SXSW

SXSW DAY 1:
EVERYTHING COSTS $20


    In the beginning was the music, and the music was with SXSW, and the music was SXSW. It was with SXSW in the beginning. Thanks be to Austin. 
It's easy to forget that at one point in time SXSW was not about schwag, Grumpy Cat or Doritos.  You look around and all you hear about is what artist is rumored to pop up where so it was nice to see last night be all about the music. 

    I started the evening as early as possible by heading down to meet my wife at her office where I was greeted by a parking attendant asking for $20 to park where I normally park for free. It turns out that this is not an uncommon denomination during SXSW.  Park? $20.  Pedicab? $20.  Lone Star Beer? $20.  Ok, maybe a Lone Star isn't $20, but for the $8 they charge you during SXSW it might as well be.  Lauren and I were soon fighting the crowds over to the NPR Showcase at Stubb's.  This was a lineup fit for a Skinny Jean King: Eagulls, Kelis, St. Vincent and Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz fame).  Stubb's has always been one of my favorite places to attend shows because they just have their stuff together and the pulled pork sandwich doesn't hurt either.  Temperatures started dropping very quickly so we decided to take shelter amongst the masses at the Clive Bar on Rainey Street for the Haggar Clothing/Filter on Rainey showcase. 

    If you're not familiar with Emily King, you need to be.  She was nominated for a Grammy (Best Contemporary R&B Album) in 2007, however I just now discovered her.  Her silky, smooth voice soared beautifully through the night air.  At least, I think it did. It was hard to hear with all of the yelling going on next door from the newly opened Container Bar.  I'm being facetious.  I was able to hear her and she put on just an incredible set.  In fact, someone needs to get her an ACL Live taping set up stat.  Since Aloe Blacc was playing there at midnight, the crowds started pouring in so we decided to head across the street to Bangers for the Dickies showcase. 

Emily King

    Now, normally I would never set foot in a place that had just recently been defiled by the presence of Justin Bieber, but Polica was playing and I wanted to see if lead singer, Channey Leaneagh, had refined her stage presence since the last time I saw her two years ago at The Parish.  Oh, and for the record, my computer has now been defiled by the Biebs…I mistakingly spelled his name "Beiber" and it corrected it to "Bieber." Now I know why he had to announce to the crowd at Bangers that "I go by the name of Justin Bieber."  Ok, back on track. Polica put on an amazing show and Channey, has in fact, found her groove.  Polica and Channey are just getting better with time and I am excited to see what they keep coming up with. 

Channey Leaneagh of Polica

    I never dreamed that I'd actually catch a pedicab, but when you have to hoof it back to Stubb's from Rainey Street you find yourself doing many inexplicable things.  We arrived back in time to catch St. Vincent (AKA Annie Clark) and she put on an energetic, guitar infused spectacle of a show.  I had seen her years ago at The Mohawk and, much like Channey Leaneagh, she has perfected her stage presence and I will most definitely be picking up her new self-titled album. 

    As you can tell by the Stubb's and Mohawk references, I have to mention the terrible tragedy that occurred last night. A little after 1:30am my wife received a text from her friend who is in from out of town and was at Cheer Up Charlie's for a showcase.  Her text read "Big accident outside Cheer Up Charlie's."  We had left Stubb's after St. Vincent so we were unaware of just how big and tragic this accident was.  Turns out so was her friend.  Earlier in the evening while waiting in line for the NPR showcase, I looked around, took notice of the crowds, the lack of police and I told Lauren that something bad was going to happen at SXSW sometime soon.  Little did I know that it would be just hours later that SXSW 2014 would be forever remembered for this tragedy instead of the music.  I commend the APD, the establishments affected by this accident and those that were there helping others. Please pray for the families, their loved ones and the lives that are now forever changed. As I woke up this morning my phone had many texts and missed calls asking if I were ok and it's nice to know how loved I am.  I never plan on taking that for granted. 

#SXSW
#NPRShowcase
#SlacksAreBack
#Dickies