In case you haven’t guessed by now, I’ll be heading back to Austin next week for the South By Southwest music festival. Though I’m a frequent visitor to the Texas capital (my brother and his family live there), this will mark the first time I’ve been to the music industry’s premiere showcase since 2001. Back then, SXSW was a large but mostly-manageable affair, with around 800 bands playing the official festival, along with a few day parties scattered around town. A wristband, offering easy access to all venues, could be had for $70 by pretty much anyone who wanted one.
Well, things have changed over the past seven years, and not necessarily for the better. Wristbands now cost $139, and they all sold out in an online lottery several weeks ago, which you could only enter if you had an Austin address. (I’ll be posing as my brother when I go to pick up mine on Thursday.) The lineup has bloated to more than 1,500 acts hailing from 33 different countries, playing some 70 venues over five days. And, that doesn’t include all the unofficial showcases, free day parties, and one massive outdoor festival in Waterloo Park on Saturday, which by itself would be reason enough to visit. Most bands will end up playing an average of 3-5 shows while in town, with several attempting three or more shows on the same day.
I’ve just spent the entire day rifling through the pile of shows listed across numerous local websites, sending RSVPs to more parties than I have any hope of making in person. Probably all a massive waste of time, as I’ll likely end up staying put at whatever venue I get into first each night. If you’re not careful, you can end up hearing next-to-nothing at SXSW, as venues close to all but platinum badgeholders once they reach capacity, and you’re left running the 6th St. gauntlet of drunks and industry idiots blathering away on their cellphones. Sounds like fun, eh? Actually… it is.