Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Iggy Pop, you look like a poster
I only made it down to Austin this year, after a 10 months of absence from the Lone Star State, for other reasons. But, SXSW was still keeping me buzzing. I flew down Wednesday night with one of the founders of Vice Magazine sitting down the row from me. Four days of rowdy drinking, band after band and sunny weather sounded great. Like most expectations, there were flaws. Last year, I was writing for The Austin Chronicle and had lived in Austin where I enjoyed a homely understanding of the entire thing. But, this year, I was an outsider, flying with other New Yorkers to take over the capital city for a weekend and then leave.
It was bizarre coming home.
Living in Brooklyn will kill any excitement SXSW brings. Disregarding the obvious (The Stooges, Busdriver, 302 unknown indie rock bands from Europe, a Lily Allen acoustic set), I felt a depressing feeling: I can see any of these bands in New York (someday). Plus, the over-arching indie-rock emphasis really drained any sense of depth to the festival. Of course, Houston rap nights, Public Enemy and Lee Scratch Perry added much-needed black presence to a pretty much (white) indie affair, and Latin rock bands represented, but it could have used more DJ and electronic presence. Where were the Ed Banger kids? Obscure Berlin techno or bands that didn't play last year? Plus, last year had "secret" shows from the Beastie Boys and the Flaming Lips where this year, it was Wayne Coyne and company back again.
All in all, it was still fun and worth attending. I missed a zillion things and spent most of it eating Mexican food and drinking Dos Equis, but that is another reason you should go to SXSW in 2008: Austin is still one of Amerikkka's best cities. Just don't forget your tight jeans and British accent.
