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Going to SXSW this year with the intention to write a review about my experience. I’ve been to Austin but I don’t really know what I’m getting myself into with SXSW. Heard its dope, and will definitely be soaking up as much as I can and meeting as many new people as I can.

I’ll be writing about it here and on the main blog. Just getting this going for now.

Will be in Austin, TX March 10 – 17

Wow this came up quick! Been super busy for the past few weeks but my trip to SXSW is happening this weekend. Still haven’t convinced my buddy DJ who I’ll be hanging out with in Texas to sign up here but I’m on the media list at SXSW.

Been getting a ton of emails every day. Whenever I get a minute to breathe I’m going to sit down and make up a schedule and respond to some people.

One thing I think I’m definitely attending is the future of music dinner that I mentioned elsewhere. But I literally have probably over one hundred emails right now flooding my inbox and it’s all about cool shit happening in Austin next week.

But I also have a plan for SXSW. I’ll be in town with a notebook in my pocket and a camera and I’ll be writing about my experience. I’m also looking to meet and network with people in town so hopefully some of them will join the forum while I’m there.

I’ll write about it casually here and formally on Extra Chill.

Update coming in the next couple of days once I figure out what exactly I’m going to try and do there.

I’ve been persuaded, bribed, IMPLORED to arrive here. Skidding and scattering, undone and unshowered, fresh off a gig and by god falling into body of work. It’s been one year and five months since arriving in Austin, Texas. The rest of the city and I have been sleeping on the ground – not the floor, not the patio, but the good-enough dirt. From down here it’s easy to put an ear to the earth and hear the cattle herd of tourism sure ‘nuff coming in as we speak. The ground shakes, dust cloud on the horizon. Venue managers and barbacks alike stand outside the front door and just LOOK at the billowing wall, shapes and faces forming and unraveling as premonitions of the impending stampede. South by South West in three … two …

Last year I did all I could do, booking and running sound for the flutter that frequents Butterfly Bar. A DIY grab bag, garden stage and dirt-floor dining room under a pagan moon. Two speakers, two monitors, and a handful of mics are the only tools I’ve needed to put on concerts, occult rituals, naked feasts, and such a range of performances that I couldn’t possibly imagine til living through them. Bar and bathrooms live under a tin roof next to the shining relic of a hundred seat black box called The Vortex Theatre. Run by a stout witch for the past 35 years, it is deadly feminist, third eye woke, bold, and as brazen as the burning Texas sun. Graced with the locally legendary Patrizi’s Food Truck, the campus brings in a smattering of people that could never guess what curiosities their visit will bring them. I’ve fought tooth and nail to build the music programming and production into something to be proud of, suffering budget-cuts, heartbreaks, and more sleeping on the god damned dirt. I’ve built a musical community that fancies our establishment the proper blend of weird yet heartfelt. We regularly set songs on their maiden voyage, tweak and tailor sets in real time, and in general get artists comfortable and loose enough to let their freak flags fly.

Yes, last year we toiled in the sun all festival long at our little off-beat half-venue. But this year … we walk through the portal into the big fray that is proper, down-home, crazy South by South West.

Yah starting off we’re running monitors at Stubb’s BBQ, a 2,500 cap venue that’s, you guessed it – outside on the dirt. Poised in the Red River Cultural district, Stubb’s is the biggest of the venues on the strip, followed in size and notoriety by the rock n roll staple that is Mohawk. You roll along to neon-lit Cheer Up Charlies, dark and dungeous 13th Floor, American brick room Chess Club, on, and on, and on. I’ll spend some time running security around the corner at Empire Control Room and Garage, a local dig that prides itself on being fully, completely independent. And that’s just Red River.

Throughout the week you’ll find us hosting a fully improvised open jam at the sleeper stage of Voodoo Doughnut, cream-filled in the middle of Dirty 6th, the raucous riot that is a sloppy combo of Nashville’s Broadway New Orleans’ Bourbon Street. Every. Single. Building will have live music from sunup, to sundown, all the way til the city forces everything to close for a couple hours of much needed rest.

Spending most of our living and sleeping hours on East Sixth, you don’t have to look too far to spot the real indie icons and true-as-sin cowboys. Hotel Vegas crowns the stars in local musician’s eyes as the coolest spot in Austin – which also harbors it with the most vitriolic haters of any venue I’ve ever witnessed. Conjoined by a brick wall and a courtyard with Volstead, these sister establishments are THEE PLACES to show face if you value your social clout at all. Your humble narrator will be working several A2 shifts out on the back patio for official shenanigans, as well as a couple stints running sound at Volstead. Nearby you’ll find lines wrapped around Shangri-La, Zilker Brewing, and Lefty’s for official events. More people than you’ve ever seen on a street outside of New York, the festival in it’s fullest swing is a thing to behold.

