SXSW - 2009 Coverage Post #3

South by Southwest Coverage 2009.

3.20.09, 3:59 pm: Post dog-walking.

Last night was amazing. 17 consecutive hours of travel and we showed up just in time for a great set at Ms. Bea’s, Todd P’s backyard venue. I ate a delicious hot dog served by the friendly staff and watched some amazing sets. Raucous guitar noise.

Then the real Bushwick/New York vibe started to pick up, some buddies from Team Robespierre, Make The Product!, The Pharmacy and other pals sat in a parking lot, excited to be in warm weather after a particularly brutal winter. We picked up some beers and walked over to a local record store to see Japanther, link up with some other NY friends and walk downtown into the nexus of activity. Seeing the wristband scene at SXSW is always interesting, such a different atmosphere than the Todd P events and other DIY free stuff.

Then the real reason that I come to SXSW started happening. My friend Travis, his girlfriend Holly, our friend Ari and I picked up some bikes they had stashed and took a long bike ride down by the river. We ended up chilling in the Hyatt hot tub at 2AM in balmy Austin air after waking up in grimy, gritty New York really worked for me.

On our way out of the pool, we saw some people carrying a big cooler of beers. They were throwing a little party on the boat and about 20 of us fit in and cruised around the Colorado river. A band played and everyone picked up instruments and we all sang Weezer songs. A little saccharine maybe, but come on. You’re only young once, and things like this actually make you feel a sense of connection with human beings. We fell asleep out on the boat (under a tablecloth… oops) and woke up when the boat landed. A quick bike ride home and we were asleep. Wonderful day.

I just ate some delicious tacos and drank wonderful coffee at a great little place. Celebration, Hopewell, and Dirty Projectors were all doing the same. Now it’s a quick shower and then a bike ride downtown to see These Are Powers and Vivian Girls, then Emo’s to see Dirty Projectors. Ahhhhh…. :)
-Benjamin Shapiro