The suds haven’t quite settled yet, my ears are angry at me and my feet are currently staging a revolt.
But it’s all worth it.
My first day at South by South West Music Festival gave me a round house kick to the kisser…and it’s only just begun.
After a slow start, Thursday, and my 2 ½ hour flight delay at Harlingen airport (thank you Southwest Airlines) I thought, “that’s it, I’m going to miss it all.”
Gulp.
I decided to make good use of my time and saddle up at the airport bar. I knew I had a long day/night ahead of me and I needed to be properly hydrated to battle the masses.
The eagle has landed…
My first order of business was to crash the Metal BBQ downtown…but by the time I flew in the metal mayhem was over and done with as was the Motorhead show earlier in the afternoon.
Rats!
I got over the heartbreak once I arrived downtown and witnessed a sea of sticky, scruffy and tattooed brethren roaming the streets.
Music spilled out of every crevasse…every nook and cranny oozed musical independence. You could feel the ambition. You could see it in their eyes. They are the musicians who want your attention. Whether it was passing out demo’s, holding up signs or staging impromptu jam sessions…this was their (and mine) rock ‘n roll Disneyland.
In the presence of greatness…
As intimidating it is to be at such a world-renknown festival, trying to jot down notes and soak in all of your surroundings to accurately report the goings on…it’s also exciting to rub elbows with hundreds of music journalists who were once like me.
The Los Angeles Times, Kerrang, Filter, MTV…they’ve made their presence known and it’s an honor to be under the same Austin sky as some of these guys and gals.
There’s Matt Pinfield, whom I consider the czar of music journalism. He’s the rock 411. He’s one of the reasons why I got into this type of writing.
I wave. He nods his head. (His latest gig on DirecTV takes him to the epicenter of the festival with live coverage and interviews…but they gotta can that British blondie, Lauren Laverne).
Cisco Adler (Whitestarr) was just in the interview tent.
South by SouthSweat…
My mission for Thursday was to check out the annual Relapse Records showcase at the Emo’s Annex on Red River.
This showcase, the label’s 10th consecutive at SXSW, welcomed High on Fire, Genghis Tron, Coliseum, Vverevvolf Grehv and Municipal Waste.
First lesson learned: don’t leave a showcase if you don’t want to wait an hour to get back in (damn you badge holders)!!!
Electro-death outfit, Genghis Tron blew me away. As I watched from outside (cause we’re STILL in line) I soaked in each drop of metal.
Thank goodness for open-air shows.
I’m quite angry at Relapse, but the line shortens and moves faster…whew.
We’re in…and just in time for Municipal Waste.
I grabbed a Miller High Life (because it was way cheaper) and squeezed my way towards the front half of the tent.
Right out the gate this crossover thrash act out of Richmond, VA zapped the crowd of screaming metalheads back in time. When thrash ruled the world.
Now this isn’t your daddy’s thrash. It’s a breath of fresh air, er, debauchery, beer and flying bodies.
It was like Suicidal Tendencies on crank.
I don’t know if it was the beer-bonging wizard or the guy crowd surfing inside a trash can that won me over.
No one was safe from the ‘Beer Pressure’!!!
After that set I don’t know if I could physically continue. But I had to…High on Fire was about to kick my rear end.
With a nine-string custom guitar, frontman Matt Pike fingerpicked his way into the fan’s hearts.
They opened the show with, “Waste of Demons,” double bass in full force followed by a wall of sound that I really didn’t expect. It’s a three-piece for goodness sakes.
Fierce.
In addition to SXSW the California metallers will embark on Gigantour 2008 featuring Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom and Job for a Cowboy.
But tonight, was for us…and was one helluva show.
Goodnight kids…
After (literally) bumping into the guys of Augustana on our way to the car…I knew this was going to be one of the best weekends in a long time.
Catch more updates and video throughout the weekend right here at Scene and Heard.
Check out Day 1 of SXSW…
Cheers!
I was sick and i needed bed rest and by bed rest, i mean going to SXSW to watch really loud bands and drink free 16oz lonestars, ill rest when im dead.