SXSW 2008

South by Southwest was a blast this year, as always, but I'm glad its over. Staying out till 2:00 am each night is really draining for an old man like me. In my 20s, I could go with little sleep for a few days in a row without really feeling tired, but those days are well behind me.

Nada's parents were gracious enough to babysit for 4 days so we could enjoy the festival without worrying about taking care of a 3 year old in the meantime. Much appreciated.

I saw a many lousy bands, a few good bands, and a handful of excellent live shows. Among my favorites were: The Raveonettes (best live show of 2008 SXSW, IMO), Rogue Wave (excellent live performance), Film School (vocally good but sonically excellent), and The Vines. We also saw R.E.M. and Dead Confederate.

There is a long story, which is hilarious, behind the R.E.M. show and Greg Mays, who is a dead ringer for Michael Stipe. I'll save it for another post, as this one is already too verbose. It involves an R.E.M. sound check, Greg Mays, Michael Stipe, and a Scottish bouncer. Greg also appeared in an Austin Chronicle daily with a caption calling him "Michael Stipe". We all had many laughs at that one, considering Greg basically stalked him at a sound check the day before.



There is a long story behind The Vines concert that I'll try to summarize.

The Vines played SXSW in 2004. Jeff saw them. The singer, Craig Nicolls, is wild and uncontrollable on stage, smashing the entire set at the end of the performance. Due to his reckless and erratic nature, assault charges, and other related issues, the band's management prevented them from touring. He is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and placed on medication. He has to quit smoking marijuana due to it enhancing the dangerous side-effects of the medication he has been prescribed to calm his Asperger's Syndrome. But the medication begins to work and his behavior improves. Things get better and the band resumes recording and touring.

Jeff and I kept talking about it while waiting for the show to start. What will he be like? Will he be tamed by the medication? Will they let him off the medication just for live shows so he can freak out on stage? Will the show be boring?

Our fears were laid to rest when Craig Nicolls appeared with a cigarette dangling from his lower lip, hair like a rat's nest, and a drink in his hand. During the last song of the set, you could sense him itching to destroy the stage, as he'd start to stab the guitar neck into the Marshall stack, then pull back at the last minute. He also lifted the microphone stand and started to begin it down on the drums, also pulling back at the last minute. No equipment was destroyed, no one was assaulted or injured, but it was a great live show, nonetheless.

The Raveonettes at Emo's was my favorite show. The song "Aly, Walk With Me" was loud, droning, distorted and brooding. I could not take my eyes off the singer, Sharin Foo. Imagine a 6 foot tall Scandinavian woman resembling Blondie, singing and playing guitar. Mesmerizing.

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