SXSW 2009 Friday plus Unofficial SXSW Party @ 21st Street Co- Op on Saturday (photos pending)

At 4:30 pm this afternoon I went to the 2009 Pitchfork/Windish Austin Bash to get a straight shot of pure adrenalin to my heart by way of King Khan and the Shrines. The band (horn section, keys, drums, guitar, and bass all in matching costume) played intro music, the guitarist introduced "the one and only KING KHAAAAN", who was stepping up to the stage at just that moment (captain's hat, staff & cape) preceded by a dancer with pom poms and a very scandalous dress. Lots of theatrics and excellent stage presence. Plus I've been jamming KKNS pretty strong since.





Department of Eagles were right after. Rossen, introducing the band as "primarily a party band", opened the set with his loop station business. At the end an Emo's security person told them to cut it, the crowd wanted more and chanted '"encore!", then Victoria Legrand from Beach House stepped on to close their set with a cover of the Dead's "Fire on the Mountain."





Immediately after I made my way to the Barton Springs spillway for a quick dip and to hang out with Chris Ritchie and Marleigh Jones. I left their apartment around 10:30 pm to make my way to Grizzly Bear at Cedar Street Courtyard, but my stars were not aligned. After some trouble with the locals (there was a huge line for badges and this guy got really upset about me trying to get in ahead of him. I made eye contact when necessary and pretended I was mute, which he didn't like) I went all the way back to Emo's again to see the Black Lips. At the door there was trouble. According to the guy in the front my id was so bad that he felt like confiscating it.

Next thing I'm standing on the steps in the far back taking shots of the Lips, who opened up the better part of their set with a rapper I hadn't heard of and then closed it with "bad kids" (according to some of the snooty photographers around me, only an amateur would shoot with film or with the digital set up I had).



Moved up front for King Khan and the Shrines. Got some good pics, I hope. Left to go to a keg party at Neale the hockey player's apartment. Daniel the accountant was clearly depressed. He mentioned death as an improvement. I played guitar. Went back to Evan Butts' and Marleigh's apartment to draw with bamboo sticks and ink. Also had a delicious Digiorno pizza.

That's about it. Tomorrow I plan to attend Vivian Girls, Beach House, Explosions and Monotonix. If I can make it I'm going to go to an unofficial SXSW party starting at 6 pm at the twenty-first Street Co-Op (on twenty-first street right between Pearl and Rio Grande). Don't miss this! Last time I was there a naked guy was wearing a barrel. Then he was just naked.

Later!