Why I Prefer SXSW over ACL

It's that time of year again. The line-up for The ACL Festival has been announced and boy howdy are there going to be some good bands to check out. Too bad I won't be there. I am not a fan of ACL. I think you are either an ACL person or a SXSW person. Some of you are both but if you had to choose, you would probably lean a little stronger to one side over the other. I have compiled my list of reasons for why I prefer SXSW over ACL. You don't have to agree. It's cool.

#1- Port-a-Potties.

Here are Dale and I enjoying ourselves at Emo's during SXSW 2009. In a bar, not only you are protected from the elements (Don't get me started on the Dust at ACL) but you don't have to use a port-a-potty. I carry extra hand sanitizer and toilet paper in case the bar's facilities run out of either.

Here I am in a port-a-potty at ACL a few years back. The heat + the beer + the gross boys = a disgusting port-a-potty experience.

I went into that port-a-potty and it was pitch black so I could not see a thing. I took a picture of the toilet seat and it was the grossest thing I have ever seen. Needless to say, I "held it" all night. Not good.

#2 The Fans
At ACL people don't always know who they are standing in front of a stage to see. Sure, they have the schedule in hand and know the bands name but they may or may not give a shit. They may just be camped out there all day so that they could be up front to catch Eddie Vedder's sweat drops. I prefer going to a bar where the people in the crowd are fans. It creates a nice atmosphere when people know the music. Sure, the same can be said about a few people at SXSW. We went to a venue to see Daniel Johnston, for instance, and decided to watch a few bands. One of those bands was Trail of Dead.

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (and our loud ass drum kits)

None of us were fans before the show and we did not become fans that night. Look at Lee's face....this is right before we decided to retire to the bleachers and wait:

So yes, it can happen during SXSW but at least you can retire to the bleachers and chat with another band while enjoying a Lonestar. If you don't camp in front of the stage for your favorite band at ACL, you are stuck way in the back watching it all go down on the big screen. If I wanted to see the Beastie Boys on a big screen I would watch them on my tv at home.

Here is Daniel Johnston, by the way....


#3 The Street
You never know what is going to happen on the street during SXSW. This year, we happened upon hip hop artists Josh Martinez, Sleep, and the other fella. Who is that, J3? Help me out. It's not a bearded Atmosphere....is it?



They were just hanging out on the corner with a little PA doing their thing. Dale was all excited because he has seen them before and could not believe they were on the street. We spoke with Josh for a while. Nice dude.
The only performing you see at ACL is on the stage (or on the big screen).

#4The Hot Dogs

The hot dog man next to the Red Eyed Fly on Red River is the goods.


Yes, I know. ACL has food. Do they have THE Hot dog cart? Do THEY????? Is it this one? This one is the shit.

#5 Free Hugs

And Free Merch. They pass out merch like candy on the streets during SXSW.

#6 A place to sit

And you don't even have to lug your own camping chair and blanket with you!

#7 I hate those stupid lines at ACL. There is a line to get in and a line to get to the bus that takes you to and from ACL. The longest I had to wait to get into a club during SXSW was MAYBE 5 minutes.

#8 Too many people in one place. That's right. ACL is overrun by people. Old people, young people, people with babies, people with camel backs, etc. At SXSW, they are all spread out. Only so many people are allowed in a club at one time. Your chances of getting up close and personal to the band of your choosing is much more likely...unless you are there to see Metallica. If that's the case, then you suck anyway.

*9 Did I mention the gross port-a-potties? I don't like to share my bathroom with the boys.

#10 Dan Auerbach is not playing Bill's Place after ACL.


But he may be playing Stubb's or Emo's or something after ACL. I will save myself the sunscreen and just see him in the club during his after show which is guaranteed to be much longer and filled with his fans.

Dog Day

Dale, Rachel, Larry, Cooper, Blossom, and I traveled to Buda for the annual wiener dog races. We arrived and had to park by a dusty field filled with red necks and their giant trucks.



Really?

Let's take a closer look at the sticker:

Is that racist? I'm not 100% sure, but I have a feeling it might be.

Blossom and Cooper are both very good dogs. They play nice with others and listen to their humans....when they are not around each other.


However, when they are together they tend to team up on other dogs. Yes, Rachel and I are aware that we too may have been guilty of such behavior ourselves. Nobody is perfect.
Really, Cooper wants to meet every dog in the area so he barks until we take him to wherever the dog that catches his eye may be. Blossom is over protective of Cooper so she barks when another dog is around him.

Rachel and I happened to find ourselves in this booth that sold Dachshund clothing and accessories and spotted something neither of us could resist:

Doggie Bags.

Seriously, Cooper and Blossom get tired walking around all day. They have short legs people! Instead of having to carry them around like normal folk, we can now give our four legged friends a much needed rest while maintaining the ability to use our arms at the same time.


The dogs love it!

