It’s a rarity, but every now and then, we at particleman.org have to bitch and moan about certain things that require bitching and moaning. This is one of those things.
If you’ve ever lived in Austin, you almost automatically groan when SXSW rolls around. The city explodes with people cramming into downtown trying to figure out who the cool new band is going to be, to see the hip new films, and to sit in on panels where people talk about the sociological impact of blogs on our day-to-day interactions. Fascinating stuff.
I’m a little bitter about SXSW. I lived in Austin for four and a half years and had to deal with four SXSWs. SXSW clogs the streets and highways (which are already choked) with lost tourists. You can’t get a seat at restaurants. You can’t get into bars or pubs. You can’t park your car anywhere near downtown, which during SXSW, extends to all of central Austin. You can’t see any shows because everyone knows someone who got them a band, and you can’t afford a band because you’re a broke student and can’t muster the $300+ fee.
If you know where to go, there are lots of anti-sxsw shows outside of downtown. If you know where to go, there are tons of great restaurants and pubs to go to outside of downtown. But meanwhile, all the bands you ever wanted to see are in one place for one week, and you can’t get in…
Granted, I know SXSW is a tradition. It might even be a necessity. And it can be a great way to meet like-minded people. It’s a cultural orgy.
But for people on the outside looking in, SXSW is fucking annoying.
Comments (7)
URL: http://
i never went to SXSW in my five years of living in Austin. now that i live in denver, people look at me like i'm crazy for not going. i think its hurting any chance i had at music snob street cred. people forget that when you live in austin you can go see good bands year round without all the SXSW hype/hassle. i'd rather go mountain biking in arizona during SXSW, that was a good time.
Posted by carrico | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
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h - you're not a bar hag now? ;) s - the skank factor is probably cresting 11 right about now. it's off the scales this year. hf - good point. i never can find that damn mall. if they can, more power to them. c - the good part is that you just have to call me before you go and i can guide you to the cool places. or better yet, i can be your self-invited tour guide to all the best pubs in austin...
Posted by particleman | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
... *cough* and here i was looking at going next year. hehehehe. mainly for the techy stuff. i suck. but i promise not to be one of those lost tourists.
Posted by cherz | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://
i have to say that knowing you lived in austin for over four years and can't find the mall makes me have a little more sympathy for the people coming into town who get lost. :)
Posted by heatherfeather | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://
i went to the first two sxsw's. during that time, you could see a showcase for like $2. wristbands got you in for free. by the time they got around to sxsw3, they started wristband-only shows. then they started badge-only shows. then they started invite-only shows. by now they must have birthright-only shows. from sxsw3 i typically left town until the madness was over. i was in austin thursday evening and friday. sxsw-mania had already started. the skank-factor was at 9.5. certain restaurants were already closed for private parties (?!). in a year or so i fully expect to have to have a badge to enter Travis county in March.
Posted by skorloff | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
URL: http://
wristband, schmistband! one year i managed to score a platinum all-access BADGE! that was the sh@*t! and no one even bothered to look at the picture, which was of a 60ish year old woman. they just waived me right on in the clubs, ahead of everyone else. back in the day, when i was a giant bar hag & knew people who worked at clubs, i would get snuck in the back to some of the good shows. there was also this great thing called "south by so what" at the flamingo, which was a punk rock drag club on the corner of 7th & red river. it's now some swanky trendoid bar now. just not the same. i also used to love all the free day shows = free food = free beer. of course, once i wasn't in college & actually had to work during the day, i hated those free shows because i was stuck in an office while my friends were off drinking free beer. the afterparties were some of the best, too. of course, that was back in my bar hag with connections days. it helps to date someone with their own record label. but other than those good old days, yes, sxsw is really annoying if you live in austin, mostly because the majority of sxsw attendees act like obnoxious, self-important pricks while they're in town.
Posted by heather | February 10, 2007 8:16 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:16
I am to a great extent impressed with the article I have just read. I wish the writer of www.particleman.org can continue to provide so much useful information and unforgettable experience to www.particleman.org readers. There is not much to say except the following universal truth: The great pleasures in life are doing what people say cannot be done. I will be back.
Posted by payday loans | February 13, 2010 7:04 PM
Posted on February 13, 2010 19:04