And that’s just the official shit. Every bar, every business, every vacant stoop, will have music going EVERY DAY. You’re invited to a house show up the street with free joints, sponsored by Red Bull. You catch wind of a small building tucked behind a restaurant that has a live art installation and noise show going all night long. You heard there is a famous comedian holding court inside this bar if you could just get the bouncer to get his head out of his ass and quit letting his friends in before you. Did I mention we’re having an open jam at Voodoo Doughnut on dirty 6th? Wednesday night, it’ll be up and running by 7pm.

I’m working some 80+ hours during the 7 day tenure that our sterling captain Chris Huber is in town, a fine reward for all the effort I’ve put into navigating this city. To have our crowned Chubes crashing in my home studio, caffing up at Cuvee, and roaming on foot into the streets of Texas is about as lofty of a goal as I could have set when I first tumbled into town. The first year and some-odd months have all been leading up to the OPPORTUNITY to participate in the the antics of our musical mecca during it’s holy season. It’s South by South West baby. Hold onto your hats, because everything is bigger out here. Just you wait.

I’m on the forum now ya narc.

I heard tale that mushies will be making their way around our open jam at Voodoo Donut Wednesday evening … thats 3/8/24 for all those brave enough for dirty 6th. This jam will be maybe the 50th from a fairly consistent group of Austin musicians, and with the SXSW chaos pressed between psychedelics and macabre doughnuts … well, we’re gonna teleport SOMEWHERE that night.

Us and thousands of festival attendees.

@Davidj-edwards my guy! can’t wait for the jam. Should we make some art for it just for fun? Will have time throughout my travels to work on stuff like that

Someone is working on the flier, but I don’t think EC is officially on it. We normally get 30+ musicians out with minimal notice.

 

also, there is a weed and coffee “lounge” put on by Electric Church a couple days. Underground flier below

 

Flier didn’t post, who programmed this damn site? Can’t post a photo from phone smh 😉

 

417 Robert Martinez at 5th

3/15 and 3/16 12pm-6pm

Weed, coffee, vinyl DJs, vintage clothes, and a lounge

 

Hosted by the DIY Champs at Electric Church

You can post a photo from your phone. Wait a second after pressing upload so it has time to go from your phone to the server…

@davidj-edwards

uploaded from my cell phone

Gathering my SXSW plans tonight. Breaking down a loose itinerary here by day. Basically just noting anything from the official schedule that catches my attention. Obviously this is subject to change, and there is way more happening than I will be able to attend.

Sunday, March 10th

Arrive in Austin 4pm

Head to Butterfly Bar to meet up with @davidj-edwards, check out the reggae show there.

Then go to Austin Convention Center to pick up my badge

Monday, March 11th

10am – 11am:Brands as Amplifiers: Fueling the Universal Passion of Music
Austin Convention Center room 18cd
Speakers from Mastercard (Raja Rajamannard) and Live Nation (Russell Wallach)

11:15am – 1:30pm: Documentary Screening: How to Build a Truth Engine
Violet Crown Cinema 2
Documentary about modern media and misinformation

11:30am – 12:30pm: AI and the Future of Loneliness Panel Discussion
EU House at Parkside

11:30am – 12:30pm: Featured Session: AI and Humanity’s Co-evolution with OpenAI’s Head of ChatGPT
Austin Convention Center / Ballroom D

2:30pm – 3:30pm: AI and the Future of Truth – panel discussion
The Thompson Hotel Austin / Red River Ballroom

2:30 – 3:30pm: Cannabis Around the World: Where are the Big Opportunities?
Hilton Austin Downtown / Salon G

6pm – The Future of Music Dinner hosted by Aimi
7601 S Congress Ave Ste 480 Austin, TX 78745
RSVPed to this with my boy Oliver

7:30 – 8pm: China Bears – Music Showcase
British Music Embassy at Sheraton (Downright Austin)

8pm – 8:40pm: Neptune’s Core @ Cooper’s BBQ
Cool all-female experimental rock group

8:50pm – 9:20pm: Deer Park Avenue @ Mohawk Outdoor
German rock duo (two sisters), but the name reminds me of Long Island

9pm – 9:40pm: Laney Tripp @ Cooper’s BBQ
Singer-songwriter (same venue as Neptune’s Core)
reminds me of Phoebe Bridgers vibes (lots of songwriters go for this vibe nowadays)

10pm – 11:30pm: Mogwai @ the Moody Theatre

10pm – 10:40pm: Shallow Alcove @ Cooper’s BBQ
not familiar with this band, but based on the other stuff happening at this venue i’m probably going to dig

10pm – 10:40pm: ZADA @ Swan Dive
experimental R&B

10:15 – 10:55pm: Living Hour @ Swan Dive Patio
vibey indie rock

10:50pm – 11:20pm: Laney Jones @ Mohawk Indoor

11:40pm – 12:10am: Salsa Windfall @ Mohawk Indoor

12am – 12:40am: Winona Fighter @ Valhalla
Punk rock!

At this point in the night it becomes anything goes… and there is a lot going on, Wow!

1am: The Rare Occasions @ Coopers BBQ

1:20am – 2am: Do Nothing @ Mohawk Outdoor

Then there are some late night sets listed as time TBA… not sure where I’ll be after 2am, it depends how the night goes!

Plastic Palms @ Parkside
Lofi punk-inspired rock

Tuesday, March 12th

10am -11am: AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job, But Those Using It Will
panel discussion on AI – the title is something I definitely agree with
JW Marriott / Salon FGH

11:30am – 12:30pm:Eliminating ‘Forever Chemicals’ from the World’s Water
Climate change discussion sesh

C4 Energy – Try it @ registrant lounge?
12pm – 7pm

12pm – 12:30pm – Wez Atlas @ Palm Door on Sixth Patio
daytime hip-hop showcase

12:50 – 1:20pm: Hypnosis Therapy @ Palm Door on Sixth Patio
Electronic vibes following the afternoon hip-hop

1:40 – 2:20pm: Subsonic Eye @ Palm Door on Sixth Patio
continuing the day party with rock & roll

2:30pm – 3:30pm – Harnessing the Power of the Ocean: All-Hands-on-Deck
Hilton Austin Downtown / Salon B
right up my alley as a boat captain

2:30pm – 3:30pm -Salvador Dali, AI, and The Future of Creativity
Austin Convention Center / Room 9AB
AI is the theme of SXSW sessions in 2024 it seems, looking forward to this stuff as someone with a big interest in AI

2:30pm – 4:30pm  –Think Like an Innovator: Master Associative Thinking
discussion on creative leadership
Courtyard Marriott / Rio Grande Ballroom 2

4pm – 5pm:The Cost of Admission & the Next Era of Ticketing
as someone who is strongly anti Live Nation and Ticketmaster, it will be interesting to see what gets discussed at this
Austin Convention Center / Room 18AB

6pm – 6:40pm – Bones and Jones @ International Day Stage
alt-country group from Australia. rad!

7pm – 7:40pm – Rain on Fridays @ Low Down Lounge
downbeat indie grunge

8pm – 8:40pm – Daisy Rickman @ Victorian Room at The Driskill
Dreamy singer-songwriter, listening now and love it

8pm – 8:40pm – Gummy Fan @ Chess Club
love the band name, know nothing about them!

8pm – 8:40pm – Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers @ Low Down Lounge

8pm – 8:45pm – Omni @ 800 Congress
I saw this band play in Charleston once several years back. I remember them being pretty good, and I know they’re one of those hipster craze bands

8pm – 8:45pm – Sugadaisy @ Empire Garage
awesome band name

Alright, looks like I’ll be making some tough calls for the 8pm slot.. and probably all weekend as i come across other things to do.. but it’s always good to start with a plan, right?

8:15pm – 8:55pm – Doohickey Cubicle @ Swan Dive Patio
another great freaking band name, super conflicted on time slots. wowza

8:50 – 9:20pm – The Dumes @ Mohawk Outdoor
rad band

9pm – 940pm – DENDÊ & BAND @ Flamingo Cantina
dude seems awesome

9pm – 9:40pm – Rusty Dusty @ Chess Club

9:30 – 10:10pm – Pendulum Hearts @ Coopers BBQ
Cooper’s changing up the vibes with some country this day

10pm – 10:40pm – Folk Bitch Trio @ Victorian Room at The Driskill

10pm – 10:40pm – Hot Garbage @ Swan Dive
punk rock

10pm – 10:40pm – Cosmo Pyke @ Seven Grand
groovy singer-songwriter

10:30pm – 11:10pm – Cactus Lee @ Cooper’s BBQ
country/folk vibes

11pm – 11:40pm – Creekbed Carter Hogan @ The Iron Bear
dark folk

11pm – 11:40pm – Seafoam Walls @ Cuatro Gato
experimental jazz

11:15 – 11:55pm – Babe Corner @ Swan Dive Patio

I’m not really sure how close together these places are, or how packed it will be, but I imagine I can just hop around. I know there are unofficial showcases too, which aren’t even listed on the SXSW website. There is like an overwhelming amount of shit to do each day. But, I will trudge on through the schedule and find my bearings somehow.

Most of these bands I haven’t even heard of. I’m just going by who has an interesting name or vibe.

11:45pm – 12:30am – Luna Luna @ Stubbs
Latin music at one of Austin’s most iconic venues

12am – 12:40am – Crabe @ Swan Dive
late night punk rock, bound to be a blast

12am – 12:40am – King Nun @ Seven Grand
more loud late night rock & roll

12am – 12:50am – Library Card @ Low Down Lounge
it’s a tuesday night for rock n roll – more punk rock

12:10 – 12:50am – The Dinosaur’s Skin @ Palm Door on Sixth Patio
late night vibed-out indie

12:30am – 1:20am – Ethan Tasche @ Empire Control Room
this is some cool folk-pop music

1am – 1:40am – The Lottery Winners @ Seven Grand
weird rock music

and then again… the night devolves into TBA set times…

Wednesday, March 13th

This is @davidj-edwards day off and we’ll be having a showcase that night at Voodoo Doughnut from 7pm – midnight. Open jam for any artists who want to be involved. That said, I will briefly run through the daytime events to see what’s going on.

