North to south: Twin Cities artists head to SXSW
Prof enjoys SXSW for its unique swimming experience
It’s South By Southwest week! Though festival-goers have been enjoying films, lectures, and Texas barbecue all weekend, the music finally arrives later this week. There’s a swarm of Minnesota artists who are descending on Austin to perform, and The A.V. Club caught up with a few of them to hear their thoughts on the festival.
The good stuff:
“SXSW is like a five-day bender, at summer camp.” —Dessa, Doomtree/solo hip-hop
“The sheer chaos and vague camaraderie. It’s sort of perverse. No other event in the world puts that many bands in one place. Not even close... I like seeing foreigners in Texas—it’s so surreal. They go back home thinking America is all like that.” —Alan Sparhawk, Low/Retribution Gospel Choir
“For the most part, people are just having a good time, but then there’s the guy from, like, Vampire Wolf or whatever who’s flaunting his VIP pass and acting a little full of himself. But luckily, SXSW is such a big thing, you can easily avoid those kind of scenes and stick to the fun stuff. “ —Nate Gangelhoff, Banner Pilot
“Taco Trailers and warm weather and bats. Being new places and meeting people.” —Haley Bonar
The downsides:
“The bouquet of man smells.” —Jason Power, Slapping Purses
“There may be an Irish hardcore band playing elsewhere in the building. You may end up in a club that normally does not have shows, so you end up on an awkward stage with a marginal PA and your ass stuck in some giant window facing the street.” —Alan Sparhawk, Low/Retribution Gospel Choir
“SXSW isn’t really a show, it’s a circus... I like how much you get to do in a small amount of time, but it gets a little too hectic at times scrambling around Austin navigating through a few hundred thousand people.” —Sims, Doomtree/solo hip-hop
“The worst part of SXSW is parking the van.” —Tapes ’N Tapes
On traveling:
“I pass the time by learning new Texas phrases, like, ‘Don’t squat with your spurs on!’ Personal favorite of mine.” —Dave Carroll, Trampled By Turtles
“I think at one point, I bought the autobiography of the dude who started Flying Js truck stops. That would not make the ‘most riveting things I’ve ever read’ list. Actually, I think Flying Js is technically a travel plaza, not a truck stop. But the point is, that book sucked.” —Nate Gangelhoff, Banner Pilot
“I want to go swimming in a piss-filled Holiday Inn pool with some annoying, poorly disciplined kids. Then hit the hot tub.” —Prof
“Shoot road signs. Blow things up. Scream at each other about conflicting hairstyles. Search for jerky belts and other wearable jerky items.” —Jason Power, Slapping Purses
