February 17, 2005

• I wish I were going -- I went 3 years ago and had such a great time. Ah well. Hi to all those who are!
• austin meetup! austin meetup! cigs are a bit tough for indoor activities, what with a partial indoor smoking ban. but a place like cafe mundi would accomodate, I think.
• $175 to $810 for SXSW tickets.. what a rip.
• unless I manage to get a wristband on the cheap, I just pay at the door. It's too crowded to venue-hop much anymore. pick a showcase and stay with it, it's cheaper and you see more.
• Knew this day would come, Count me in. May I suggest a beery option for meeting spots?
• the Dog & Duck? or some local color at Ginny's Little Longhorn or The Carousel Lounge? The Draughthouse is also good, though we'd most likely sit outside tailgate style.
• SXSW Baby! is a nice resource for seeing who's going and finding things to do in Austin.
• SXSW is coming. Sounds like a giant futuristic fire-belching robot is stomping our way with a little ass-kicking in mind, but if you guys say it's alright...
• I am going for the first time this year. The wristband thing is not happening on my budget... but I can pay to see the artists I want individually? how much? Is there a coherent schedule anywhere? all sxsw.com has is a massive alpha. list!
• That's one big damn list of musicians, but no Old Crow Medicine Show? Bah, young hipsters! If you got another mule kickin' in your stall, man, you gotta tear it down...
• I didn't see a link to the schedule at the site yet, but it's probably coming soon. It's highly mutable, however, so one should check the daily Austin Chronicle publication (normailly weekly--daily for sxsw) to be sure a band is going to be where you think they are. there will be 4-7 bands playing a venue on each night. you pay to get into the venue, anywhere from $10 to $30, maybe more. the more popular/trendy/known an act is, the more expensive the entry. To venue-hop without a wristband/badge is an expensive (and risky) proposition, but they often group bands together by genre/country of origin so it's likely that you'll find a majority of the acts interesting if you like one of them. Occupancy limits are real things, and you may be shut out if you don't get to a popular act early.
• I'll be honest - I don't know much about the relative quality of bars and whatnot here. I do know that Opal Divine's is good, as is Ruta Maya. But ya know, I'm good with wherever the majority wants to meet.
• well, shall we strive for a place that will make LA Mofites jealous, a hidden local joint, or a place near the action downtown for visiting monkeys who'll have trouble getting around? do we want food? bellydancing? cheap margaritas?
• We want photos.
• Photos you shall have.
• I was thinking a barbecue might be nice. I can accommodate a decent number of monkeys at my house (I'd have to check with the roommate, of course) and we could just grill stuff. Kind of a potluck dinner thingy, with food supplied by the local denizens for the amusement of the out-of-towners. Beyond that, I'm open for suggestions. I do know that a potluck dinner works well if you have a large number of locals.
• wow, drivingmenuts, that's a generous offer! let's see who all thinks they can make it--if it's a bunch of locals, then the monkeyparty is all you! if it's more folks from out of town, maybe we meet up at Ruby's BBQ in town? it's right across from Toy Joy, and I imagine a bunch of drunk monkeys could have some fun there :) so, monkeys, who wants some barbeque? and music?
• Sweet *Note to those who've never been to SXSW before. The seemingly ridiculously overpriced wristbands may be worth it after all, depending on how much you want to see. I went to the Web of Mimicry showcase at Emo’s last year with some friends without a wristband and it was almost a disaster. My friends went in to the show 20 min before the first act, and I opted to run down the block for a pack of smokes and meet them inside. After only about 5 minutes I returned and tried to pay my way in when they told me they had stopped admitting people who didn’t have wristbands. I had to wait through all of Eric Freidlander’s set trying to make the girl at the door pity me enough to let me pay twice the cover to get in. I’m definitely getting a wristband this year.
• OK, patita has a much better eye for these things than I do. So, here's a good solid tentative plan. 1) if it's only Austin monkeys, we can meet at my house (still gotta check with the roommate) for a potluck dinner. 2) if there's gonna be out-of-towners, we meet at Ruby's. BBQ, people. And toys! Email me at my gmail address (see profile for details) if you are interested. Note: we haven't set a date or anything, yet.
• I like-a-da Ruby's. I like-a-da drivingmenuts' house. Should things ever turn back to Bar-talk, I've got a couple of suggestions: Gingerman for mindboggling assortment of micro-brewish delight, Don's Depot for divey down home comfort. Like I said, this is only a contingency suggestion should BBQ options fail. Just to clarify for the non-link-clickers, we're talking sometime roundabout march 11- 20th right?
