It was my first time going down to SXSW. I had heard of it–I mean, who hasn’t? Over 1,500 bands in one city? Live music from 12 noon to 2am every day for 7 days? I was in awe of it from a distance, overwhelmed by the idea. After a year of going to 1-5 shows per week here in Chicago, I felt like SXSW was a challenge I was ready to accept.
I prepped with spreadsheets and lists and a calendar. I wanted to catch as many new bands as possible. I wanted to see lots of different venues and crack the code as to whether I should have gotten a badge to have my best experience (hint: you don’t need the badge!).
I went to 21 shows in 7 days and saw over 80 bands. One of the best things was catching up with bands from the Midwest. I felt hometown pride cheering them on, and they played with bands that I considered new discoveries. Cozy comfort of the familiar paired with the new and exciting in every SXSW experience I had. Talking to bands and locals gave me great insight as to what I should do next. Their advice was paramount.
Big thanks to these five amazing bands for sharing their SX wisdom with us. Hope to see you all at SX in 2020!
Paul Cherry | Chicago, IL
6 shows in 3 days in Austin
12 shows in 10 days traveling to/from
Official SXSW Artist | 4th time going to SXSW (2 official)
6 people in the van:
Paul Cherry–guitar/singing; Shubu–keys; Andrew–synth/guitar; Jojo–bass; Roy–drums; Graig–percussion
The best thing about SXSW?
Playing for people that like my music. I’ve been to Austin like seven times. Just for fun and friends, but I’ve been to four SXs. The first time I performed as Paul Cherry was yesterday
Coming to Austin with the full band is logistically difficult, was it hard decision whether to bring them with you?
I always bring them. It wasn’t a decision. We can’t do less than that.
Looking forward to?
Getting a free backpack from the artist gifting lounge. It’s literally that one that guy is wearing right now. [points] I got one last year when I played with a different band. I want another one.
Fav venue you visited or played at?
Hotel Vegas outdoor stage, always wanted to play that stage.
Discovery you think people should know about?
Hot Springs, Arkansas–amazing town.
Photos at The Parish, March 12.
Leggy | Cincinnati, OH
8 shows in 4 days
Unofficial Artist | 5th time going to SXSW (2 were official)
3 people in the van:
Véronique Allaer–vocals/guitar; Kirsten Bladh–bass/vocals; Chris Campbell–drums
How many times have you been to SX?
Véronique: It’s our fifth time playing SX.
Fifth!? Share your wisdom!
Véronique: Not official every time. That shouldn’t be a barrier ’cause there are benefits to playing unofficial. Like, you get to play late night slots, like this. We get to headline this puppy.
Instead of when we played official, we played 7pm at a literal Irish restaurant. Which is fine, it’s just not what I’m trying to do.
Kirsten: Yeah, everyone is just sitting there eating fish and chips.
Véronique: Yeah, and I’m like, this is my official showcase. So–that happens. It’s fine though. You take lemons, and you make lemonade.
Chris: It’s always really fun. It’s great to see a bunch of friends from the Midwest: The Harlequins, Smut, and The Ophelias. And also from places we would never, like, get to unless we are playing with them.
Véronique: Yeah, like, we saw Cincinnati band The Harlequins today. They’re pals, it’s not like we never hang with them in Cinci, but when you’re in Austin its nice to see each other and support each other. It’s special to be here together experiencing this. Like, we went to see them, and they came out to our show. It was pure. Pure of heart.
Véronique: Best part overall of SX is seeing other bands and your friends.
Christopher: I’ve seen so many bands that I’ve never really seen or heard of before.
Véronique: And that’s, like, sick.
Christopher: That’s one of the best part of being down here is that you can go to a venue or a showcase to see maybe one band, and you end up running into new friends and old friends.
Véronique: Here you can run into people you don’t even know are doing the festival. At another fest you, look at the lineup and you’re like there are the homies and you go and seek them out, but here you can just be walking down the street and be like, “holy shit, what the fuck!?” It’s actually really pure.
Favorite venue you visited or played at this year?
Véronique: We played a super sick DIY spot this year called The Lake Haus for a Howdy Gals / Womxn in ATX / Mas Music Records party. It was super beautiful and outside in the woods by a lil creek! Plus, it was sponsored by a few different vendors so there was free alcohol AND ice coffee AND kombucha!
Discovery you think people should know about?
Véronique: Some super sick bands that should be on everyone’s radars are Dig Nitty from NYC, Pearl Earl from Denton TX, Lizdelise from Philly, The Ophelias from Cinci, Weakened Friends from Portland ME, Well Wisher from NJ, Slow Pulp from Chicago, and Grace Joyner from Charleston 🙂
Photos at Stay Gold, March 13.
Michigander | Midland, MI
4 shows in 5 days
Unofficial Artist | 2nd time going to SXSW (first time Jason went solo)
4 people in the minivan:
Jason Singer–vocals/guitar; Jake Lemond–bass; Aaron Senor–drums; Alex Furtaw–video/merch
How many times have you been to SX?
Jason: Second SX, first with the band.
Is it different having the band with you?
Jason: Much better! Better with friends.
Aaron: If only you had some.
Jason: Yeah, if only, ’cause these guys cost a lot, and it’s funny cause they mess up, and I still pay them, anyway. [all laughing]
So, is there anything beyond levity that having the band helps you with?
I think we give a better impression as a band, rather than just playing on your own. Especially having talented boys that are good at what they do. It makes things easier and leaves a better impression on people.
Best thing so far?
Aaron: Topgolf! I’ve never golfed before.
Jason: Yeah, we’re gonna go golfing again tonight.
It’s probably nice and relaxing.
Jason: Yeah, its great. My favorite thing is probably Torchy’s.
What did you get?
