Entry #116 - SXSW

Wednesday, 18 March 2009 10:03

(I WILL post a follow-up to Craigslist blog, I just need to insert this one because it is timely.)

As all of us Austinites know, it's SXSW time. And now that we live closer to downtown, we are much more aware of these kind of things than before. It seems like everything around us is getting involved in SXSW in some way. Our tenant, Jenna, who lives in the garage apartment behind our house, took the whole week off of work so she could attend all the music festivities. One of her friends flew into town to join her. She told me they have been "training" to prepare for this week - sleeping in late, taking naps, and staying up late.

The house next door (which has been on the market for over a year now) is being rented to a band from the UK. Yesterday a bunch of people were moving stuff into the house like food, drinks, and DJ equipment(?). They came over to ask if they could use our driveway to move stuff. I was like, sure, whatever. We got to talking and it turns out these people were from Red Bull and the sponsors of this band from the UK. They were setting up the house for the band and said the band requested a DJ setup so they could party. Then they offered us a case of Red Bull. Since I believe very strongly in never turning down free stuff, I was like, sure, why not. I don't know (1) if they just always try to give away their product whenever they can, or (2) if they were trying to make nice with the neighbors (in case of excessive partying), or (3) if they knew we'd be kept up late at night so they were providing their product as assistance. Probably all three.

This morning I saw the band outside so I went out to meet them. They are really nice guys, really happy to be here, and obviously from the UK (British accent and super white). They are called The Cheek and they're playing three shows this week: BD Rileys and Peckerheads tonight, and the Red Bull Stage on Saturday. They also invited us over whenever we hear them partying. We'll see how it goes.

Jocelin loves watching them from inside the house. She's like, they're smoking on the front porch right now... they're hanging out out on back deck... they are totally from the UK, you can tell from their accents... they're smoking again... they've been smoking all morning! I'm like, just go outside and meet them! They're regular human beings, and plus they are super nice. She is becoming that old Asian woman that keeps surveillance on everyone and everything from inside the house, while still in her bathrobe.

UPDATE 3/18 3:25pm - I was out grilling chicken and I just met Katia who is the Red Bull rep from the UK who is helping host the band. We started talking and I found out there is actually another band staying here, named GoldieLocks. Apparently she is really big in the UK. If you check out her site you'll find that she doesn't have the most wholesome lyrics. Then the guys from The Cheek came back from their afternoon tour of Austin and they invited us to come to a party at the house sometime tomorrow. I was like, cool, whatev. Also, Katia put me and Jocelin on the guest list for all the private Red Bull parties this week. There are going to be lots of bands every night, free drinks, etc. I told Jocelin and she is super excited. She loves this kind of stuff. But it is totally not my thing. We might go one or two nights, I dunno. I don't even know what to wear...

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