natalie portman’s shaved head: first glimmer of a sxsw plan
if you really want to see where I plan to be for SXSW, the easiest way to do so, without wading deep into my solipsism, would be to check out sched*2009. i like a physical, tangible schedule, that i can mark up with a pen, but i have to admit even i got my geek on for this website. for those who enjoy the interesting word usements i structure, carry on:
of the hotter shows this year, i’ll be leaving the decemberists to their well-read fans; i’ve never really fallen for Colin Meloy’s style of music by thesaurus. inconsistently enough, i do like the hyper-literate thing when it’s done by Okkervil River, and that’s going to be tough to get into, so let me say right now that i’ve heard they all developed swine flu, and won’t be here, and also they’re terrible in concert anyway, and you don’t want to go to the Parish because they don’t allow texting, and they will physically beat you for using the phrase ‘in this economy’, which I know you will, and besides that all the cool kids will be at Semi Precious Weapons, which is where you should go. right: i’ll see you in line outside the Parish.
i’ll also fight some crowds for m. ward, the Hold Steady, Camera Obscura, the Meat Puppets, the New York Dolls, and Blitzen Trapper. i feel i’ll absorb enough of the radiating hipster vibe just by being in the same town with Grizzly Bear, and I don’t need to go to the actual show. i hear they leave hipster shadows if you’re in the blast zone.
as for everything else, I haven’t even mapped out the first day: wednesday, in the midnight hour, while everyone is at the Decemberists, i have to pick Phosphorescent (early front runner), Aqualung (dark horse), Camera Obscura (closing on Phosphorescent), Carolyn Wonderland (more on her in a sec), or Echo and the Bunnymen. this is the indie music triage you’re subjected to at SXSW - will they play again? could i see them then? will that be easier to get into? am i thinking about this too much?
bands like the Gourds, the Mother Truckers, Joe Ely, Carolyn Wonderland, or even Okkervil River also give you this quandary: an austinite can see them some other time with less hassle, but their show at SXSW is likely to be an unmatched, super fly snooka, go time killer. these are good problems to have.
by the way, it’s 40 and raining in Austin, but the sun will shine on Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head. i guarantee. hey, quandary, solipsism, triage: i’m writing a Decemberists song.
and now, local kings the gourds: