« SXSW, I miss you. I wish we got to hang out.
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 4:16 pm by a
Unfortunately, I missed SXSW this year… I’m kinda sad that I missed the craziness… the debauchery… the lack of sleep… the running from venue to venue… the celebrities… the music… the Kanye and Metallica shows, the alco…. wait. Did I say Kanye and Metallica? WTF!?
SXSW… where did you go? I know, I know…. ya’ll are gonna hate on me for this and I am sure it was a great festival, with some amazing parties and showcases. But come on. How is there any room to give love to the bands that need it the most when one of the biggest bands in the world, Metallica, plays a 90-minute show at Stubbs with thousands of people in the show and then another few thousand outside trying to jump the fence to get in.
Remember Metallica helped destroy Napster… I will forever be bitter about that.
And then there was Kanye West. The most arrogant, self-aware, cocky, whiny, albeit somewhat talented, did I say arrogant, artists to probably ever grace the stage. Granted he was promoting the artists under his G.O.O.D label like Kid Cudi, who played “Day ‘N Night.” (Probably one of the most over played songs on the radio, but I still like it.) So “Mr. West” wasn’t necessarily there to promote himself… but his performance, let alone his presence there was enough to take the spot light away from other artists. Same goes for Metallica.
SXSW is for the smaller bands, the unsigned bands, the bands that have spent their own money to get in their van and drive thousands of miles to come here just to perform 3-6 shows and hope that someone notices them before they go back. It’s to discover new music… not go to see artists that have won numerous grammys. All the post SXSW news has been about Metallica and Kanye West, leaving little room for the smaller guy.
But alas, there will always be the “Secret/Not So Secret” shows at SXSW every year. Bigger names will always take the spotlight from those who need it, unintentionally for the most part. And SXSW will continue to get bigger and better each year.
p.s: dont get me wrong… SXSW is an amazing festival and I think anyone that has the opportunity to go to it will not regret it.
Shawn Says:
April 1st, 2009 at 8:47 am
SWSX has not been SXSW for years now, at least the music portion. It used to be the festival to see unsigned bands and now it is just a showcase/PR/marketing event for labels and advertisers and a way for old and out-of-touch bands, a la Metallica, to feel like they are hip. Can you say transparent.
For me, SXSW is all about the day shows. Buying a wristband is a waste of money and time. Seriously, free entry to day shows with an RSVP, typically free booze, free food, some free merch - day shows are where it is at. Official SXSW is for out-of-towners. They can bring in the money during the festival, I’m going to save mine and attend only day shows from here out.
clairebear Says:
April 1st, 2009 at 8:47 am
I’m glad all the dirty kids are out of here. I wanted to give them all a shower.
I get your point about how it sucks that bigger bands are coming and stealing the spotlight but I think it works hand in hand. When bigger bands come, I bet SXSW gets more recognized by people which means more people will want to come which means more exposure and more potential fans for the smaller bands.
But I totally see your point how it’s for the small bands that want to get signed…
And boo to Metallica for destroying Napster!!!
Nicole Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I agree with you that the growth of SXSW makes it harder for smaller bands to get some love, but the festival is also about the festival go-ers, not just the bands who play them. Obviously everyone who attends the big shows wants them there, or they wouldn’t be filling up venues. I think it shows that SXSW has evolved (whether ppl like it or not); the original point of the festival got overshadowed by how big it got. It sounds almost like an oxymoron for people to expect that such a big music event should only attract bands that only create small crowds. I’m sure devout SXSW-ers wish they could turn back time and keep it from getting so big, because I think that’s the only way to keep the big bands out.