SXSW 2012 Detailed Outline Day 3

Day Three
Friday, March 16, 2012

-Pete and Lisa took us sightseeing around Austin

My Review and Comments:
Austin is the closest I’ve ever been to heaven!

They don’t call it Hilltop country for nothing!  There were hills everywhere.  There was green everywhere….green treetops and green grass.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  No words can describe Austin’s beautiful landscape.

I asked Pete and Lisa if they knew of a place where I could pick a Bluebonnet.  Lisa said that picking a Bluebonnet flower was illegal.  I was like oh…okay never mind, I didn’t know that.  Then she said she was joking and we eventually pulled over on the side of the road and I picked two Bluebonnet flowers and two Indian Blanket flowers.

I still don’t really know if picking a Bluebonnet flower is illegal, but I have two of them and if any Texas officials read this and want to confiscate my flowers, I’ll surrender them.

-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

My Review and Comments: 
Delicious Food.  I had scrambled eggs with bacon in a wrap pocket thing, accompanied by Texas salsa.  Delicious!

-Peddy Cab to South Congress Street

My Review and Comments:

Taking a peddy cab to South Congress Street was interesting to say the least.  It was a long ride or pedal, but our peddy cab driver was very nice about it. 

A coconut water brand sponsored our peddy cab driver’s peddy cab and he offered us bottles of mango flavored coconut water.

We actually had to get off of the peddy cab once because the driver went down a sidewalk that was between some buildings and some vehicles and the peddy cab couldn’t get through the tight space.  So, Mary and I had I to exit the peddy cab and the driver had to pull the peddy cab back about 20 feet before he could put the peddy cab back on the road.  (Good Times)

-Hotel San Jose
-Saw:  Dry The River 

Dry The River

My Review and Comments: 

Dry The River was a very mellow and cool band from London.  I really liked them.

At the end of the concert the frontman ran off stage and went backstage, while the rest of the band ended playing the set.  It was a very awkward moment and the crowd didn’t know how to respond. 

I thought it was very rock n’ roll and that probably the frontman was about ready to get sick.  Probably one or two, too many alcoholic beverages.  Poor fella.

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

-St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

My Review and Comments:

Mary and I had the pleasure of meeting this really nice lady who worked at the store.  She told me she was a volunteer there.  This intrigued me, so this is what I found out about the store…

St. Vincent de Paul Stores of Austin are owned and operated by the Ladies of Charity of Austin, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Diocesan Council of Austin.  Together, these organizations offer basic needs assistance to those in the community.  The store provides goods and services, along with funding for other outreach programs sponsored by these two groups.

Pretty cool program…ehhh?!

-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
 

My Review and Comments:
Long story.  Damn the taxi system in Austin.

-Ate Stubb’s BBQ

My Review and Comments:

Eating at the famous Stubb’s BBQ….amazing.

Wonderful food and service.

I got pulled pork BBQ, fried okra, a side of hand-cut French fries and a piece of Texas white bread.

Best BBQ and best side items I’ve ever had.

As soon as we ordered we got our food.  Just like that.  We ordered and then BAM…food.  No kidding.  The man who brought us our food apologized for the wait.  I looked at Mary and thought this is what we ordered, but...we just ordered.

Our waitress came by and asked how our food was and we said great and we also commented about how fast we got our food.  Our waitress explained that the BBQ is prepared hours before so all they have to do is plop it on the plate.  (How cool is that!)

I also got a famous Stubb’s BBQ t-shirt. (classy)

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

Part of the general admission line to get in to Mohawk Patio

Codes
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

AraabMUZIK
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Madeon
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Zeds Dead
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Skrillex
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

My Review and Comments:

Mary and I got into this show super quick, because we got priority access due to our wristband/press passes.  There was a line for general admission that was about a block or so long.  Most of the general admission line consisted of younger kids.  The bouncer told Mary and I that there had been people standing there since 9 a.m., just to see Skrillex, who was the main performer of the concert.  And Skrillex wasn’t set to perform until 11 p.m.

The music played at this showcase was dubstep/electronic music.  I know that Skrillex is kind of a big deal in that genre and that he recently won a Grammy, but I still don’t get that kind of music. 

