Austin ModHouse

I had a friend in from Louisiana to enjoy SXSW.  we took the kids along to the Urban Outfitters back lot party.  they had free pizza, free beer, free bags with swag in them, and the kids enjoyed the arts and crafts table. 

Mount Moriah

Icky Blossoms (think, My Life With The THRILL KILL KULT)

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My mom whisked the kids home while we made our way to 6th and Red River area.  stopped in for some death metal at the House of VANS (pallbearer above and wet lungs below)

if I had to caption the pic below: three grizzly bears, and a drummer

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we found ourselves at a garnier party.  I let some hairdresser girl put some spooge in my hair and we enjoyed open bar and DJ.  then, we decided that was enough.  we had a LONG walk back to the car and we'd already had a full day.  but sometimes, the day/night takes unexpected turns. 

I had my hype hotel wristband for day parties, my partner did not.  I suggested we stop by and see if we could get one, they'd closed the RSVP.  I approached the person in charge of wristbands and tried to explain our situation.  the reply I got was "OK, you're part of the technical crew, go on in".  so I did, and I motioned for my friend to follow.  they were between day/night parties...  all we had to do, look technical for a few hours.

we watched people with brooms sweep up the trash, Jim James did a soundcheck, we found a dark corner and waited.  I figured that unless we make and ass of ourselves (always a possibility) then nobody would take notice us.  our patience paid off.  we enjoyed free taco bell food and free tito's and monster (sorry but I can't stand monster, but it probably helped me make it through the night).  and somehow, it was suggested we might enjoy the VIP area.... it was good info.  we did enjoy it.  it was like being on stage with the artists, and it was open bar. 

twin peaks

calvin love

the orwells...  17 years old.  played hard, and just about got roughed up by the stage crew when the singer snapped the mic cord and it went sailing into the crowd and he then did a roundhouse kick at the mic stand that then went flying into the guitar player... 

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phosphorescent.  keyboard player was late, did some dance up there while some girl said this to me, "I need something to throw! can I have a piece of your ice?"  at first I was a little protective.  I gave her one piece and she threw it at the keyboard player while yelling "YOU ASSHOLE!"  then I remembered I had an open bar in the VIP area, so I gave her the rest of my ice.  she let loose with a barrage that finally got his attention.  I laughed, a lot. 

Foxygen came on late.  I was really looking forward to seeing them.  unfortunately, their live act didn't live up to the hype surrounding them.  we need more than just volume and jumping around on stage.  it's sxsw, you need to work at playing for the audience, and not just creating chaos and expecting it to be art.   

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and FOXYGEN's sound sucked, couldn't make out a single instrument or vocal.  but good things were in store for us, the patient guys all jacked up on tito's and monster drink in the VIP area

Jim James owned the show. 

I posted the Jim James pics on a different entry (thanks Jim and Hype Hotel and Tito's vodka... and all you beautiful people)

we rolled out after 3 AM.  the car was still a LONG walk away.  then I caught this guy (below), from London, as he was falling.  he was not so good at the whole walking standing thing.  we propped him and I tried to make sure he was safely back at his hotel. 

you might be in a bad way when guys like us are telling you to slow down...  just sayin' 

after 30 mins, he started to dance to a street band... we never did get him to his hotel.  he never did remember what hotel he was supposed to be at.  hope you made it back safely SXSW London guy.

so we walked, and we walked.  my friend gave was about to give up faith in my ability to navigate, "we're walking in CIRCLES!  you're LOST!" 

nah, I always knew where the car was.  it was just a long walk... UP hill.  I think it did us some good.