11:30am – 12:30pm –Design for Climate Adaptation
JW Marriott / Salon 7
in the changing world climate, it will be interesting to see how people are preparing design to cope with it and anticipate it.

11:30am – 12:30pm -What is a Magazine in the Digital Age?
of interest for obvious reasons…
Austin Convention Center / Room 9AB

12 – 6pm – Free Lacroix
Inn Cahoots Outdoor

2:30pm – 3:30pm -Facing Death Without Fear: Psychedelics for End-of-Life Care
Austin Convention Center / Room 18AB
i love psychedelics

at this point in the day, I imagine I will be heading into unofficial SXSW territory….

Thursday, March 14th

Anticipating a long night on Wednesday, I’m going to only briefly scan the morning events this day and go straight for the music at night.

10am – How to Build a Community on Discord, Circle & Beyond
relevant for me trying to build a freaking forum in 2024, not sure if ill make this

11am – 6pm – FLOODFest @ Mohawk Outdoor
Hosted by FLOOD Magazine. Interesting to see how another magazine handles their festival setup within a larger festival. Cool concept and something I would love to replicate. Maybe I can meet some of these people.

11:30am – 12:30pm – Collaboration vs Competition: Community Building for Creatives
I talk about this all the time. Alright, I guess they’re hooking me with shit that speaks directly to me in the AM hours…
Austin Convention Center / Room 9AB

11:30am – 12pm – Gareth Donkin @ Mohawk Indoor
groovy white boy soul

12pm – 12am – Marshall Funhouse
Parish
seems like an interesting thing to check out if i’m nearby

1pm – 7pm – Rainey Street Revival
Another all-day festival type event

11am – 6:25pm – Sounds Australia Day Party @ Lucille

I guess I’ll pick one of those and float between them.

8:15pm – 8:55pm – Early James @ Mohawk Outdoor
Heard of this guy, never listened

It’s pretty hard to know where exactly I’ll be… again. But this is sounding cooler by the minute! Wow… SXSW… the event I’ve heard about since ages ago when I first got into music…

8:30pm – 9:10pm – McKinley James @ Mohawk Outdoor
Presented by Easy Eye Sound, Dan Auerbach’s label

This night the big dogs seem to come out to play with showcases by Rolling Stone, Billboard, etc. The pinnacle of what Extra Chill could become (but hopefully way cooler).

9pm – 9:40pm – Danny Bonilla @ The Grackle
Latin music. and this dude has an awesome headshot.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbJPZlcmQwszneokPoHtOLXJFtLRRyyMd-0QSGNdQQ1XVE1rzX

9pm – 9:40pm – Dirt Buyer @ Low Down Lounge
another awesome band name. this venue seems to have a lot of lesser known, loud artists

I’m also noticing that several artists are playing multiple showcases. Different venues, different times of day. Cool opportunity but what a grind!

9:15pm – 9:55pm – Good Looks at Las Perlas
Another chance to catch this band that sounds pretty cool.

9:30pm – 10:10pm – Jimmy Duck Holmes @ Mohawk Indoor
blues, baby. Love a good change of pace

9:40pm – 10:10pm – Rose Hotel @ Lambert’s
ayy the first artist that I’m connected with I’ve come across thus far. Rose Hotel used to sing harmonies & tour with SUSTO.

10pm – 10:40pm – Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country @ Antone’s
Oh yeah. The first jam band i’ve come across. But only a 40 minute set! Oh well, you know where I’ll be for this one.

10:50pm – 11:40pm – Dinosaur Jr. @ Parish
Something tells me this one is going to be really hard to get into.

11pm – 11:40pm – Bad Bad Hats @ 13th Floor
Good band.

11pm – 11:45pm – The Barr Brothers @ Speakeasy Ballroom
Another good band.

Oh yeah. This night looks sick!

11pm – 11:40pm – Brainstory @ Antone’s
Sticking around here after DDCC seems like something I would do.

12am – 12:30am – Sweet Spine @ Hotel Vegas
I have heard of this venue. Will probably go to this.

12:15am – 1:45am – The Black Keyes perform songs from Delta Kream @ Mohawk Outdoor
Yeah this is going to be cool. Super packed, probably. But cool if i can get in.

12:15 am – 12:55am – Sam Tudor @ Swan Dive Patio

1am – 1:45am – Bleach Lab @ Valhalla
Late night loud rock baby

1am – 1:40am – Oh He Dead at Antone’s
This has gotta be a United Talent showcase…

I’m pretty decided on Antone’s this night. Seems like it’s set up for the heads.

Friday, March 15th

BMI Brunch – Sometime this morning. My friend Gab invited me, but I don’t have the deets yet. I’ll probably hear about some things to do from people at this event, considering I’ll know at least one person there. This day feels a bit open ended to me. Also, it’s a marathon up to this point.

