SXSW 2012 Detailed Outline Day 5

Day Five
Sunday, March 18, 2012

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

My Review and Comments:

Damn the taxi system in Austin.

-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 of the meeting 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~

Art On The Side

 Art On The Side was a wall on the building of The Studio by HGTV.  


People could come to a table beside the wall and sign a consent form and could paint whatever they wanted on the wall.  You had to sign a consent form, because there was a scaffold that you could stand on to paint and the scaffold proposed a liability issue.


"We're hoping it will take off," said Jonathan, a worker passing out fliers at the Art On The Side.  Jonathan said he worked for a company that was working with Art On The Side and that he was kind of like a third party in helping with this project. 


When I asked Jonathan if any famous people had come by to paint on the wall he said two ladies from the HGTV show, Junk Gypsies, and two twins from an interior design show on HGTV had come by to paint on the wall.


Jonathan also informed me that the building, The Studio by HGTV would be demolished in about a month after SXSW.


So, the artwork painted on this wall would be gone.


Here are some of Jonathan's favorite pieces on the wall...

Here is one of my favorite pieces on the wall...

Concert Review for Trivium

Trivium's Frontman, Matt Heafy, at SXSW 2012 at Waterloo Records
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

 Trivium is what I like to call a heeeaaavvvyyy show.


Blaring loud guitars, gut busting drums and growling vocals with sometimes screaming vocals made Trivium a definite crowd favorite Wednesday, March 14 at 4pm at Waterloo Records.


One of the reasons Trivium was such a crowd favorite was their interaction with the audience.  Frontman, Matt Heafy, stepped up to the mic and said, "There's a simple rule for a Trivium show.  Whatever we do up here, y'all do down there, because we only do that much better".


Trivium hasn't performed at SXSW since 2005 and their show March 14 at Waterloo made up for their long absence.


During the show Heafy asked the audience members to raise their hands if this was their first Trivium show.  My observation by the show of hands was that this was pretty much everyone's first time seeing Trivium.


I learned that its hard to find metal bands at SXSW or at least 'good' metal bands.  Like Heafy said up on stage, "Metal bands don't do this shit anymore."


I interviewed two audience members after the Trivium show who neither one had ever seen Trivium perform.  "It was fun.  They really got the crowd into it," said Kayleigh.  Another audience member also agreed that the band was fun and commented, "There are no hard rock shows at SXSW," said Josh.


So, finally a hard rock show and a heeeaaavvvyyy show at SXSW that was good or better yet great!


Trivium Home Website


Trivium Facebook

Concert Review for fun.

fun. at Waterloo Records at SXSW 2012

The fun. show was jam-packed and wall-to-wall on Wednesday, March 14 at Waterloo Records.


Everyone in Austin wanted to be a part of the fun. (pun intended) The place was so overflown with people that Waterloo Records Security had to bring in two Austin City policemen to clear a pathway down the sidewalk by the stores.


And even though audience members were cramped on space that didn't stop them from having a good ol' fun. time.  And that didn't stop fun. either.

At least from what I could hear and barely see, because I'm only five foot tall and with the place so overcrowded with people it was hard for me to get a peek of the all the fun.  This was my first fun. show and I've never heard of the band until that day.  So, I didn't catch names with the faces. :(


fun.'s frontman started out singing a song solo on the keys.  Then on the second song the guitarist came out and fun.'s frontman encouraged the crowd on the mic by telling the sing along if they knew the words.

By the third song the whole band was out there giving a solid performance.  fun.'s frontman got on the mic to interact with the crowd.  "This is our second show at SXSW or third show...shit," said fun.'s frontman.

fun.'s performance was pretty solid.  They're definitely a band that interacts with the crowd and makes sure to get them involved into their performance.

fun.'s Homewebsite

fun.'s Facebook

fun.'s Youtube.com channel

Those Manic Seas

When you see three guys standing on the street with a robot, handing out CDs...you just have to stop and ask what in the world is going on.


I stopped and asked one of three guys what was with the robot and he said that the robot was their singer and that they were in a band.  

And when someone tells you that they have a robot as their singer for their band...you have to ask more questions.  Then you have to ask for a quick interview.  That's what I did and this is what I got.


The three-piece band with a robot as a singer is Those Manic Seas from Richmond, Virginia.  

Those Manic Seas include Daniel Medley on drums, Chris Westfall on bass, Curtis Park on guitar and their robot or machine or their lead vocalist that's not a real person.


I asked the fellas, why the robot?  They said they had issues finding a lead singer, so they built a singer.


How the robot/machine/not real person works is that Those Manic Seas have three singers sing their songs and the songs are pre-recorded for their lead vocalist to sing at their shows.  They have the robot on stage and their is a face that appears on the TV screen of the robot and the robot sings.  Simple as that.


The machine has been with them for about one and half years they told me, but they've been a band since September 2011.


This was their first time to SXSW and also their first time west of the Alabama state line.  After SXSW they plan to do more touring along the east coast.


Those Manic Seas described their sound as loud, energetic, rock and a fun light show at their concerts. 


Their influences are Mutemath, early U2 and Modest Mouse.

Those Manic Seas are definitely a band that are doing things in a different way, but doing things their way.  Keep an eye out for them.

Those Manic Seas Homewebsite  


Those Manic Seas Facebook

"Streets Assunder"

Space Between Words

An edgy alternative, garage band from Miami, Florida brought a little sunshine with them to SXSW 2012. 

And what I mean by sunshine is their latest EP, The Valley of the Lizard King, which was released on March 20.

The EP is a lyrical roller coaster ride that takes you through the twists and turns that life sets in your way.


If you're curious exactly what Space Between Words sounds like, The Miami New Times describes them as, "If Weezer's Pinkerton and The Pixes' Doolittle made passionate love on a hot night in a dingy motel with a broken air-conditioner, that would be Space Between Words."


So, there you go...and follow the links below for more information.  Do it!!!


Space Between Words Home Website


Space Between Words Facebook


"Over Complicated Mind"

Spoek Mathambo and Theo

SXSW 2012 at Waterloo Records (Picture Taken By:  Mary Allen)

I was intrigued by the rapping and hip hop sounds that I heard while standing outside of the Waterloo Record Store.

I found out the performers on stage at the time were Spoek Mathambo and Theo and they were both going to be signing autographs after their performance.

I approached Spoek Mathambo and Theo's manager in Waterloo Records when the two were signing autographs.  I asked their manager if I could ask the two gentleman a few quick questions.  

Their manager asked Spoek Mathambo and Theo and fortunately I was able to ask Spoek Mathambo and Theo a few questions.

I discovered that this was Theo's first time in the U.S. and that Spoek Mathambo and Theo have never toured together and that this was their first time touring together.

The two met in high school in South Africa.  After high school they didn't see each other for ten years.  And after ten years they reconnected.  Now, their writing songs together and touring together for the first time.


They described their sound as vintage South African hip-hop with soul and classic South African sounds.


Spoek Mathambo and Theo also mentioned that they are translating their influences into one sound.  They are taking their background into the future by pushing South African sounds forward.

I find their music intriguing and very unique.  Check out the links below for more information....

Spoek Mathambo Home Website

Spoek Mathambo myspace


"Control"

"Father Creeper" - EPK 2012