I’m back - exhausted, blistered, sunburned, probably a bit more deaf. While I saw some ridiculously great new stuff (all of which I’ll be detailing as the week goes on), and our day party with Ray Ban, UR Chicago Magazine, and the Popped! Music Festival was a major highlight, my fifth year at the country’s most famous music festival was somehow disappointing.
At the risk of sounding like a bitter old fart, I think this thing may have overgrown its welcome as a hotbed of music industry activity. Even native Austinites attested to the 2008 festival being bigger, more populated, and “noisier” than 2007 - day and night events spread to locales far beyond the main drag of 6th Street, it was nearly impossible to move from showcase to showcase at night, and brand signage was utterly inescapable. Don’t get me wrong - I like all the free food and drink as much as anyone, but some of the rush of being able to see all of these bands you’ve been listening to and reading about for months in one place is overshadowed by the ubiquitous excess of the whole week. I’m probably a wet noodle, but it seemed like at least half of this year’s attendees were there for the party and nothing else.
There’s nothing wrong with that, and to many newcomers it probably seemed like the greatest spring break ever, but it leaves the rest of us wondering what the hell happened to being able to, you know, hear bands at SXSW. My first conference was 2004 and I can clearly recall waltzing into the Parish halfway through Stephen Malkmus’ showcase and seeing the venue half-full of appreciative, attentive folks who were there to see one of their college idols perform solo. To compare, I tried to get into a show at the Parish on Thursday night to see a friend from LA perform, and I had to stand in line for 45 minutes and missed most of his set. This guy is great, but he’s not a name like Stephen Malkmus…so why the heck can’t I even get in to that?
What are your thoughts? Should I just stop going, or am I missing the magic key to getting something besides a raging hangover out of the SXSW week?
2 responses so far ↓
Mr. Smith // Mar 18, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I disagree. I’ve heard from a couple people that this was one of the best years for music, in terms of quality, at SXSW. And as far as off-6th-St. venues goes, that was happening in 2006 for day and night shows.
At several shows I went to, I encountered lots of badgeless, wristbandless folks who got into parties thrown by big brands or entities (most memorably the 12 yr old kid who was there with his 17 yr old sister, both local, at the Pitchfork party, easily one of the most hyped parties each year). Once SXSW ceases to have a place for kids like that, I’ll throw in on the “too big” bandwagon.
SXSW Find #2: El Guincho | No Dessert For You // Mar 20, 2008 at 10:45 am
[…] In the noisy clusterfuck that’s become SXSW, standing out is a lofty goal and a major accomplishment. With a gift for holding back just enough to leave you wanting more, El Guincho’s going to carry some heavy expectations into any U.S. tour he embarks on this summer. I’m just praying there will be one at all. […]
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