Thursday, March 20, 2008

My SXSW week

So my schedule last week went like this:

Monday

Work 6:45AM - 7:15PM

Tuesday

4 hours of computer modules at work, gym, watched California Split

Wednesday

Work 6:45 AM - 7:15 PM
Drive to Austin 8:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Stuff badges for SXSW 11:15 PM - 11:50 AM

Thursday

Listen to REM from behind Stubb's 12:00 AM - 1:30 AM
Sleep 2:30 AM - 10:30 AM
See bands, wander 12:00 PM - Friday 1:30 AM

Friday

Drive back to Houston 2:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Sleep 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM
Classroom education at work 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Watch TV, eat, sit around 4:45 PM - 6:30 PM
Sleep 6:30 PM - Saturday 08:00 AM

Saturday

Drive to Austin 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
See bands, wander 12:00 PM - Sunday 2:00 AM
Sleep 2:30 AM - Sunday 7:30 AM

Sunday

Drive back to Houston 8:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Think of about how attached I am to Austin and SXSW 11:30 AM - 11:32 AM
Nap, gym, laundry, grocery shopping, watch the original Funny Games 11:32 AM - 9:45 PM

So that's what I did last week. It wasn't a successful SXSW in that I didn't see too many things that impressed me and wasn't able to see any films. In fact the only band I really enjoyed whole-heartedly was The Raveonettes. A few were interesting, but nothing more than that. I'll chalk it up to my own fatigue and jadedness. The kids are alright, must have been me.

UPDATE:
I forgot to write that Black Moth Super Rainbow were great Saturday night/Sunday morning. I really enjoyed their collaboration with Octopus Project last year at SXSW and they clearly came ready this time. They had confederates in the crowd who, at climatic moments, would throw out candy and confetti, spray fake snowflakes, and float (empty) piƱatas through the very engaged audience. Every couple of songs, the guy in the band who was crouched on the floor playing keyboards or vocodering would stand up, look around, and seem amazed at the size and excitement of the crowd. Yay for them.

4 comments:

  1. Did you like California Split? I love that movie...

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  2. Thought I would be watching a underrated classic, but I didn't like it. I enjoy Altman generally but not so much this one. Just didn't engage me, the story was slight, and I found George Segal annoying.

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  3. It's been awhile since I've seen it, so I can't remember my George Segal feelings, but maybe I liked it more since I saw it on the big screen. Altman, and California Split in particular sometimes need that kind of space to be affecting...

    And what about Funny Games? I haven't seen that one, although I really like Michael Haneke, even though he hurts me every time.

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  4. Loved Funny Games. Well, it's hard to love it given what occurs, but I deeply appreciate it. Apparently the English remake is exactly the same so it doesn't matter which version you see. The distraction of subtitles or the distraction of Naomi Watts, your choice.

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