I mean the music was great if you where in a club, but not for a concert.  All it is, is one or two dudes hitting buttons and switches.  

I completely respect what Skrillex and the other artists like him do, but that music just isn’t for me.  It’s computer generated, electronic music that is pretty much…at least to me I considered it as glorified DJing. 

-IFC Crossroads House at Vice

-Saw:  Citizen Cope

Citizen Cope
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

-Easy Tiger Patio

-Saw:  Girl In A Coma

Girl In A Coma
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Girl In A Coma
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

 My Review and Comments:

A totally kick-ass three piece girl band from Austin, Texas.  They are hard-core, in your face, hold nothing back and tell you like it is girls.  I love them.  Amazing sound, amazing vocals and amazing live performers.  Gotta love Girl In A Coma.  If you haven’t seen them live, I suggest that you do.

SXSW 2012 Detailed Outline Day 4

Day Four

Saturday, March 17, 2012

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

-Went to The Coffee Cup

My Review and Comments:

I tried the Vanilla Latte on ice.  I highly recommend this.  It’s like drinking heaven in heaven (Austin, Texas = heaven).

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

-Mixology Townhouse
-Saw:  Audic Empire 

Audic Empire

My Review and Comments: 
Audic Empire is a Reggae band from Austin, Texas. 

I met Josh one of the guitarists in the band at Waterloo Records on Wednesday.  He told me about his band and Mary and I went to his band’s show on Saturday.

I really liked their performance a lot.  I thought they were a very polished band.  I hinted some rock, blues and psychedelic influences intertwined with their Reggae.  Very cool show and I loved their performance.

-Mechanical bull at Antone’s

 My Review and Comments:

We entered into the famous Antone’s and there was a guy with his acoustic guitar sitting on a stool pouring his heart out singing to an empty room.  My heart went out to that guy.

At Antone’s I got on the mechanical bull to only take a picture, not to ride it.  And a future note to keep to myself when I go back to Austin, Texas.  Don’t attempt riding the mechanical bull at Antone’s, because I’m too short to jump up and get on the bull.  Really?! It took me three times to jump up on the bull and I never sat on it.  I just laid on it.

- Latitude 30 for the showcase British Embassy Music SXSW 2012

-Ate at El Sol Y la Luna 

 My Review and Comments:

I ate Migas.  The Migas were delicious.  Moderately recommend.

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

Ed Sheeran
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Timbaland and Perez Hilton
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Kreayshawn
(Photo Taken  By:  Mary Allen)

Perez Hilton with the check for VH1's Save The Music
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

Dragonette
(Photo Taken By:  Mary Allen)

 My Review and Comments:
Well Mary and I originally were going to this showcase to go see Kreayshawn perform.  I thought this showcase was going to be in a little bar.  Plus I knew, but I didn’t realize at that time who all the artists were going to be performing alongside Kreayshawn, so I thought it would be easy to get into this little bar…see Kreayshawn and go.  Well, I was wrong.

We get to the venue and it was guest list only.  Somehow we got in.  I don’t think we were supposed to, but we did.  (And as I’m writing this I’m thinking what if someone really, really important reads this and I get in trouble for getting into Perez Hilton’s One Night in Austin Showcase.  Then another thought comes to me...it’s okay.  Who’s gonna do what now?  In about a month or two I’ll probably hear a knock at my door from the proper authorities. Oh, Boy!)

So, Mary and I are at this venue and that’s when we or at least I realize this is Perez Hilton’s One Night in Austin showcase.  I really didn’t know at the time who Perez Hilton was, but I’ve heard of him and I’ve heard of the Hilton Hotel chain.  Also we both realize that this showcase is kind of like VIP…hence the guest list.

The music was not my cup of tea.  I absolutely cannot stand pop music and this is what this showcase was.  It was pop music that is or is borderline mainstream.  This showcase is what I think shouldn’t be a showcase at SXSW, because of the mainstream appeal.

Nonetheless, we were there, we stayed.  At least all the proceeds from the ticket sales at Perez Hilton’s One Night In Austin Showcase was going to VH1’s Save The Music Foundation.

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"