So if you haven’t been able to tell (or just aren’t following my Twitter updates (@cystsfts) you’ll know that I’m #notatsxsw or anywhere near Austin, TX right now. I honestly don’t know how anyone (or at least anyone who has kids and isn’t working “in the industry”) can afford a SXSW badge, airfare, and lodging these days. I mean, I’ve got a 3-1/2 year old and another on the way plus (if you haven’t heard) the economy isn’t really as robust as it was a few years ago. I just don’t know how people are able to spend that kind of cash for a week long bender with a million great bands. Don’t get me wrong, it sounds like fun and I’d love to be there, but am I missing something? For now though, suburban Chicago will be just fine. Here’s some other stuff.
Yesterday Will over at Sound As Language posted about folk singer Brian Bond and his new album Fire And Gold. Awesome stuff in the vein of Mark Kozelek, Sufjan Stevens, & Denison Witmer. I’m gonna have to get this record.
Here’s an MP3 of Hey Mercedes covering GBV’s “A Salty Salute” from the Everynight Fire Works sessions.
Did you know that The Vindictives have a new record coming out in April? They do. Goes Cube has one coming in May? Yep. And Coalesce has a new record due out in June? They do as well. This is some cool news.
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don’t beat yourself up about not going to sxsw… but try to get a night off to go see a local band that could not afford to go to sxsw either. also… i dig that gbv cover! thanks.
SXSW is tons of fun! The thing is, you really don’t need a badge. I know tons of people who go, who don’t buy badges, and honestly I don’t know who can afford a badge. It’s like $700! Granted, it does give you access to every single show, but really that’s a lot of money! Especially if you know enough people to get on guest lists, you can totally go without a badge.
If I had a job, I would have loved to go but I can’t afford airfare or a hotel, or spending money. Eff being unemployed!
But you make a good point about being “in the industry.” Not to exclude anyone, because sure anyone can attend and if you want to and can afford to, do it, but SXSW really is for people “in the industry,” or at least thats how I’ve always seen it portrayed. The economy may suck but if your employer is paying for your plane ticket and hotel… its a different story than for people like you or me.
I feel like people at SXSW aren’t really living in reality.
Oh, and I sent you an email about Brian Bond.
Yeah, I hear you. I’ve got two kids and a mortgage and getting ready to sell my house in this super groovy economy. So I ‘m not sure how people pull it off. I have a couple of friends there. I’m generally super happy just getting review copies of albums.
I live in Austin, so I usually go see a few free shows. Tomorrow I’m seeing Pinebender, Silver Scooter, The Van Pelt, and Frodus. How weird and great a lineup is that for 2009?
yeah, we thought about going; I even convinced myself it would be a tax write off, blah blah blah and then my fiance reminded me: being stuck for a week with thousands of hipsters being ironic and coming home to no apartment because I’d have spent my rent and bill money down there… and then I decided, I could get a bottle of Jameson and sit at home and listen to all my favorite albums and not be bothered by annoying kids… I think I chose the better option.
Last year I could only afford a badge because we won them. This year, I live here, and got a wristband, which is much more affordable. ($130 / 27 bands = $4.82 per show).
Christine – amen, sister!
Eric – although you know that I think you could get a “free pass” to SXSW, I’m glad that you were home.