On a week when most of the GG crew is indisposed, I make my Linkfrogging debut with a bit of a whimper. I’ve just returned from my first experience at South By Southwest, where I attended the Interactive conference and took in a bit of the film and music as well. It was my first trip to Austin, and I spent the whole time going back and forth between “this would be a fun place to live” and “I probably couldn’t stand living with these people.”
Don’t get me wrong, I love the culture and aesthetic of the city, but some people seem to interpret “Keep Austin Weird” as “HEY LOOK AT ME, AREN’T MY LIFE CHOICES IRONIC AND HYSTERICAL?!” which takes away from the geniunely cool people who make up most of the city. No guys, you’re all unique and beautiful snowflakes who are different and authentic and somehow all wearing the same style of glasses frames.
The hipster percentage is just high in ATX right now, and I am prepared to admit that “tourist types” like myself are part of the problem. BUT THAT’S NOT THE FUN PART OF SXSW, so let’s talk about the fun part (and also links)…
But oh yeah, before I forget, I’m never good at the cheesecake suggestions, so in honor of the festival I’m going an “alternative” route. This is Carrie Brownstein, formerly of Sleater-Kinney and one of the most revered guitarists living at the moment. Her new band Wild Flag is at the festival, but more importantly her various other projects (formerly an NPR music writer, currently a star of IFC’s “Portlandia” with Fred Armisen) make her an ideal SXSW-er: a multi-hyphenate transmedia crossover buzzword buzzword buzzword yawn…sorry, got caught up in post-conference rhetoric. Point is, she’s good at a bunch of different things. The only thing she’s missing as a perfect Austin/SXSW woman is a huge colorful sleeve tattoo.
So yeah, links!
For all you guitar-gear heads out there: The History of the Cry Baby Wah-Wah
Known for his psychedelics, but also a live-sound pionner – RIP Owsley Stanley
A tale of Screech the failed comedian.
I’m a fan of M Go Blue (sez Chris), but Jalen R. had this coming.
And the SXSW-friendly material:
NPR is also streaming material at their site on Saturday, and they have several recordings from the week up already. (including Brownstein and Wild Flag)
Several comedy podcasts taped at Esthers Follies during the festival, and I was lucky enough to see them live:
The Nerdist (Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray, Matt Mira) featuring John Oliver
Comedy Death Ray (Scott Aukerman) featuring Paul Reubens, Dave Foley & Thomas Lennon
Doug Loves Movies (Doug Benson) featuring Kevin Pollack, Dave Foley and Anthony Jeselnik (they actually taped two episodes of DLM at SXSW, and the second one featuring SIMON PEGG, RAINN WILSON and JAMES GUNN will go up in a couple of weeks)
That’s all from me, folks. Aamir and Chris are in Austin at the moment for the music side of the festival as the podcast noted, so hopefully they’ll have lots to report on their return.
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