If there is one common thread everyone can agree on about SXSW, it’s that your body takes a BEATING. So rather than tell you about the trip by band, I’m doing it by malady. If anyone can point me to a first aid station in Austin… let me know.
1. Scab on finger
I have no idea when I got this scab, but on Tuesday night, I picked at it on my way to Emo’s. I had just arrived in Austin and was so excited to get downtown that I didn’t realize I was bleeding for a really long time. I was that bus person. By the time I arrived downtown it was staunched – luckily did not put a kink in my plan to see P.S. I Love You and Beach Fossils. Both were very fun, though very different: P.S. I Love you playing two-piece rock, and Beach Fossils keeping it jangly and upbeat.
2. Exhaustion
Most common SX malady. It hit me hard on Wednesday afternoon (post-Generationals, Braids, and Rainbow Arabia), and I found myself looking for a quiet lounge to recharge in at the Convention Center. I happened upon a haven of dim light, paper lanterns, and giant beanbags to chill out in, and it happened to be the Radio Day Stage. After a twenty minute power nap in a huge beanbag, I woke up to Jessica Lea Mayfield playing live. So that was pretty awesome, too.
3. Dead phone
This one will get you every time. I was desperate to charge my phone, so I went somewhere I knew I could finagle my way to an outlet. Former music committee director Patrick Tilley has been on the road with Seattle band Ivan and Alyosha, so I stopped in before their show to say hi and plug in my phone (twitter is a drain on the battery but I’ve been oversharing nonetheless: #wudsxsw). While my phone was charging, I got to see Ivan and Alyosha. I knew they’d be all right but they were great. I was seriously surprised and blown away. A treat to see and also really nice to have a full phone battery.
4. Gashed arm
This was a bad one. I was hanging out with our promotions associate director, Emily Roehl, after catching Sun Airway and Cave Singers. We sat down to await Okkervil River and get off our feet, but I had leaned on a cupboard that apparently was not secure. Because I am awesome, I stood up and it fell open on me, slicing my arm. It still looks nasssstyyy. Luckily, I survived to see Okkervil River and tell people how great Sun Airway and Cave Singers were. I saw Cave Singers at SXSW last year with a very small group and seeing them outside in a large, full venue was crazy.
5. Mild sunburn
It’s not bad at all (I SWEAR, MOM) because I was responsible and put on sunscreen, but I picked up a little color at the SXWI showcase this morning while seeing Cedarwell and Pioneer with a ton of friends from around the country. I got some more welcome sun while enjoying another Midwestern band at the French Legation Museum – sadcore staples Low of Duluth, MN.
6. Sore tailbone
In a strange, strange turn from the usual South By habit, I went to a seated showcase tonight at Central Presbyterian Church. Hosted by Pitchfork and featuring Cults, Glasser, tUnE-YarDs, Twin Shadow, and James Blake, I was getting my dance on from my seat. All the bands were absolutely amazing, though, and I do not regret my sore butt – it goes along with my sore feet anyway. It was great to see Twin Shadow again along with bands I hadn’t seen previously, including the super-hyped James Blake, who lived up to the potential his great album set for him.
This post will be copy-edited and prettied up at some point, I promise. But for now – this will do.
Party on, spring breakers –
Brigid
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