Sunday, April 1, 2012

SXSW 2012 Outline

This is an outline of pretty much everything Mary and I did on our journey at SXSW.

You can click on certain links that I have for interviews, concert reviews and etc.

Below the outline is a detailed outline that has pictures that I took at SXSW and my reviews and comments of what we did.

Enjoy!!!

SXSW Outline

Day One
Wednesday, March 14, 2012

-Mary and her sister picked me up at my apartment around 5 a.m. (EST) for Mary and me to make our maiden voyage to Austin, Texas for the music portion of SXSW 2012.

-Arrived at the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky

-Arrived at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

-Arrived at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

-Pete and Lisa picked Mary and me up.  (Lisa and Pete are family friends of Mary’s, which we were staying with in Austin.)

-Dropped our luggage off at Pete and Lisa’s home

-Pete and Lisa dropped us off at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Austin

-Went to the Austin Convention Center for registration and wristbands/press passes

-Went to The Coffee Cup to plan our day

-The Stage on Sixth (Paste Magazine showcase)
-Saw:  Typhoon (Interview with Typhoon) / Apparat Band

-Waterloo Records
-Saw:  Spoek Mathambo and Friends (Interview with Spoek Mathambo and Theo) / Trivium /fun.

-B.D. Riley’s Pub & Restaurant—To eat and see a band

-Interview with Not In The Face

-Maggie Mae’s/Maggie Mae’s Rooftop
-Saw:  Marcus Foster / The Apache Relay

-Saw Best Best Best Friend Band on the street performing

-Buffalo Billiards
-Saw:  Not In The Face

-1100 Warehouse
-Saw:  Andrew W.K.

-Clive Bar
-Saw:  Motion City Soundtrack


Day Two
Thursday, March 15, 2012

-Woke-up—bagel and coffee at Pete and Lisa’s

-Pete and Lisa dropped us off at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Austin

-Latitude 30 for the showcase British Embassy Music SXSW 2012
-Saw:  Morning Parade / Bitches

-La Zona Rosa
-Saw:  The Staves / Crystal Fighters

-The Studio by HGTV—We painted on the wall (Interview with Jonathan)

-Interview with Those Manic Seas

-IFC Crossroads House at Vice
-Saw:  Polica / Punch Brothers
-Interview with Space Between Words

-tenOak
-Saw:  Two Cow Garage  / Cheap Girls

-The Iron Bear
-Saw:  The Ettes / VHS or Beta

-Buffalo Billiards
-Saw:  Say Anything

Day Three
Friday, March 16, 2012

-Pete and Lisa took us sightseeing around Austin

-Pete and Lisa dropped us off at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Austin

-Walk from Radisson to get food

-I ate a breakfast wrap at nearby food stand

-Peddy Cab to South Congress Street

-Hotel San Jose
-Saw:  Dry The River

-Entered into the Lonestar Music Showcase and checked out some stands and some cool vintage t-shirts

-St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

-Hung out pool side at Hotel San Jose

-Attempted to go to the showcase Fancy as F**k to see the Spooky Qs at Burnadette’s

-Ate Stubb’s BBQ

-Mohawk Patio
-Saw:  Codes / Felix Cartal / AraabMUZIK / Madeon / Zeds Dead / Skrillex vs 12th Planet

-IFC Crossroads House at Vice
-Saw:  Citizen Cope

-Easy Tiger Patio
-Saw:  Girl In A Coma

Day Four
Saturday, March 17, 2012

-Pete and Lisa dropped us off at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Austin

-Went to The Coffee Cup

-Austin Convention Center—Style X (fashion exhibits, fashion shows and etc…)

-Mixology Townhouse
-Saw:  Audic Empire 

-Mechanical bull at Antone’s

- Latitude 30 for the showcase British Embassy Music SXSW 2012

-Ate at El Sol Y la Luna

-Austin Music Hall for Perez Hilton’s One Night in Austin Showcase
-Saw:  Kimbra / Ed Sheeran / Cher Llyod / Dragonette / Kreayshawn / DEV / Timbaland

Day Five
Sunday, March 18, 2012

-Finally…found a taxi at 2:30 a.m. or 3 a.m. took us back to Pete and Lisa’s to pack.

-Same taxi picked us up at 4 a.m. to go to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

-Gift shop at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

-Breakfast at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

-Arrived at the Lexington Airport and Mary’s sister picked us up

-Somewhat unpacked and relaxed in my apartment

-WRFL Director’s Meeting took minutes and talked about how SXSW was flippin’ awesome

-I got sick later that night and Tuesday I went to the University of Kentucky’s student clinic and I was diagnosed with Laryngitis and maybe a virus.  The doctor wasn’t really for sure if I had a virus, but she gave me a prescription for cough syrup, a smile and a pat on the back.