It seems to me like Thursday is the peak of this thing. The events slow down a bit on Friday.

2pm – 7pm – Wild Fork: Rhythm & Roast Showcase
For some reason, I’m thinking food this day. Maybe I’m just hungry right now.

12:30pm – 4pm – Wasserman Day Party @ Mohawk Outdoor
Another encounter with the enemy possible this day. (the enemy being major music industry agencies)

5pm – 7pm – Music Industry Happy Hour @ Fairmont / Rules & Regs
Will this be sterile or cool? Who knows. Will stop by if I’m nearby and check it out, perhaps enjoy myself a crispy miller lite.

9:30pm – 10pm – Color Green @ Antone’s
Good band, at the venue from the night before. Like this place’s style based on bookings…

9:40pm – 10:25pm – The Red Clay Strays @ Moody Theatre
in case i’m feelin some country vibes

10pm – 10:40pm – Swamp Dogg @ Cooper’s BBQ
gimme that R&b baby

11pm – 12am – Faye Webster @ The Moody Theatre
Another one that is probs goin to be packed. But she is so so good and I’ll try my best to make this one.

11pm – 11:40pm – Pronoun @ The Iron Bear
Pretty sure DJ is filling in on drums for this one.

11:10pm – 12am – Ben Kweller @ Mohawk Outdoor

11:45pm – 12:45am – LSD and the Search for God @ Hotel Vegas Patio
You know this is going to be weird as shit.

12am – 12:45am – Blushing @ Hotel Vegas
While searching for God, we’re Blushing

12:30am – 2am – The Black Keys at Stubbs
Yeah, here’s your headliner.

Lots of other stuff going on late night. I’m not a huge Black Keys fan but it would be cool to see them at Stubb’s. I’ve heard such great things about that place.

Saturday, March 16th

12-6pm @ Cheer Up Charlies Final Day party/showcase, made known to me by @thenewcuriouscity
Lots of good bands. This is probably where I’ll be on my final day in Austin.

8pm – 2am – SXSW Closing Party @ Palm Door on Sixth

Will be tired, but this is the night cap for the week. The next day I fly back to Jacksonville.

Report back to see what I actually do!

 

Yo! Sick writeups here so far. I’m excited to also be attending my first SXSW. I’m just a face in the crowd but I love to make new connections in the music scene. I live in Austin and I just happened to stumble across this site while planning out my week. Looks like I’m not the only one doing that.

Thanks for making a space for people to stay connected during the festival! Can’t wait to see the review.

 

 

Just gotta say, based my first morning at South By, this place is amazing. The creative industries expo in the Austin Convention Center is so rad.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the OpenAI thing. At capacity long before it started.

Sup! Anyone here catch the show at Hotel Vegas last night? Die Spitz was awesome! Local band, all chicks who play freaking metal. People casually walking up onto the stage and jumping out into the crowd.

Pretty solid first night of music at SXSW, I’d say.

Hi everybody, Suzie here, I am volunteering at SXSW, and I love keeping up with the music industry and DIY artists. SXSW is my favorite time of year because I always find out about so many great new artists and music blogs!

Chris, it was very nice chatting with you yesterday at the Austin Convention Center! Am I now “Extra Chill? 🙂

P.S. – Cool music forum! Happy to be a part of it and thanks for creating a space for DIY music to thrive.

Cheers,

Suze

Hey @southbysuzie and @texastoasted – thanks for joining! Suze, it was nice chatting with you as well! The creative industries expo at the Austin Convention Center is so cool. It’s like a country fair for technology. I definitely plan on getting back over there today. Just having a slow start this morning. SXSW is quite the marathon!

Just wanted to list off all my favorite acts from yesterday. Don’t have reviews ready because I’m about to head back out for the day, but I saw a lot of great music yesterday.

Gran Moreno @ Vaquero

Greg Freeman @ Cheer Up Charlies

Ringo Death Starr @ Hotel Vegas

Flags @ Volstead Lounge

Font @ Hotel Vegas

Die Spitz @ Hotel Vegas

Sextiles @ Hotel Vegas (i think that was their name, someone correct me if I’m wrong)

To answer your question TexasToasted, yes, I did see Die Spitz last night. Pretty sick band! My buddy was telling me that they are like the most renowned local band in Austin right now. Hope to catch them again later this week, as well as Greg Freeman. That shit was some dope, genre-less rock music!

Also shoutout to the Gray Market for playing some JGB on the street and serving up a delicious lunch for me yesterday.

Getting ready to head back out the door again here shortly. Maybe I’ll run into y’all out and about today! My initially planned schedule went almost completely out the window, which I guess was to be expected.

 

Dang, SXSW sounds rad! Have fun out there, @chubes and congrats on getting the media badge! Thanks for sharing all these bands you saw too, I can’t wait to check them out.

