All I’ve ever heard related with that infamous acronym SxSW, better known as South by South West were mixed reviews that ranged from “marketing over-saturation” to “famous indie bands playing at garages.”
This year the powers of the cosmos aligned my last spring break as an undergrad with the festival and without much of a plan I bought a ticket to Austin to find out what all the buzz is about.
The motto for my trip was “NO FOMO.” You see, I’m the type who wants to be everywhere when it comes to music. At a festival where over 2,000 bands and artists come from all over the world and names like The Flaming Lips, Prince and Solange on bills, it’s hard to not feel you need to be at every show.
This time though, putting aside that “Fear Of Missing Out” resulted on a memorable mayhem of music discoveries and friendship building that no Justin Timberlake show could ever replace.
My top 10 favorite moments from SxSW:
1. Pitchfork Party – Azari & III Dance-off
Despite the soundcheck problems (a common trend throughout the festival), Azari & III, the Toronto house group, made the wait worthwhile, as they challenged the grumpy crowd with rising vocals and contagious dance moves. Toward the end of the set Fitz Helder started a dance party with the audience up front and had a mini-dance-off with yours truly — uh, huh, you bettuh werk!. To cool off from that episode, I went outside just in time to catch Local Natives make lips kiss and sing to “You & I” and “ Ceilings.” The night was closed by tectonic pop sounds from Swedish sweethearts Icona Pop and sweet nu-disco from Jon Talabot.
2. Wild Honey Pie of Awesomeness
I arrived at SideBar and was greeted by a group of hot girls jamming out to some solid pop sounds by Lucius. Out on the patio, Body Language were as groovy as I remembered them from the first time when I saw them at Trillectro. The Brooklyn band made people loose their heads with their signature blend of global rhythms, techie synths and soulful vocals of lead singer Angelica Bess.
The God of Chill wave soon manifested with neo-psychedelic guitars and dreamy vocals from Philly-based, Vacationer. Their songs were well layered and Kenny Vasoli’s pitch was heartfelt and warm.
Before I left, the b-room art told me “This is the time and place to be alive!” I couldn’t have agreed more.
3. Kingdom Party
It’s a not a complete day in Austin, until you break in your cowboy boots to house and bass. The highlight of this party was hearing Claude Van Stroke playing Frank Ocean’s “Thinking About You” followed by a surprised appearance of Soul Clap. As if it couldn’t get any better, Starving Yet Full from Azari & III improvised a song with the Bostonian funk masters. Completely extraterrestrial.
4. Isaac Delusion
The first word that I can use to describe these Parisians is dreamy but that wouldn’t do justice to magic these three boys make happen with only a synthesizer, guitar and vocals. Their mixture of ’70s indie-pop and carefully crafted loops in “Midnight Sun” reminds me a little of Arthur Russell and Radiohead, but then with danceable tunes like “Early Morning” and “Waiting.” I think of Phoenix, and I then I’m short of words again… Take a listen and see what what I’m talking about. (WARNING: You might get stuck listening to these tracks on repeat)
5. His Clansyness, Mi piace molto
I went to Flat Top Burger Shop to get veggie burger and ended up leaving craving His Clansyness. As I was waiting for my order, a band composed by two boys and two girls from Bologna, Italy started playing well-crafted melodies at the garage next door. Mi piace molto!
6. D.C. in the motherf$%ng house!
It made me so happy to see D.C. bands sweeping Austin of their feet! I finally got to see GRNGLDRD preformed their contagious “I Love Lamp” (which they actually just performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at the House of Vans. Dudes are mad talented!
Later that day I had a pleasant run with Shark Week at Lambert’s. Heard great comments from all their gigs. Unfortunately, I did not get to see the dreamy duo, Gems perform live, but I saw them on Spin’s must SX see bands list and their video “Pegasus” rocks. Can I please get yeehaw for all of these cats!?
7. WaterlooRecords Showcase
After touring Austin landmarks on a scooter with my new friend from Austin, Bella Isabella, we arrived in perfect time to catch Frightened Rabbit lead singer crack jokes about being pale and heard them perform “The Woodpile” and “State Hospital.”
The sun begun to get hot and the volume of the crowd doubled when the ALT-J was getting ready to get up on stage. The heat, the lack of space completely disappeared when my ears heard these dudes for the first time. The manner they effortlessly layered their songs with folky rhythms, happy pop and darker beats gave me goosebumps. These dudes are brilliant!
8. Couchsessions “The Circus”
When legends like George Clinton and Eryka Badu are on the bill you bet the lines are going to be astronomical and police might have to get involved. I arrived at Empire Garage at about 2:30 p.m., just in time to once again witness Body Language in action but this time I was blown away when I heard them play a new track. I warmly remembered the whole band having a dance party on stage; Bess looking stunning in a cheetah dress and hitting some high notes to Ian Chang’s drums, while Grant Wheeler and Matt Young were going mental on the keys. To continue with the high energy, Allen Stone, made arms raise up high with his deep verses and soulful blues. As sweat dripped with each strike of the strings, you could feel the sincerity of his beautiful voice. He wore his heart on his sleeve.
I was hanging in the back recharging my phone next to R&B artist Jesse Boykins III when we heard that the police wanted to shut down the party (I’m guessing the line outside was so long — literaly going over a block) that it was disrupting public space in Austin. All in all, I commend Winston Ford, the main man behind Couchsessions, for having the vision to put on an event that showcased such a soulful and diverse line up of artists.
Oh yeah, Phuck the Police.
9. Hotel Vegas
New York’s own Chris Cohen lured me into the venue with breezy melodies packed with sneering drums and fleeting falsettos. Followed by a super posh band of 20-something’s from Amsterdam got under the dim red light and played tunes so cheery and innocent that they were almost melancholic. The psychedelic way Jacco Gardner, combined strings, flutes and other classical instruments reminded me of Tame Impala and produced brought “A Clockwork Orange” to mind. Anyway, I liked these kids so much that I spent my last dollars buying a t-shirt and CDs. Which reminds me guys, if you truly like a band, BUY THEIR MERCH!
After cutting up my new acquisition and making it my own, I got down to the frantic synths and guitar sounds of New Jersey’s Delicate Steve. These dudes packed the room and drew the crowd to ecstasy with a multi-layered sounds and an impeccable guitar set that had a voice of its own. If I could capture any moment of this festival and put it in jar forever it would be dancing to ’50s pop under a waning moon with all of these dudes.
10. Chasing chickens
Going with the flow resulted in finding the most hospitable and carrying cats, in culinary explorations, making friends with the raddest cab drivers, having random encounters walking down the street, the smell of orchids being the last memory of a night, waking up and chasing chickens, having deep convos under moonlight by a bonfire… The list goes on and on.
These moments when stories and dreams were shared, when we were so lost in music that we forgot about time, when we smiled with our eyes and knew that all we had was “right here and right now.” Those moments you guys, were truly my favorite times of South By.