Is SXSW For Me?

When I was planning my coverage of SXSW I decided that my overarching theme would be “SXSW: How Cheaply  can I make this happen?” So armed with $80 and a free place to stay I hoped on a $6 mega bus ride to Austin, excited for whatever the music gods had in store for me.  As per my carefully planned out schedule  (that also included multiple alternatives and a penciled in plan to throw it all away after a couple of hours) I headed out on Wednesday. 

I first stopped at the “Spotify House” where I had, well exactly the sort of experience one is supposed to have at SX. I got there early and was greeted by free booze, chips, and sunglasses.  The venue had multiple stage areas, allowing for an intimate concert experience. The Spotify logo wasn’t on every surface, and I really did like the set up.

Hozier 

I had come to see Dum Dum Girls, and by my bosses recommendation Hozier who has one of the most powerful voices I’ve heard in a long time. He apologized for his throat being sore but he still sounded brilliant- a perfect mix of earnesty and confidence that came without being overbearing.  Quickly after that Mutual Benefit of Brooklyn performed on a different, smaller stage. They've got a chill but startling vibe. Its sounds like something you would get if you mixed together Washed Out and early Animal Collective. Although I had never heard them they are definitely a band I will return to from now on.

Finally the act I had been waiting for came on.  Dum Dum Girls have  really mastered that balance between generating a solid stage act without taking themselves too seriously.  Of course they sounded great, moving through a 30 min. set of both recent and older tracks. Then I had the magical SXSW moment I had been promised. For their  last song lead singer Dee Dee invited up an unannounced guest none other than Deborah Harry of Blondie. Phones came out, cameras flashed, but there was surprisingly little freaking out. Dum Dum Girls had a great time though; all of them actually smiled, a rarer occurrence than seeing Deborah Harry herself.

Dum Dum Girls with Deborah Harry. Photo From Austin 360. 

Now by all measures this should have been the time of my life. But it wasn’t. The nature of SXSW demanded that the day shows sped by with 30 min sets and I never felt like I had time to invest myself in a set. I wandered around the rest of  the afternoon but I felt overwhelmed in a new way. Yeah, of course I felt jaded by the intense marketing presence and commercialization so often criticized in the media, but there was something else bothering me.  I constantly felt a pressure to move on to the next thing and a worry that I might miss something, when really there was more than enough going on in front of me. The whole experience made me feel greedy almost. I had a fantastic experience, for free. Why was I out chasing more? For me atmosphere of Austin that day seemed to center around telling rather than doing. It felt like people wanted to collect experiences to post about, to blog about, gather pictures to share, or dare I say it gain bragging rights, rather than just slow down and appreciate the moment.

I realize not everyone’s SXSW experience is like this, and I realize not all SXSW shows generate that sort of atmosphere (Our Music For Listeners showcases at El Sappo are a great example of a easy going atmosphere with fantastic music).  But when I was called back to San Antonio for personal reasons I took the first ride I could get. I may be young, and Austin may be hip, but it’s  overwhelming. I was perfectly happy to go  home to S.A., a city where I actually belong.

-Michelle Padley is the Promotions Assistant for Indie Overnight. You can here her on air Monday nights at 10 p.m.