SXSW Seattle Surprise
posted by on March 15 at 17:01 PM
It’s never an easy landing in Austin for South By Southwest, and I’m not talking about touching down at the airport. You gotta hit the ground running no matter when you get in, which is what I did. I bust out of the cab, drop my bags at the front desk of my hotel, and hustle down 6th Street to Mohawk for the Rhapsody day party.
First order of biznezz—free beer and pulled pork tacos. Outside in the sunshine (I’ve forgotten what the sun is like; it’s like medicine), there’s Robin Hitchcock onstage, gray hair flapping in the breeze. Hitchcock is playing an acoustic, accompanied by R.E.M.er Peter Buck, and… none other than dapper Seattleite and The Stranger’s own Sean Nelson on backup vocals. Hitchcock is discussing Heideggerian philosophy between songs, Buck looks somewhat bored on 12-string guitar, and Nelson is unflappable with his soft falsetto.
Afterwards Nelson tells me he’s all over the new Robin Hitchcock album, great and unexpected news. Dude’s a true Renaissance man.
On hand are also Dave Meinert of Fuzed Music and Sub Pop’s Jen C, “licensing guru,” according to Meinert. She’s gotta split, unfortch—kids back home, birthday tomorrow, etc. Musically, Buck and Hitchcock aren’t the rowdy welcome I was hoping for. Peter, Bjorn & John are on next, and since their album doesn’t do it for me I give their live set a try. I’m still not convinced. (Apparently I’m not the only one, as attested to by this website.)
I’m on my way right now to meet Meinert at the Four Seasons for a party thrown by a major label honcho’s son’s friend or something. I expect more free booze.
Tonight’s early affair is the Stax 50 year anniversary party at Antone’s and later on Playboy’s Rock the Rabbit party with Ghostland Observatory and more free booze somewhere outside downtown.
And that’s how it is here at SXSW: A mutual handjob, handshake, and helping hand, connections made and egos stroked and Tecates drank. The sun is setting outside my eighth floor window and music drifts up from somewhere down on 6th Street.
More later, including pictures.
I hate to say it but Sean Nelson bores the shit out of me. I saw him on stage with Nada Surf at the Croc a while back and he almost ruined the show singing backup. Ok, he had a hit, 10 yrs ago. Get over it. His voice isn't that great, his songs aren't that great, unless you are Megan Seling kissing his ass, he thinks he's funnier than he really is and he is a complete snob - like "oh, you are not famous enough for me to talk to or about."
He is fat and out of touch.
Sean Nelson, please do stay home once in awhile. Did someone tell you need to be out circulating yourself around so much?
Hey, your outfit looks great. Are you auditioning for a walk on part for The Sopranos?
I do root for you on American Idol though!
dude, you're all the way down in texas and ya got nothing better to do than gossip about the mediocre sean nelson? who cares if he's on stage with hitchcock? now, if it happened to be an egyptians style full-band show and such, well, ok, MAYBE... but c'mon... don't be such a DWEEB.
Isn't it Robyn Hitchcock?
C'mon, Zwickel! Cannon, now Robin? I realize you're all atwitter with SXSW-induced hysteria, but I'm still watching you.
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