Man this forum is so awesome for finding new music and it’s just getting started. Can’t wait to see what happens when even more people get on here!

Best music I saw yesterday 3/12/24 in Austin, TX:

The Vices @ Side Bar

Bodega @ Side Bar

Cosmo Pyke @ Seven Grand 

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol @ Empire Control Room

The Vices @ Valhalla (late night)

I also saw some sets that were just alright. I won’t even mention them.

Dinner at Casino El Camino was fire. Had the buffalo burger. It’s a dang 3/4 hunk of beef cooked to perfection. And relatively affordable for what you get.

Another day coming up. Including our own jam down at VooDoo Doughnut. Free and open to any artists who want to jam!

Also, I’m probably going to move to Austin this fall. I love it here and it seems like there are many more opportunities for someone who wants to have a legitimate business in the music industry in this city.

I love Charleston but being in Austin makes it feel so small.

Since Extra Chill is already established in the music media world, I would not be starting entirely from the bottom in Austin. I would have to make all the venue connections and stuff, but in terms of acquiring tickets and media passes, I have already completed that part of my hustle. Thankfully.

SXSW has been one hell of an experience so far.

And I haven’t even mentioned all the bands who dropped off. People in the crowd are definitely rumbling about that, and longtime attendees have noted the general air about the event is different than it has been in the past.

It does seem pretty fucked up to me how SXSW would take money from war machines for a festival that is supposed to be about music and connection. It’s tone deaf at the very least and a sign of corporate greed at the most likely.

Because you know those checks were fat.

But, I’m here, and I’m enjoying the festival and the city. Many of these events I’ve attended were unofficial showcases anyway. Seems like the lines are pretty blurred between official and unofficial as many of the venues are hosting both at different times in the same day.

Are there jam-friendly bars yes or no

@marleyfacedboy

Venues yes, haven’t found the specific head bar yet but i’m going to see Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country today at Empire.

Goose played at Stubbs not too long ago.

so did Futurebirds

all of these venues are within a 2 mile radius

 

Best sets yesterday:

Alec Meza @ Yeti Store

Proxima Parada @ Empire

TAUK @ Empire

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country @ Empire

Open Jam @ VooDoo Doughnut

El Combo Oscuro @ Hotel Vegas

Loved to see some jam band representation yesterday. Got to catch up with A.C. from TAUK for a moment after their set and gave him (another) Extra Chill sticker, which he said was going on his case.

The open jam was rad. There were several random people off the street who hopped up on stage including one very impressive young man who was feeling the vibes as a singer. Pretty cool to see music moving people like that.

Night cap at Nickel City, a sweet little dive bar that has a dank food truck out back.

It’s so cool to me how a lot of these bars partner with a food truck or several and have them set up and slang food. It creates a lot more variety rather than having your typical bar food that every place has.

So, you’re saying that Extra Chill might become an Austin-based music blog? Hell yeah!

Glad you got to check out Casino El Camino. That place is legendary. You might stand in line for a moment to order food, but once it comes out you can see that it was clearly worth the wait.

You’ve gotta try their wings next!

Posted this in another thread, but I also wanted to share this video I found of Greg Freeman’s full set at Cheer Up Charlie’s the other day.

Two more days left in Austin. I’ve set the wheels in motion to be living here by October or November. The opportunities for someone like me in this city are very, very clear to me at this point.

Yesterday I lost my notebook (must have fallen out of my pocket) and had basically a full-fledged panic attack thinking I would lose everything I had written down all week.

I retraced my steps, speed-walking almost two miles from Halcyon Coffee to Hotel Vegas, and was massively relieved to find that the door guy had my notebook. It had been probably about 2 hours, and I noticed it was missing when I reached in my bag to note that Halcyon was an awesome coffee shop.

Best sets yesterday:

Colatura @ Lazarus Brewing

Reyna Tropical @ Hotel Vegas (She Shreds Fundraiser)

Spencer Thomas @ Lambert’s 

Rose Hotel @ Lambert’s

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country @ Antone’s 

Brainstory @ Antone’s

In general, Antone’s has the best sound out of any venue I’ve been to in Austin so far. The Daniel Donato set there had a way better mix than the one at Empire.

Pretty awesome sets there last night. I’ve heard from people around here that Antone’s is known for their sound. It’s a really nice system and they had a crisp mix for all sets I saw.

I sure hope you get a comfortable couch in Austin

@chillicheeseslurpshake ha! I’m probably gonna move into Oliver’s house

Yesterday was a different kind of day. A friend of a friend, who is becoming a friend (Carson from Flags, Tilt, Exotic Fruitica & more) told me about Spitefest taking place at Sunny’s Backyard — the most DIY-style event I had gone to during SXSW thus far.

I showed up in time for the end of Tilt’s set, a local punk band from Austin and they were sick. Then I sat through two mediocre sets from overly loud and sloppy punk bands from NYC, during which a fellow Charleston music scene person, Anfernee showed up to hang with me. These bands were a little rough and I won’t name them here, and then Exotic Fruitica came on. They were good again but we had to bounce.

