayed about 30 minutes then realized I didn’t need to know who the Best Musical Saw Player in Austin is. Met GVC at Opal Divine’s for St. Paddy’s Day. There was no Irish content to the music the first band was playing. Then Shoulders were unthawed for their annual performance, and they were in fine form. I think. I may have had a beer or two. Then Andrew arrived, having already deposited Amy at the manse for safe keeping. More drinking ensued.

Day Seven

First event of the day was a neighborhood party with – yes – free beer and music. We decided this would be a good event for Maury to attend with us, and it was. There was a potentially unpleasant chance encounter in the parking lot, but enough out-of-town visitors and festive spirit to provide a buffer against it happening. I just turned on my blind spot, there being a time and a place for everything. The party was good fun – folks sprawled on lawns and standing in the street, bands playing in the front yard, kegs o’ beer and BBQ. The shoeless hippie manning the keg tried to make some analogy between operating the keg and bringing a woman to orgasm, but it wasn’t much appreciated by his audience. Maury was in his glory – his whole posse of adoring female fans was there to fawn over him and give him walks and tummy rubs. (Maury is a dog, for those who may be confused at this point.) An ideal SXSW afternoon, surrounded by good friends and good vibes. (Mostly.)

From there we went for Mexican food, then to a movie at the Paramount, The Mayor of the Sunset Strip, the depressing tale of L.A. rock scene fixture Rodney Bingenheimer and the whole awful Hollywood culture of fame worship. The movie really captured it. Then we wandered Sixth Street, stopped at the Driskill, Lovejoys and Casino el Camino, then back home.

Day Eight

Let’s see. I’m drawing a blank. I think we didn’t get going very early. Then we walked down to the drag and did some bowling at the Union Underground. I got as close to a turkey as you can possibly get – strike, strike, nine. What a shattering disappointment. Then on to the Hole in the Wall, where a grizzled folkie played old timey tunes while a man in overalls cranked wax paper illustrations through a makeshift television set. We played pool and that game that might be called shufflepuck, but we’re not sure.

Thence down to Auditorium Shores for Kris Kristofferson, who was sort of aural wallpaper and did not have the special guest we expected, Willie Nelson. Then Toots and the Maytals, who were still reggae-riffic after all these years. Then to the Saxon to meet GVC for the Asylum Street Spankers. She had the special hidden reserved booth I’d never even noticed before. Great show as always. After that, I sent the kids on their way home and made my way to the “top secret” They Might Be Giants show at the Parish. They were peppy and played a ton of new material, which I didn’t really absorb. But they made the place shake, and it’s always good to hear the live “Fingertips.”

I stumbled out of there at quarter to two in the morning to find Mary Lou Lord busking on the corner. Stayed for a couple tunes, then made the long walk home.

Day Nine

Today was tourist day for Andrew and Amy, so while they went to the LBJ museum, I met Hayden at Club DeVille for something or other. I forget who they were. Then we went across the street to Red Eyed Fly for the Mendoza Line, where we met up with Jennie and Paulie. Eventually A & A made there way down there and announced they were treating me to dinner. Sadly, Stubb’s was closed for a private party, so we did Indian food at the Clay Pit instead, followed by ice cream. By now we were feeling our age, so decided to make it an early night. Went home and watched a couple of Sopranos episodes and Dazed and Confused, then turned in early.

Day Ten

A low-key day. Some shopping on South Congress, followed by chickenshit bingo at Ginny’s Little Longhorn. The place was even more packed to the rafters than usual. Sadly, the last ticket for chickenshit bingo was sold to the woman directly in front of Amy in line, so my guests didn’t even get to play. Still, it was the most Texas-y experience I could give them, and an ideal wrap-up in its own way.