~Best journey of my life~

SXSW 2012 Detailed Outline Day 1

Day One
Wednesday, March 14, 2012

-Mary and her sister picked me up at my apartment around 5 a.m. (EST) for Mary and me to make our maiden voyage to Austin, Texas for the music portion of SXSW 2012.

-Arrived at the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky
My Review and Comments: 
This was my first time on an airplane and I had no idea what to expect.  So, I made motto:  “Follow Mary!”  We had already printed out our boarding passes, so we went or…I followed Mary to security check.  When I went through the full-body scanner I forgot to take out my chapstick, so I was subjected to full-body pat down.  The lady giving me the pat down asked if I wanted a private room.  “No, just go ahead and do it here” I said.  I was ready to go, because we only had ten minutes before our plane took off. 

After the pat down, I realized I didn’t have my cell phone.  I frantically ran back to talk to one of the security guards and he said he hadn’t seen my cell phone, but that he would page over the intercom system about a lost cell phone.  No one returned my cellular device.  So, security guard wrote down my information on a post-it note, in case someone turned it in.  When Mary and I got to our gate, our flight wasn’t boarding, yet, so I ran back downstairs to see if someone turned in my cell phone.  To my amazement, someone did!  Thank the Lord!!!  Everything was good after that!!!

My first flight was….well we’ll just say I survived!  Mary and I got to set next to each other on the plane and she let me set by the window.

Take off scared the hell out of me!  We just kept picking up speed, picking up speed and picking up speed.  I felt like I needed to prepare myself for hitting a wall at a billion miles per hour, but we didn’t hit a wall. 

I eventually got the guts to look out the window and it was beautiful.  It was still dark outside and I could see these bright yellow and gold lights in these swirly patterns from the plane window.  When you’re that high up the world seems so small.  It may seem like a cliché to say that, but when you’re that high you’ll understand.

Landing was… well I looked at Mary and I said, “Oh, that landing wasn’t bad.”  Then Mary says, “We haven’t landed yet.”  (Ker-plunk sound) “Oh,” I said.

-Arrived at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

My Review and Comments:
My first thought was “I’m in TEXAS!!!  Whhhaaa.” <3

We had about a one hour delay due to the time change from eastern time to central time, when we arrived at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.  So, we just chilled and rode on the Skylink, which is a high-speed train that connects all five terminals in the DFW Airport.  The Skylink is kind of like a rollercoaster…at least that’s what I told myself at the time.  I survived that,too.

Mary and I also got on one of those flat/standing escalators.  I told Mary how I had always wanted to try one of those things, so we got on a few of them right in a row.  I thought they were so cool, until I got on like the third one.  I clipped the heel on my left boot and tore the heel a little bit away from my boot.  My boots were still walkable, but those are like my favorite boots.  Flat/standing escalators aren’t so cool to me anymore. 

-Arrived at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

 
My Review and Comments:
I kept thinking.  I’m in Austin!  I’m in Austin, Texas!  The live music capital of the world! 

As Mary and I were coming down the escalator we noticed to our right these really cool guitars.  I’m assuming they were there for SXSW, but who knows…maybe there are always there.  Austin, Texas is the live music capital of the world.

-Pete and Lisa picked Mary and me up.  (Lisa and Pete are family friends of Mary’s, which we were staying with in Austin.)

My Review and Comments:
Pete and Lisa were extremely nice and kind people who took us into their lovely home to stay for the duration of our stay in Austin, Texas for SXSW.

-Dropped our luggage off at Pete and Lisa’s home

-Pete and Lisa dropped us off at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Austin

My Review and Comments:
After Pete and Lisa dropped us off, Mary and I were like kids in a candy store.  We didn’t know what to do or what to take in first.  All we knew was that we should probably go to the Austin Convention Center first to register and get our wristbands/press passes.

-Went to the Austin Convention Center for registration and wristbands/press passes


My Review and Comments:
At the Austin Convention Center we got officially registered and we got these really cool wristbands that served as our press passes.  We were threatened…or informed that basically if we lost these wristbands we were screwed. 

Mary got her camera tagged to take photos.

We also got a booklet/pamphlet that listed all of the shows and venues during the music week at SXSW.  Looking at the booklet/pamphlet overwhelmed Mary and I, because we saw all the possible things we could do over the next few days.

-Went to The Coffee Cup to plan our day


My Review and Comments:
Mary and I decided to go to The Coffee Cup and get a cup of coffee and research through the pamphlet/booklet.  We planned out our day from there…well somewhat of our day.

-The Stage on Sixth (Paste Magazine showcase)
-Saw:  Typhoon (Interview with Typhoon) / Apparat Band



Typhoon
Apparat
My Review and Comments:
The first place we walked to was The Stage on Sixth.  Paste Magazine was having a showcase there. FYI--The Stage on Sixth really is on Sixth Street in downtown Austin.  Also I believe Sixth Street in Austin is one of the most fun streets Austin. 

