Daily Nebraskan

Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jeremy Buckley Ben Harper appeared at SXSW to promote the new documentary "Body of War." Tom Morello, Billy Bragg and Serj Tankian also performed at the Stubb's BBQ showcase. [Click to enlarge]

The crowd numbered in the thousands when punk band Municipal Waste took the stage at Waterloo Park during the week of 2008's South By Southwest Music Festival. The temperature was moderate, and the crowd was mostly decked out in black jackets with various patches claiming their allegiances, drinking Dos Equis and waiting for a little action in the mosh pit.

As the band's set went on, lead singer Tony Foresta riled up the crowd by offering beer bongs and trading loogies with those lucky enough to be in the front row. The pit measured maybe 40-feet wide, and even when a girl on the periphery was randomly tackled by an overzealous fan, she jumped back up and held her head for maybe a second before continuing to rock.

Because that's punk. That's what the music is all about.

Crazy thing is, the free show at the park which attracted almost 10,000 people to see bands as varied as NOFX, Black Mountain and Islands wasn't even a part of SXSW's official showcases. Instead, it banked on the fact that the crowd of more than 50,000 that descended on Austin for the festival would include industry professionals eager to sign the next big thing as well as kids with little to no cash to spend on entertainment for the week.

The 2008 version of SXSW was perhaps the biggest, attracting more than 1,600 bands for a week of showcases originally designed to give record executives and bands a way to congregate in one place with hopes of fostering deals that benefit everybody involved. The focus has changed somewhat, as is the case with most every successful music festival, and these days, Austin becomes a mecca for music fans with insatiable appetites for music.

More than 70 music venues were used for the official showcases this year, but dozens more were constructed in parking lots, office buildings and atop bridges that cross the Colorado river. Those interested could buy a badge ($450-$650) or a wristband ($160) to get access to all of the official showcases, but some fans have grown savvy enough to recognize that most bands that come to Austin for the festival play much more than just their official showcase.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools