March 18, 2004

SXSW Part One: Bands in Austin

Before starting my new job in April, I wanted to have one final "last hurrah" before having to go back to the land of daily obligation. Fatty and Sarah were both going to Austin, TX for the South by Southwest Music Festival (Fatty's band to perform and Sarah because she was covering it for Spin Magazine) and suggested last minute that I should go too. It sounded like a perfect plan until I went on the national interweb and saw the price of a "last minute" airplane ticket to Texas

Just when I'd about given up on the idea of going, Fatty was like "Dude, I've got a ton of frequent flier miles - if you want, how about I just buy you a ticket with those?" Seriously, that's just the kind of guy David Fateman is. Every time you think he couldn't possibly get any nicer, he goes and does something that totally redefines your concept of generousity (and in turn makes you think even harder about what a selfish piece of shit you are). Then when Sarah heard there was a chance I'd be able to get a ticket, she went ahead and asked her hotel bunkmate, Caryn Ganz, if she'd mind me crashing at their hotel. So before this entry even starts, a big thank you to Fatty, Sarah and Caryn. If there are nicer people in the world, I haven't met them yet.

Thursday, March 18th

My plane took off shortly after 9am. I was supposed to have a ninety minute layover in Chicago, and then I'd fly into Austin just in time to meet up with Sarah and company and see Mandy's band play.

Well, my ninety minute layover in Chicago turned into a seven hour delay due to inclement whether. Hey, at least I had a book.

After I finally made it to Texas (around 11pm instead of 4pm), the cute girl I'd sat next to on the plane (on the right) offered me a ride into town when her friend picked her up. And the worst part is, I forget both of their names (I think maybe the girl I sat next to was named Amy?). Jesus, I suck. If I was the Fatty, not only would I have remembered their names, I'd have sent them both thank you cards. If you ever see this, thanks for the ride (Sorry I'm such a jerk).

Because of the delay, I totally ended up missing Many's show, but I called her when I got into town and I ended up catching her just as she and her bandmates were hopping in a cab to go to some private afterhours party outside of town that Joan Jett was rumored to be playing at. When Mandy graciously extended an offer to join them, I ran my tiny ass down the street and hopped in their cab. Here's our rock and roll driver - I actually managed to catch him in the act of cranking the volume dial so we could all better enjoy the Van Halen song that had just come on the radio.

mandy, me — (An overly excited) Me and Many at the show. Turned out the rumors were true, shortly after we'd gotten there (and shortly after I somehow convinced the nice bartender lady to *fill my backpack* with cans of free beer) we entered a huge airplane hangar and got to see...

...Joan Fucking Jett. Here's the pics from Mandy and I's original vantage point.

After she finished her second song, I was no longer content to watch from afar and managed to weasel my way...

...all the way up front of the stage. At first I was excited just because Joan Jett was one of the first women I ever remember having a crush on. When I saw her in the "I Love Rock and Roll" video at age eight, it was one of the first times I remember getting a funny feeling "down there." (Who knew this she was just the first in my long line of lesbian crushes?)

But Joan, blew the fucking doors off the place. Crush schmush, she put on one of the better rock shows I've seen in my life.

Here's the big BBQ party that was going on outside the hanger after Joan's set. A little after 3am it started raining so I bid Mandy and company farewell and took a cab over to the hotel where...

fatty — ...Fatty and his band were staying! Fatty and Scott (the band's road guy) had gotten into town from NYC via van earlier that day and were kind enough to let me crash in their room. Thanks guys!

Friday, March 19th

Friday morning I helped Fatty and the guys in the band load up their gear into their van. They were moving to a hotel that was closer to where they'd be playing their first of two shows in town.

fatty, scott t — Band shot. Scott, Dan and the Fatty. aka - Fireworks Go Up.

fatty, me — Before heading over to their new hotel, we piled into the van and went over to...(ps - Hey Dan, close your mouth)

...at the super exclusive Spin party being held at Stubbs. Despite being the DJ and the Emcee of the show, Sarah still managed to cordinate getting me a VIP pass and I breezed through the line with the quickness.

sarah — I got there at 2pm to find Sarah (already shitfaced and holding a Miller High Life Tallboy, NOICE!) on stage cracking up after having gotten to introduce...

...David Cross. Who did a lil' standup before the Von Bondies came on.

lizzy, marc spitz — In the middle of the Von Bondies set, I saw Lizzy and her boyfriend (and fellow Spin writer) Marc up in some fancy private balcony that overlooked the stage. She waved me up and I got to watch the show from a crazy vantage point.

Oh, did I mention the free beer and BBQ? Served with a slice of white bread no less. Friggin Texas.

After BBQliciousness, the Hives came on. Now, I'd never really cared for their music much, but after seeing them live, I, much like the Monkees, am a believer.

After years spent capturing Grant's airborne antics, I was on the money to capture Pete's antics.

Their singer got the crowd going something fierce.

And then towards the end of their set, he jumped off the stage and landed on the crowd barricade.

...met up with Kim, a friend of Grant and Fatty's that now lives in Austin, to see Fatty's band play a quick set one of the SXSW venues. (I don't have any pictures of their show because I was taking pics of the band using Dan's camera).

After the Fader Party, I walked over to the pavilion and managed to sneak into the back just in time to catch Piebald play (from like 300ft away).

fatty, mandy — After Piebald, Mandy and I checked out some other band (I forget their name) because Mandy's band was going to be playing a few shows with them and she wanted to say hi and support them. Then we met up with the Fatty and went back to Sarah's hotel (where I was now staying) to get out of the heat and relax for a while.

Later that night, we went to another private Spin party (this time it was held a ways out of town at some relatively new clothing store) and got treated to a performance by Pretty Girls Make Graves.

There wasn't even a stage so they literally played like six inches in front of the crowd.

The audience was so close we were even encouraged to maraca along with the band. HOT!

I was so close I almost got my eye poked out by guitar strings.

Spin actually bought this photo from me and published it in their SXSW coverage section! Woo!

After the band played, everyone headed upstairs for a party on the roof.

eva f — And I ran into Eva! I met Eva during brunch the morning before Sarah's big birthday party at my apartment. She runs the agency that books Pretty Girls Make Graves.

Thursday, March 18th

Friday, March 19th

Saturday, March 20th