March 20, 2006

SXSW 2006

Posted in Finding Lyle at 4:44 am by Brooke

Tonight as I was driving home from dinner I turned the radio on:

“It’s not that nice here. The weather usually sucks. Music scene is really usually just average. Nah there really is even more traffic when everyone is gone actually. Yeah, sports – no sports either. Not a lot to do at all really. We just sit around and hang out and wish we lived in New York mostly.”

At first I was shocked – what? what was going on? What was this man on the radio talking about?? But then I realized – it’s SXSW. This is on for all those New Yorkers and Bostonians who are visiting Austin this weekend having a fantastic time. The DJ was simply echoing a familiar theme of those of us who have made Austin our home…

Please, don’t stay!Go back where you came from!

Yes, SXSW 2006 is dying down – Saturday was really the last big day. What a week though – wow. And I didn’t even get a wristband!

Last Friday night we went to see the wonderful Eliza Gilkynson at Threadgill’s. Saturday night, Katie (friend visiting from NC) and I were there for the opening of Barton Springs Pool – which was great since it was a summery 90 degrees out. That night after picking up another college friend from the airport we headed to Antone’s for Grupo Fantasma. (*The next week they were voted as having the best horn section in the Austin Music Awards!)

Later in the week I hit up a show at Maggie Mae’s, and saw perhaps the worst rap artist ever… but after suffering through him, we were rewarded by a short set from the Weepies – who were a totally fun couple from Boston who had some great stuff.

And, what would a week of music be without Bob?  Friday, a few of us made it to Threadgill’s again to see  Bob Schneider.  Very fun. He was pretty tame, but it was still fun.

It was pretty amazing biking through downtown at night, or even in the afternoon, and seeing the throngs of people wandering around – most with badges strung around their necks.  It was like the city just came alive – and was bursting at the seams for a week.  But it made me feel like more of an Austinite: compared to all these folks, I’m practically a native.

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