Jason: A bunch of modified versions of their curated menu. So, I ruined it.
You personalized it!
Jason: You sure you don’t want to go to Torchy’s again?
Alex: We can go again, if you want.
Jason: Ok, we’ll think about it.
Jake: My favorite thing was our first night was my 27th birthday, and my girlfriend decided to surprise me and flew all the way down here. And these guys all knew about it for, like, two months. So that was a nice surprise.
That is a long time to keep a nice secret!
Jason: I almost spilled the beans once on accident.
Jake: Yeah, I was joking around and said, you know my girlfriend is coming down there.
Jason: I said there wasn’t room for anyone else in the van.
Lesson for someone coming down to play SX?
Jake: Print fewer business cards.
Aaron: Yeah, like maybe one.
Jake: Have fun and pick up a tab everyone once in a while, at an open bar.
Aaron: That’s advice we got!
Jason: Drink a lot of water.
Aaron: Be prepared for your set to be cancelled or rescheduled.
Jason: Don’t come down here for one set.
Seen anything cool?
Jason: We saw our friends play, Brother Elsey and Steppes.
Aaron: It was like a local show in Austin, TX, cause they’re pals of ours from Michigan that we play with kinda frequently. It was the same thing, just way down here.
Jake: It felt like we were in Michigan, only we were here. And it was my birthday, so all the people we knew were in the same bar. So there were like four bands that I knew playing that night–that was interesting and cool–and a bunch of other people, too. That was the best night.
Aaron: Even the main promoter we knew from Michigan was there, and a girl we knew that had booked shows for us in the past was there working the show. It was crazy.
Jason: That was at Stay Gold.
Discovery you think people should know about?
Jason: We saw a band called Pottery, and they were very cool.
I had to know, so I followed up with Jason to find out, how many times did they eat Torchy’s?
Three times 🙂
Photos at Fine Southern Gentleman, March 14.
Stef Chura | Detroit, MI
6 shows in 5 days
Official SXSW Artist | 2nd time going to SXSW (both official)
4 people in the van:
Stef–guitar/vocals; Evan–bass; Clancy–drums; Clara–guitar/backup vox
As a solo artist, why did you decide to bring a full band?
Stef: Our album coming out is a rock album. It’s a rock “capitol R” rock album. I used to play solo for, like, years, but the girl has rock, there is rocking to be had. That and I’ve been chained to my drummer for 4 mothering-effing years and we gotta rock.
What has been the best part so far?
Stef: I got a margarita last night. It was just a sports bar called Fraisers. And I was like, this is good. This is what I came here for! I like that our Airbnb has a horse, I don’t mind that! I sewed a button on my shirt, that seemed like an achievement.
Ya know what, I was here like two years ago, and I didn’t take advantage, probably because I’m a tom-boy-ass-bitch. I didn’t get it until recently that if you wear makeup and people take pictures of you, you don’t look depleted of, like, all vibrancy and life. It does help with, like, stage presence. This is the reason people in theatre do it. It literally helps you look better, like from afar. Up close, you look like a cakey shitty bitch, but from afar you look amazing. Anyway, so, like, in the artist’s lounge, there are people from MAC makeup, and you just sit down and get your makeup done for free. And they like, give you lipstick, and that shit is expensive.
What are you looking forward to?
Stef: I think we might go swimming, like at Barton Springs. It’s like a big pool. Clancy! Explain what Barton Springs is.
Clancy: It’s like an odd canal…
Stef: Is it fresh water? It’s cold. It’s moving.
Clancy: A fresh water, river, or thru-way or something. It’s 68 degrees all the time. Whether it is 100 degrees outside or 60.
Stef: It’s controlled. It’s like cemented out, like a pool on the sides, but there’s no bottom.
Clancy: Yeah, it’s concrete on the sides, but the bottom is murky.
Stef: Yeah, there’s seaweed like a lake, ya know freshwater. It is cold kinda, but…
Clancy: There’s also a spot where you can chill on the rocks or play with your dog or something.
Fav venue you visited or played at?
Stef: Cheer Up Charlies!
Discovery you think people should know about?
Stef: Samari, Black Midi, CHAI!
Photos at Cheer Up Charlies March 15.
Sleeping Jesus | Winona, MN
5 shows in 4 days
Unofficial SXSW Artist | 1st time going to SXSW
5 people in the van:
Nick Elstad–vocals/guitar; Andy Bauer–bass; Seamus St Clair, guitar; Dante Degrazia–keys; Tyler Steinley–drums
Have you been to SX before?
Nick: First day. First time, as well.
What do you think so far?
Nick: Ridiculous.
Seamus: It’s so great.
What’s the first thing you did?
Tyler: We walked around the capital a little bit. Stretch the legs cause we have been in the van for so long. We walked along 6th Street, and it was just so cool to see. So many people out and about. Music on every corner.
Nick: Cause we have like four feet of snow. Probably like you guys do, too. Yeah, it’s so nice here. Ate tacos.
Best thing so far?
Seamus: The not-being-cold.
Nick: This has been really cool. Seeing quite a few familiar names and bands in like a similar style. We are from a small community, so we don’t get to play with a lot of groups that are close to us. This is fun, being in this environment.
What are you most looking forward to?
Nick: Meeting people and playing.
I caught up with Nick after SX and followed up…
Fav venue you visited or played at?
Nick: Spider House was a lot of fun!
Discovery you think people should know about?
Nick: The Medium from Nashville is amazing.
Any final thoughts?
Nick: It was great to be a part of such a fun week, we can’t wait to come back next year!
Photos at Love Goat on March 11.
Paul Cherry Facebook| Leggy Facebook | Michigander Official | Stef Chura Official | Sleeping Jesus Official
You must be logged in to post a comment.