sxsw

so most of last week was devoted to going to shows/parties at sxsw and making my body want to go on strike with all the alcohol i consumed.

everything started off on sunday, march 9, at the gawker media party at sidebar. as usual, there was a huge crowd.

yeah. that's what you get when you have an open bar and no requirement to get in. this party was technically part of the interactive portion of sxsw, but still, it was the start for me.

the music started on wednesday, march 12. i got a late start to the day. also, i was unprepared, having forgotten to check my camera battery before leaving my place, so all i got were some blurry pictures of octopus project.

anyway. when i got to red-eyed fly, white denim had just started. i was pleasantly surprised by them. they put on a good show. after their set, i decided to wander around for a bit before octopus project went on (this was a mistake i'll get into later). i went into emo's and panther was on. i don't know what this guy was on, but i want whatever it is. he was so overly energetic, but in a good way. after that, i decided to head back to red-eyed fly and ran into leanne's friend emilie, who was also headed to red-eyed fly for octopus project. there was a line. a long, long line. the band started while we were still in line. got in finally to hear their last three songs.

after that, it was off to chain drive. i forgot the first band i saw, but rails to russia was really good. i was mainly there to see stanley roy and the pig fuckers, who put on a good show, as usual. the night ended with noise revival orchestra experience, which was interesting, but i think i was too drunk by then (and weirded out by running into michael there) to fully enjoy them.

ok, on to thursday, march 13. again, started off at red-eyed fly and got there just in time to get to see the raveonettes setting up. i ran into my friend carrie there, and we got all the way to the front and totally rocked out.

they put on a great show, and now i really have to get their latest album.

then i was off to dirty dog to see the donnas. i hadn't seen them in about 10 years. but once they started, it seemed like i had just seen them last week.


then it was off to chain drive again. i went to see buttercup, but they cancelled. but i did catch sybris, a band from chicago. they were great, and such nice people. before their set started, the drummer, eric, bought everyone on the patio a jello shot. he and i even had a conversation for a while.

after the show, i struck up a conversation with their singer, angela, and she totally didn't mean to match her outfit with her guitar. again, such nice people.

i started off friday, march 14, at klru to see the breeders.

for as long as i've been a fan of the breeders, this was actually the first time i saw them. what's really sad is, while i was watching them, i couldn't help but think of the episode of buffy they were on. this was also the first time i'd ever been on the set of austin city limits. anyway. they put on a good, short set. there were also being interviewed because the whole thing was being broadcast live on some radio station from seattle. they played three songs off their upcoming album and ended with "cannonball".

i was going to see benko at quack's after, but i was so exhausted (and hungover) that i went home to nap before having to go to work.

after work, i headed over to longbranch inn with the intent to see donita sparks (who cancelled). instead, i enjoyed the other bands that played. lozen is a duo from tacoma, and i just wanted to hug them both. two cute, pixie-ish girls who fucking rock. loved them. then there was the s-s-s-spectres, who were also great. i ran into my friend chad, who was there to see them. the last band that played was model/actress. and i loved them, not just because they were bonerific.

but seriously, this guys put on a great show.

on saturday, i tried to go to the rachael ray day show at beauty bar, if just for the shear spectacle of it, but there was a line that went down 7th and curved up red river, so i passed. i decided to head down to home slice to check out the bands there (because my friend ray had put the line up together). i saw one band who's name i can't remember, and then left because i was just so hungover that i had to take a nap.

and that was the end for me. now, back to normal, or what passes for normal for me. ha.