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It’s Friday morning, and we’re halfway through the South By Southwest endurance test: more concerts, beers, and tacos than one would care to count. The masses begin to gather on 6th Street (see above) earlier than on the previous days – the weekend was about to hit, and downtown Austin was about to kick into an even higher gear. We better get going.
An old friend of ours gave us a heads up to check out the IFC Crossroads House to kick off the afternoon – and it was quite impressive. IFC gutted an entire event space, building up their lounge area and private soundstage from the ground up (see above). A slick, modern white interior with snazzy purple lighting gives the event a classy feel, which perfectly matches the caliber of talent playing the party’s showcase, which was being live-streamed on IFC’s website. Our particular target: Fitz and the Tantrums, who will take the stage in an hour. After a few free jumbo pretzels (random, right?) and obligatory beers, we duck out to the Pepsi Max installation (see below).
Pepsi engulfed us in sweet marketing bliss, buying out an entire parking lot and building a multi-tiered structure full of ping pong tables, Tecate and Lone Star, a giant photo booth, a ten foot tall Kinect dance video game, and of course, can after can of Pepsi Max. But before it’s our turn to play pool (yes, they had pool tables there as well!), we have to run back to IFC’s party to catch Fitz and the Tantrums’ set (see below). The intimate soundstage area is packed, and Micheal Fitzpatrick and Co.’s blend of soul and quirky pop keeps us all moving (and sweaty) during their show.
It was nearing 6 PM, and we had to race over to interview Blueprint (see below), one of our favorite rappers in the legendary Rhymesayers label group, at Emo’s before the Biz3 showcase there later that night. He has a new album dropping next month, and we had to get the details. After a good conversation about Midwest hip-hop and the creative process in producing an memorable rap record, Blueprint heads over to sound check and we bounce to the Fader Fort by Fiat.
We arrive to catch most of Odd Future (see below), a much buzzed about rap crew, play a wild and energetic set. They live up to their reputation, and were totally nuts – climbing on everything, constantly jumping into the crowd (see below, second photo), ranting and raving, and threatening law enforcement. But, we all love and are very entertained by their antics, and jump into the fray of the rampantly dancing hipster/hip-hop head contingency in front of the stage.
Keeping the electricity in the air, Brooklyn party starters Matt and Kim are up next. Besides their upbeat, punchy hooks and relentless charisma, the duo interjects Jock Jams anthems as mini-cover song interludes in their set. Kim is constantly crowd surfing, and Matt manages to climb to the top of the PA stacks to hype up the crowd. Also a member of the I’m Naked in my Music Video club, Erykah Badu also joins the band on stage but manages to keep her clothes on for the remainder of the set (see second photo below). Matt and Kim end with “Daylight,” and Kim throws herself into the crowd one last time while “Empire State of Mind” blares from the speakers.
The Fort clears out, and we head back to Emo’s to Biz3′s showcase – Skrillex just hit the decks, and we had to catch him in action (crowd at Skrillex below) to start off the night’s activities with some heavy hitting bass.
Next, we ascend the stairs to 502′s rooftop venue to catch a few songs from We Are Animal (see below), a band from Wales who happen to also be crashing at the same house where our temporary Eleven HQ is set up. They are great co-house guests, and also put on a great show.
Back to Emo’s to see Blueprint (see below) throw down a quick 30 minute set. During the show, we run into fellow St. Louisians and hip-hoppers Spark1Duh? and Jus Time, who are also nodding along to Blueprint’s technical rhymes and well-composed beats. The hook from new single “So Alive” makes us even that much more excited to grab his upcoming Adventures In Counter Culture.
Though our feet are getting tired from non-stop walking today, the trek across downtown to La Zona Rosa for the Mtn Dew Green Label Sound’s showcase was definitely worth the trip. After a quick street taco snack, we head into the venue to get to the front of the audience for Chromeo (see below), the headliner for the night and always a great show. Dave 1 and P-Thugg, armed with synths (with standard light-up legs as keyboard stands), cowbell, a talkbox, and enough funk to overpower the kids with their arms crossed in the back, rail through cuts from all three of their albums, 80s glitz and a cool lighting effects thrown in at every turn. The duo conclude with an encore sing-a-long for “Grow Up,” and we exit into yet another open bar at the back of the venue.
The VIP bar (see below) stays comfortably packed until it’s 2 AM close, and subsequently releases it’s inebriated tastemakers into the Austin streets. It’s a good thing some of the buses run late, as we take another hour or so to get lost in the dissipating crowds on 6th Street before we call it quits for the day.
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