Anfernee

Anfernee and I spent the remainder of the day wandering around 6th street just checking out the sights and sounds. After a couple hours of that, we found a hip-hop open mic setup on the corner of 6th and Red River. “Cookin on the Corner” set up by some guys from Philly who drove down with a bunch of gear. Anfernee hopped into the mix and cooked the corner to a delicious level, and it was dope to see the SC-born talent getting some recognition from all different zip codes.

Having recently moved from Charleston to Austin, Anfernee and I discussed the differences between the cities and the reasons why he ultimately decided to make the move. The two of us were in agreement about many of the things we discussed, which was ultimately how Charleston’s lack of resources tends to hold back creatives who are looking to succeed. Also how it’s not our responsibility nor is it our problem to fix that, and it could take a lifetime to do it.

The city of Charleston is focused on other things and does not care about enriching the music community. The largest festival in town (High Water) books one local artist per year. It’s just so far off from what it needs to be, and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. These are my thoughts.

Anfernee and I parted ways and I ended up at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken for dinner which was incredibly good. Such a chill place too. I didn’t have room for dessert but the guy next to me ordered this brownie and ice cream concoction that looked absolutely amazing. I would have probably died if I tried to eat it, but he told me I should come back and try it if I get a chance.

Then, I was excited to attend my personal main event for the week, which was Faye Webster at the Moody Theatre. She was on the cover of Rolling Stone that morning, a fact which I had learned the night prior during the Athens to Austin showcase at Lambert’s. I ran into some familiar faces there considering how close Athens is to Charleston, including an old friend Mia Naome, the best photographer I had worked with in Charleston.

Faye Webster

Faye Webster was super awesome and genuine. She mentioned being conflicted about the performance considering the political situation, but expressed gratitude for the fans that came out to see her. It was a very heartfelt way to start the set and then she played the rest of it without comment. Very professional way to handle the situation. There really were a lot of people who were there specifically to see her, who knew all the words to every song.

I’ll have a more in-depth review of that performance once I gather my thoughts and make my way back home to Charleston and my office and my garden.

Moody Theatre

I also want to comment on the Moody Theatre, which was a really impressive venue to my eyes. 2750 seats. Large enough to draw a big act but small enough to feel intimate. Three tiers with the lowest tier being general admission.

The halls are lined with historic photos from Austin City Limits, as the theatre is the home of the ACL Live broadcast, which has been running since the 70s and has had some of the most famous musicians of our time on it. Including Willie Nelson, whom the street where it resides is named after.

On Austin

I really, really love this city. I’ve spent the past week wandering the streets and learning my way around. The setup for live music here is extremely impressive. The amount of quality concert venues within a 2 mile radius is unlike any city I’ve ever been to. It’s so ripe for live music and set up for it, it’s like a dream for someone who considers live music an important aspect of their life.

I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity. I’m also glad that it came at the point in my life that it did, because I have already developed some relationships and notoriety as a journalist that has opened the doors for me. Although I am brand new to the scene, it does not feel like I’m starting at the bottom.

When I was first starting out in Charleston, nobody cared about what I was doing. It took consistent effort to build a following. That would be the case in Austin too, but when I can say that I’ve interviewed Ryan Stasik and Kanika Moore and TAUK and several other recognizable names, people are all of a sudden much more interested.

Lots of love for both Charleston and Austin. Texas is calling me.

SXSW Recap 3/15/24: 

– Seeing Faye Webster the day she was on the cover of Rolling Stone

– Hanging with Anfernee on 6th Street

– Discussing Charleston vs Austin, creatively

– Sloppy (some good) punk bands at Sunny’s Backyard

– Dank fried chicken at Gus’s

chubes said:

Yesterday was a different kind of day. A friend of a friend, who is becoming a friend (Carson from Flags, Tilt, Exotic Fruitica & more) told me about Spitefest taking place at Sunny’s Backyard — the most DIY-style event I had gone to during SXSW thus far.

I showed up in time for the end of Tilt’s set, a local punk band from Austin and they were sick. Then I sat through two mediocre sets from overly loud and sloppy punk bands from NYC, during which a fellow Charleston music scene person, Anfernee showed up to hang with me. These bands were a little rough and I won’t name them here, and then Exotic Fruitica came on. They were good again but we had to bounce.

Anfernee

Anfernee and I spent the remainder of the day wandering around 6th street just checking out the sights and sounds. After a couple hours of that, we found a hip-hop open mic setup on the corner of 6th and Red River. “Cookin on the Corner” set up by some guys from Philly who drove down with a bunch of gear. Anfernee hopped into the mix and cooked the corner to a delicious level, and it was dope to see the SC-born talent getting some recognition from all different zip codes.