The first band we saw at The Stage on Sixth was Typhoon. 

Typhoon is a 12-piece band from Portland, Oregon.  That day they only had 10 members, but they totally rocked out.  I absolutely loved their performance.  It was loud, all the members sang vocals and they were definitely in sync with one another and harmonized very well.

They were also my first interview at SXSW.

-Waterloo Records
-Saw:  Spoek Mathambo and Friends (Interview with Spoek Mathambo and Theo) / Trivium / Fun

Waterloo Records on Lamar
Spoek Mathambo and Friends show at Waterloo Records
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
Trivium show at Waterloo Records
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
fun. show Waterloo Records
My Review and Comments:
We made our way to the world famous Waterloo Records.  Also it’s cattycorner from the world headquarters for Whole Foods.

But now I know why Waterloo is world famous…they have CDs from everywhere.

While at Waterloo we saw Spoek Mathambo and Friends, who put on a killer performance.  I was also able to get an interview with Spoek Mathambo and Theo.

We saw a heeeaaavvvyyy show by Trivium. (Concert Review for Trivium)

We saw a Fun show! Haha  The band really is called...fun.  (Concert Review for fun.)

-B.D. Riley’s Pub & Restaurant—To eat and see a band


My Review and Comments: 
B.D Riley’s is an Irish Pub & Restaurant that had pretty good food.  I had their half-pint sized burgers, which was three small burgers with the works.  Pretty tasty.

There was a band performing on this small stage in the corner of the restaurant.  It was a 3-piece band with a guitarist, a bass and a drummer.  The band never said their name and none of the employees we asked knew who the band's name either.  The band was a killer loud rock/metal band and you couldn’t hear the lead singer’s vocals at all.  Though, the band did have a good beat going on.

(from left to right:  Jonathan, Mary, Carol and Wes)
My Review and Comments:
Long story short, around October 2011 I saw on Bart Crow’s Facebook Page a music video he had posted called, Brass Tacks by this band called Not In The Face.  I really like the song and the video, so I posted it on my blog and I liked Not In The Face’s Facebook page.  A few days later I noticed that Not In The Face posted their Brass Tacks video on WRFL’s Facebook page.  My WRFL co-workers encouraged me to contact the band and maybe try to bring them here to do a concert in Lexington.  I e-mailed Not In The Face from their home website and ever since them I’ve been in contact with Not In The Face’s manager.

I had e-mailed Not In The Face's manager a few weeks before SXSW about possibly getting an interview with Jonathan and Wes from Not In The Face during SXSW.

We never set up a time or date, but wouldn’t you believe it, but I saw Jonathan and Wes walking down the street and I looked at Mary and go…”Those are the guys from Not In the Face”.  Mary told me to go and talk to them, so I did.

I felt like a total stalker, because I started walking behind them down the street and I didn’t have a clue what to say, so I was just like, “Hey, aren’t you guys from Not In The Face?”  To my surprise they actually heard me, because if you know me I’m a quite person with a soft voice, but they heard me and they turned around and they were like ya we are. 

I began spitting word vomit out of my mouth, because I got nervous, and when I get nervous I have all of these thoughts, but I just can’t put them in order to make logical sense.  But somehow I must have got my thoughts in an understandable order, because I told them how I had been in contact with their manager and luckily I had a WRFL sticker in my hand that I gave to them and explained to them how they posted on WRFL's Facebook wall.  Why did I have a WRFL sticker in my hand?  I don’t remember why I did, but I’m glad I had that WRFL sticker in my hand, because I probably would have looked like a total loon without it. (insert chuckle here)

But Jonathan and Wes were like do you just want to go ahead and do the interview now.  I told them if they had the time and if that was convenient for them and they said ya.  I was completely taken away by their kindness.  They were super sweet guys, totally laid-back and down-to-earth.  I can’t say enough good things about them.  Absolutely the two nicest gentlemen I’ve ever met.

Mary and I went up to Buffalo Billiards with Jonathan and Wes to do the interview.  One of the best interviews I’ve ever done!  So, glad to meet them.

-Maggie Mae’s/Maggie Mae’s Rooftop
-Saw:  Marcus Foster / The Apache Relay 


Marcus Foster
 -Saw Best Best Best Friend Band on the street performing

-Buffalo Billiards
-Saw:  Not In The Face

                        



My Review and Comments:
First, I just want to say that Buffalo Billiards is a great venue and it was the perfect space for Not In The Face’s show.

Second, Not In The Face put on a kick-ass show at Buffalo Billiards.  It was loud, energetic, fun and I mean I feel like I’m using generic words here to describe their show, but I just don’t know how else to explain their show other than it kicked some serious ass.

