I’m at the airport, waiting for my connecting flight to St. Louis. Fortunately, in Austin the music never stops: SXSW is hosting local bands all day in the terminal, on a stage that offers free live music 365 days a year. Up now: roots rocker Eric Hisaw and his band, playing originals and covers like Taj Mahal’s "Further On Down The Road." Hopefully, the industry folks shuttling through here today will stop a minute and show some respect to some of the hardworking musicians who keep the music going in this town the other 360 days a year.
Case in point: my brother Paul, who plays Latin jazz piano. He’s taking a hiatus from playing right now, but he told me he always used to lose his regular gigs to South by. Fortunately for him, he has another source of income, but some of his jazz musician friends might have to choose between the rent and eating this week. Maybe the SXSW organizers could consider starting a musician’s fund to fill some of the massive crater they left this week…