Having recently moved from Charleston to Austin, Anfernee and I discussed the differences between the cities and the reasons why he ultimately decided to make the move. The two of us were in agreement about many of the things we discussed, which was ultimately how Charleston’s lack of resources tends to hold back creatives who are looking to succeed. Also how it’s not our responsibility nor is it our problem to fix that, and it could take a lifetime to do it.

The city of Charleston is focused on other things and does not care about enriching the music community. The largest festival in town (High Water) books one local artist per year. It’s just so far off from what it needs to be, and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. These are my thoughts.

Anfernee and I parted ways and I ended up at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken for dinner which was incredibly good. Such a chill place too. I didn’t have room for dessert but the guy next to me ordered this brownie and ice cream concoction that looked absolutely amazing. I would have probably died if I tried to eat it, but he told me I should come back and try it if I get a chance.

Then, I was excited to attend my personal main event for the week, which was Faye Webster at the Moody Theatre. She was on the cover of Rolling Stone that morning, a fact which I had learned the night prior during the Athens to Austin showcase at Lambert’s. I ran into some familiar faces there considering how close Athens is to Charleston, including an old friend Mia Naome, the best photographer I had worked with in Charleston.

Faye Webster

Faye Webster was super awesome and genuine. She mentioned being conflicted about the performance considering the political situation, but expressed gratitude for the fans that came out to see her. It was a very heartfelt way to start the set and then she played the rest of it without comment. Very professional way to handle the situation. There really were a lot of people who were there specifically to see her, who knew all the words to every song.

I’ll have a more in-depth review of that performance once I gather my thoughts and make my way back home to Charleston and my office and my garden.

Moody Theatre

I also want to comment on the Moody Theatre, which was a really impressive venue to my eyes. 15,000 seats. Large enough to draw a big act but small enough to feel intimate. Three tiers with the lowest tier being general admission.

The halls are lined with historic photos from Austin City Limits, as the theatre is the home of the ACL Live broadcast, which has been running since the 70s and has had some of the most famous musicians of our time on it. Including Willie Nelson, whom the street where it resides is named after.

On Austin

I really, really love this city. I’ve spent the past week wandering the streets and learning my way around. The setup for live music here is extremely impressive. The amount of quality concert venues within a 2 mile radius is unlike any city I’ve ever been to. It’s so ripe for live music and set up for it, it’s like a dream for someone who considers live music an important aspect of their life.

I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity. I’m also glad that it came at the point in my life that it did, because I have already developed some relationships and notoriety as a journalist that has opened the doors for me. Although I am brand new to the scene, it does not feel like I’m starting at the bottom.

When I was first starting out in Charleston, nobody cared about what I was doing. It took consistent effort to build a following. That would be the case in Austin too, but when I can say that I’ve interviewed Ryan Stasik and Kanika Moore and TAUK and several other recognizable names, people are all of a sudden much more interested.

Lots of love for both Charleston and Austin. Texas is calling me.

Yeehaw

Not to mention, marijuana is decriminalized!!!

chris, thank u for the sticker. it looks great on my water bottle!

glad u enjoyed Austin.

some people who live here talk about the music scene got worse after Covid. that might be true but your experiences during SXSW show that there is still plenty of live music magic to be found in Austin. especially during SXSW

i hope to visit to Charleston one day too.

Thanks everybody! I slept most of the day yesterday after traveling back east to Jacksonville. I also have notes from Saturday, but 7 days of walking miles around Austin started to catch up with me later in the week.

Working on the review this week. Still traveling, but will be adding some of those bands / artists I mentioned up there to our Spotify playlist.

SXSW overall was a really epic time and eye-opening experience for me. I’m excited for the next chapter.

Chris, I’m glad you had such a great time in Austin. The city will welcome you and Extra Chill with open arms. I hope to hear that you are an Austin resident by the time the next SXSW comes around!

In case anybody comes across this and is wondering where my article is, the first one is here: https://extrachill.com/new-music-from-best-bands-sxsw-2024

chubes said:

In case anybody comes across this and is wondering where my article is, the first one is here: https://extrachill.com/new-music-from-best-bands-sxsw-2024

This is what SXSW is all about. Finding out about new artists and spreading the word. Looking forward to the full review.

Die Spitz really are pretty great, huh?

Yeah! Die Spitz are freaking awesome. I love that they’re starting to blow up. A lot more people are talking about them online.

You know, I forgot to come back here and share my full review of SXSW 2024, which ended up on the blog. Combined with these notes, I think I provided some really comprehensive coverage. And I got to test out this forum.

It was a wonderful experience for me and it made we want to move to Austin. That move is confirmed happening in the middle of November. Once I get to Austin I hope to immerse myself in the music scene there and try to create connections between Austin and Charleston, while reaching a much larger audience.

This will be a lot of pivoting and figuring things out, but I do believe this forum will help facilitate that transition. Especially with the opportunity to expand by adding more forums over time.

Anyway, that’s enough rambling. Here’s the link to my SXSW review: https://extrachill.com/sxsw-2024-my-experience

I’ll probably be doing SXSW every year until Extra Chill reaches its end.