There’s only two guys in Not In The Face, Jonathan and Wes and you know you can compare them to other 2-piece bands, such as the famous White Stripes, but don’t.  Just go see a Not In The Face show and you’ll know what I’m trying to convey here.  Just got to a Not In The Face Show and you’ll know…you’ll know! 

Also we met the lead singer, Joshua, from The Blind Pets at the show.

-1100 Warehouse
-Saw:  Andrew W.K. 






 
My Review and Comments:
Mary and I moshed pitted at the Andrew W.K. concert and we also helped people crowd surf. 

This was my first mosh pit and my first time helping other people crowd surf. (I was not brave enough to crowd surf myself).

When I was mosh pitting I thought this is soooo cool!  I’m mosh pitting at an Andrew W.K concert.  For once in my life, I am cool!  Then after the mosh pit I thought…I could’ve died!  Like seriously…I could’ve died.  Those mosh pits are dangerous.

The next day or the morning after the Andrew W.K concert I had a bruise on my left ankle.  I remembered someone stepping on me in the mosh pit, that’s probably how I got the bruise.

My first thought was I have a bruise from mosh pitting at an Andrew W.K. concert.  For once in my life, I’m cool!  Then I thought…I could’ve died!  Like seriously…I could’ve died.  Those mosh pits are dangerous.  (It’s March 24, 2012 and the bruise is still there. haha)

-Clive Bar
-Saw:  Motion City Soundtrack 

Motion City Soundtrack at Clive's Bar

Saturday, March 31, 2012

SXSW 2012 Detailed Outline Day 2


Day Two
Thursday, March 15, 2012

-Woke-up—bagel and coffee at Pete and Lisa’s

-Pete and Lisa dropped us off at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Austin

-Latitude 30 for the showcase British Embassy Music SXSW 2012
-Saw:  Morning Parade / Bitches

Bitches
My Review and Comments:
I really liked the band Bitches.  It was guy on guitar and vocals and a woman on drums and vocals.  I really liked it when the guy would go, “We’re Bitches.”  I was like that is soooo rock n’ roll.

-La Zona Rosa
-Saw:  The Staves / Crystal Fighters

The Staves
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
Crystal Fighters
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
 My Review and Comments:
The Staves were amazing.  Their harmonies are spot on and they all three have the sweetest voices.

The Crystal Fighters were so entertaining.  I loved their show and their sound.  They kind of reminded me of mix between a reggae band and ska punk band.  Very cool show and they have a very cool sound.

-The Studio by HGTV—We painted on the wall (Interview with Jonathan)

WRFL is on the wall!!!  Right by the HGTV show Junk Gypsies!!! 

-IFC Crossroads House at Vice
-Saw:  Polica / Punch Brothers
-Interview with Space Between Words

Punch Brothers
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
My Review and Comments:
After watching Polica and the Punch Brothers, Mary and I sat down and met four nice guys in a band, called Space Between Words.  We were able to get a few words with them for a quick interview.

-tenOak
-Saw:  Two Cow Garage  / Cheap Girls 

Two Cow Garage
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
Two Cow Garage
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
My Review and Comments:
Two Cow Garage is one of my favorite bands of all time and this was my first time seeing them live.  And I just have to say that after seeing a Two Cow Garage concert if you are not in love with them, then just quit listening to music.  Just stop.  Harsh?  Maybe.  Should I go that far saying something like that?  I think yes and after you see a Two Cow Garage, you will agree too.

Two Cow Garage is a 3-piece band that is a loud in your face cow-punk band that is here to melt your face off, give your fist pumping hand early stages of arthritis and give your bobbing head whiplash.  One of my favorite live performances of all time.  Two Cow Garage knows how to put on a show and deliver.

Mary and I got to meet Micah the frontman for Two Cow Garage.  He was super sweet and gracious, when I congratulated him on an awesome show and told him how I’ve been  following his band for a long time, that I loved his solo stuff and that I thought he was a terrifc songwriter and vocalist.  I just couldn’t say enough, then again it was probably the word vomit again, because I was nervous talking to Micah.  I mean this was Micah from Two Cow Garage that I was talking to.  The frontman from a band that I’ve been following for four or five years now.  A band that’s music changed my entire life.  Two of their songs saved my life, Glass City and Humble Narrator, which they performed that night at tenOak.  I was sooo excited to hear and see those two songs performed live.

Two Cow Garage a band’s music totally worth checking out and a band totally worth seeing live.

-The Iron Bear
-Saw:  The Ettes / VHS or Beta

The Ettes
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)
My Review and Comments:
The Ettes were great!  They have a great sound and are great live!  The drummer is pretty much amazing to watch.

VHS or Beta was a pretty cool electronic/techno/rock band.  A little different from my taste, but I definitely dug their sound.

-Buffalo Billiards
-Saw:  Say Anything