Here goes my stream of conciousness recap of SXSW:
Tuesday:
Drive to Austin with new friends.
Heard so much ‘new’ music I felt out of the loop.
Philosophized on the craving to be hip + hear the new shit all the time.
Really liked Ra Ra Riots though.
Get to Super 8.
Did not sleep all night.
The reunion!
Negotiate a crazy cheap van for Bomba Estereo w/ citywide’s Joe – THANKS JOE!
Wednesday:
Registration.
Bumped into Ozomatli’s Wil-Dog + SXSW’s Alicia Zertuche.
Also David A + Chico Mann.
Antone’s w/ Bomba Estereo, Choc Quib Town, Maldita Vecindad.
Convo w/ Goyo/Tostao (of CBT) + Li Saumet (of Bomba Estereo) about Latin America’s hip-hop invasion and how to collab w/ folks.
Goyo loves Decon’s Nneka like I do.
Tostao digs Nas.
Wonder how to make that happen.
Li indecisive about outfits.
CQT have great energy + presence during their show. They sound great.
Bomba’s show slowly builds to a frenzy – ends well.
Two big guys from Memphis approach and can’t get enough of Bomba Estereo – want to bring the band to Memphis.
Heart warms.
Bear hug from Rich Garza. Hi Andrew Casillas.
Reunion w/ Tomas Cookman @ Merch table.
While on Jager run for post-show celebration, fat, sweaty man-boob to the face in Maldita mosh.
Fail.
Love connecting with people who love music.
Gustavo Santaolalla hugs band as they leave the stage + raves. Collab?
Maldita love Li.
Early night for big next day.
Thursday:
Wondering why I only brought one pair of socks.
Figure no one will know.
Load-in. Best production team ever @ Fader Fort.
Carrera gifting suite goodness.
Met Theophilus London + band in sun w/ tacos. He wants to visit Colombia.
Fader Fort gifting madness w/ the good folks at Levi’s and Cornerstone.
Hi Andrew from Remezcla.
Bomba Estereo RIP Fader Fort.
Memphis guys back to continue raving about how the last great band they saw like this was The Clash.
Gush-fest.
Read Colombia’s Bomba Estereo Made White People Dance Their Hipster Asses Off.
Intro to Taxi Cab Sessions.
Smiles!
Celebration ensues.
Load-out back and forth taxi madness.
Security guard says ‘I don’t know what the cot damn you’re saying, but I danced my ass off’
Heart warms again.
Quick detour to Iron Gate for Tormenta Tropical for Maluca.
Thanks Geko Jones, Uproot Andy, etc.
Cool kids. Hips shake.
Dinner in a train.
Sick and in bed early.
Friday:
Pressure off.
BMI brunch.
Friends abound like Remezcla’s Nuria Net, Systema Solar, Polen’s Felipe Alvarez, Gustavo Fernandez, etc.
Grassy hill sunshine siesta.
Make it official.
Press w/ Elaine Garza.
Real meal.
Finally meet Anita Tijoux after knowing her virtually for about 5 years. Hermana!
Off on my own w/ crew to catch Mayer Hawthorne, Black Joe Lewis, and Raphael Saadiq.
Haven’t had normal digestive cycle in 3 days.
Convulsions and loud singing as Raphael does ‘Dance Tonight’ –>into ‘Be Here‘
Stop by Colombian showcase @ Speakeasy to give Quantic a CD.
Phone charge/drink break.
Meet up w/ equipo for Redman + Balkan Beatbox.
Redman is a no show – boo Jersey City!
Dance my ass off to mid-90s hip-hop hits w/ Jose Galvan from Sala de Espera + Alex from Move Forward Music, BE, CQT, P Dryddy.
Off to the xx @ church w/ P Dryddy and Areti.
Singers have glassy eyes and I’m mesmerized.
Semi-fall asleep. But not bc it’s bad.
Quickie hi to Evidence + Peter of Decon.
Momentary stay @ c3 house to charge phone – met some cool folks.
Caught ‘the very best‘ w/ Bragin + P Dryddy @ emo’s.
Where the hell is everyone?
Make it home safe.
Saturday
Bye bye Bomba Estereo.
Drop stuff off at P.Dryddy’s.
Bop around town w/ Josh W.
Freezing.
Say hi to Nuria y Gustavo @ Maika’s showcase.
Nice walk through East Austin (past Victory Grill) to Mochilla’s ‘Timeless’
Meet up w/ Timo + Anita Tijoux.
Bumped into Wonway.
He smells good.
Amazing screening/live edit of Timeless by J. Rocc.
Rapped w/ Anita to De La’s ‘Stakes is High‘ during screening.
J. Dilla in the building.
Told composer Miguel Atwood Ferguson he’s the best thing in hip-hop right now. He’s all smiles.
Met LA’s Mochilla’s Rocio, B+ and Quantic.
Sushi.
Sleighbells @ Fader Fort. Get me outta here!
Pitchfork party @ Scoot Inn
Walk with stranger to town – way to pass the time.
Caught Blue Scholars @ Emo’s.
Find Outernational at Street Sweeper Social Club (Boots Riley + Tom Morello).
May have been best thing I saw all trip.
Run to New Orleans’ Sissy Bounce/Katie Red to see Bragin, Alex (Trouble WW), Dmitri (Rock Paper Scissors), others.
NYT’s John Pareles put his hands on the floor and his ass in the air.
Saw it with my own eyes.
Watered down Patron=fail.
Missed Get Busy Committee, but two-stepped to Kurupt.
Felt like LA for a minute.
Hi to old friends.
Charge phone/drank at c3 house — thank god for charging station.
Defended Tina + Chris Weymouth of Tom Tom Club from bigot doorman @ Maggie Mae’s.
Conversation w/ Police.
Sneak into the back to catch last couple of songs from Anita Tijoux.
Reunion w/ Rod Starz of Rebel Diaz + DJ Ethos.
Run off to Vice party.
New friends. No sleep.
Sunrise over Colorado River on Congress.
8 AM drive back to LA w/ new friends.
Summary:
Saw a lot. Missed a lot. Built a lot. Kicked ass. And…had fun!
Bomba Estereo team: Lucas (Sound), Simon (Director/Bass/Programming), Li (Vocals), Kike (Drums), Julian (Guitar) [Photo by Natalia]