Let me tell you something....I have not had a corn dog in FOREVER! I could smell them in the air and I could not resist their fried glory. Here I am licking my lips in anticipation:

So good. If you have not had a corn dog in a while, I suggest you remedy that situation. Find a local fair or festival and dig in. Don't forget the mustard.

After we had our fill of Wienie and Corn dogs, we made our way to Freddy's back in A-town.


Cooper and Blossom continued their reign of terror at our new location. Check out Blossom in mid-bark:


Dale and Larry take over:


Blossom has an amazing ability to sit upright:

The bag does not hinder her ability.

All in all, it was a good day spent with good friends.


Neither Cooper nor Blossom participated in the races. I think we will try Cooper out next year though. He is one fast dachshund.

Lee and Sarah

Because it is almost Lee's birthday and because I can't think of anything else to put up, I give you The SXSW 2009 Lee and Sarah Photo Shoot.















Dale took the photo's and Emo's was served as our location. I have more from SXSW 2009 that I will put up later.

In other news:
*Last week, I accidentally super glued my keys to my pants. Try and figure out how that one happened. I had to use a razor to detach them.

*Dress season is upon us and I couldn't be happier.

*I am seriously going to plan the hoop making party......soon. I am thinking of turning it into a pot-luck BBQ type of event. Guys and gals will both be invited.

*The Dr. Dog show was very good. I have never been witness to such tight harmonies (with the exception of the Behnke BBQs.)

*Pei Wei has awesome chocolate chip cookies.

*I was walking down 6th street, this past Tuesday, by myself. I had to meet this guy to get tickets to the show and Dale had to stay at the bar to wait for our food. Dale offered to close his tab and go with me but I told him I would be fine. The sun was still out and it was a week day. What could happen? Here is what happened:
Some random dude, as he was walking by, looked at me and said "you are beautiful." Now, I know that is a compliment but it was also creepy. If I were with a pack of people and he said that it would be fine and I would be flattered. Instead, he rattled my nerves and caused me to quicken my pace. I doubt that was the reaction he was going for.

*Cooper is almost 100% better. He does not seem to be aware that he is sans testicles. He has almost stopped marking the furniture. He had a minor slip up the other day but it has been a big improvement from the daily markings that were going on.

That is all.

Hacienda!!!!!!!!!!

My pictures made it to a youtube video that Hacienda put together!



You should go see Hacienda May 9th at Antone's. Seriously.
No, really....go see them.

And buy their album Loud Is The Night. Hell, Get it on Vinyl.

While you are spending your cash, pick up Dan Auerbach's Keep It Hid. You won't be sorry.

Famous

I hit the big time!

In other news:
you smell.

That is all.

Attack of the Cascarones

Easter Sunday was spent at Rachel and Larry's house. They fed Dale and I fajitas and beer and then they tied me up and smashed cascarones on my head.


I yelled for the dogs to come and help me but they had already given Blossom and "evil pill" and she decided to attack my head instead.


Cooper saved the day and untied me. What a guy.

I am suing them for pain and suffering....and cruelty to animals. Poor Blossom. I hope the "evil pill" wears off soon.


The cascarone madness was not entirely directed at me. Larry got his.


As did Rachel:


We need a close up of that confetti action:


I should have known what was coming when Larry insisted upon standing next to me for this photo:




I am sure there is a picture of Dale getting his on Rachel's camera. Well, not sure but positive. Wait, not positive.....I have a hunch.

We played "guess the jelly bean flavor" which evolved into "guess the jelly bean color." Larry said it was an "American game thought up by Americans and Played by Americans." Good, clean, American fun.

Rachel has those pics and I am sure she will blog about that. Hope you had a fun Easter Sunday. I did.

Get down, get down!

Last weekend Josh and Tirzah joined us at our home for an evening of music and beer. When we took the music playing in the big room, Tirzah grabbed my camera and took some lovely shots. Let's take a look.


I must say, she was captivated by the swirly guitar cords.



Things started out with Dale and I both on an acoustic and Josh on his Strat.


This may be my favorite picture of the evening.

Dale switched to his hollow body and plugged in.


Look at me getting all down with the groove.


Ok...not so much. My guitar does not "plug in" so I was having a hard time hearing myself as things got louder (things always get louder) I was leaning in to hear myself playing.

Screw it! I'll play the maracas for a while!



Cooper loves the maracas.



Later, we went into the small room and Dale made Josh sing along as he played Daniel Johnston songs.

Looking up the lyrics:


Josh asking Dale to play something they both know:


I'm not sure what was going on in the last picture you will see as I was asleep on the couch already.
---See:


Whatever it was, it must have called for Josh to stand on the bar stool for it to be done correctly.



In other news:
*Cooper is now sans testicles. He has been groggy since we brought him home from the vet. We hope for a quick recovery and the elimination of his furniture marking.

*I am off work until Tuesday. That's right, bub. Working for a school has it's perks.

*We have a Bass guitar in the house but no amp. A co-worker is lending me the bass and I will acquire the bass amp from her next week. Things are about to get interesting.

That is all.