• Y'all are gonna make me regret moving from Austin a few months ago. Not that I did the SXSW thing the last few years, I'm too damn old (see other thread). Note: the film festival is worth seeing, too.
• The Gingerman also has that nice big garden patio thing out back.
• Is this going to happen during the music part? 'Cause I'll be leaving just after Interactive...
• I might be heading out that way to shoot some video during the festival of the world's largest limo that a friend is taking there to market. If it happens, save me a seat at the rib joint.
• World's largest limo? We'll need some pictures of that too, please.
• hmm, timing is definitely an issue! I think it's a matter of who's available when. Dates: Interactive: March 11-15 Film: March 11-19 Music: March 16-20 unless the interactive folks stay an extra day or music folks come a day early, we're in a tight spot. and the film folks are not necessarily here for the whole thing. let's start noting availability in our posts and see if there's a date that sticks out. I'm good after the 13th, and after 6 pm unless it's a weekend.
• Can't go in real life - try this excellent blog: See You in the Pit
• So you could have a rolling meetup, over many days...
• here that, monkeys? bashi says we should start rolling! excellent idea. we could have a monkey happy hour over a couple days--pick a place, bring a banana, have fun. or have multiple destinations. let's see... tuesdays are pint night at the Dog & Duck--$2 pints and half off burgers. amandaudoff, will you still be here on tuesday night (the 15th)?
• I know I pimp it out every chnace I get, but hey, here's another chance! WOXY the bestest radio station on the internets will be broadcasting live from SXSW! So if you can't go, listen! Even if you can go listen!
• patita- I might. We're either driving back to Dallas on Tuesday night or Weds. morning. (I'll be getting into town on Friday afternoon and am staying until the end of Interactive.)
• Re: Availability I live here so put me down for damn-near-whenever. Bevosangryghost? You gotta be Austinite, you still around?
• debates driving down
• muffpub, you should do it if you can (but only if it won't affect your grades, young man)! and nicola, I'm digging the blog. thanks for the link!
• *bump*
• Music Panel schedule, Interactive Panel schedule, and Film Panel schedule. that should be a start on figuring out when we'll be available?
• Well, it all comes down to the out of townies, doesn't it? So far, In town: Patita, rolypolyman, drivingmenuts, me, newguy (?) Outoftownies: squidranch, amandaudoff, drjimmy11... Am I forgetting anyone?
• I have no clue what my availability will be, so just let me know and I'll figure something out. Just e-mail me at username@username.com and let me know details.
• Music schedule is online now! You can also check here for info.
• Whoa! Tom Waits at Emo's! (Just trying to convince a few more monkeys to make the trip.)
• Normally, I'd be totally free, but unfortunately, I'll be in Chicago most of the week (my spring break), though I should be in Texas (either Austin or Houston) at the beginning and end...Once you guys figure out what when you'll be gathering, make sure to post it up, and I'll see if there's a way at all that I can make it. I'd love to be there!
• *bump* *shake*
• How'd I miss this? And darn it for being the week after my spring break. I'll be in Austin next week for a few days, but not during possible meetup times it seems. Everyone have fun though!
• My best mate is in a band called Starky that are getting ready to fly over to play at SxSW. If you get the chance I'd highly recommend seeing them. I think they're also playing a few shows in LA and NY. If you like the sound of the single on the link and are keen to see them I can give you dates/times/places.
• Bondurant, any chance you can hide in one of the instrument cases and come with?
• Well I've been trying to convince them for a while now that a triangle player would really add to their sound- with me being the obvious candidate. So far I have had little success so now I'm just waiting for them to crack it big time so that I can be official drug, booze and female procurer for the band. Fingers crossed.
• If you guys are interested, those who could possibly make it might want to think about joining up with the MeFi meetup that's starting to be planned, too.
• personally I'm more interested in monkeys (especially since we'd be woefully outnumbered at combo meetup). but if it's easier to go with what they have, that's cool too. anyone willing to put forth date(s)/time(s)?
• I'm agin it. I don't know any mefis.
• I'm a dual citizen, so whatever gets planned is where I'll be.
• tuesday, 8pm, dog&duck or opal divines? saturday, 1pm, ruby's or drivingmenuts' pad? fire at will!
• I'll be hanging around town and would like to meet up with everyone - I'm local, and just got a free day pass to the interactive portion - during the music festival I'll be scoping out the early and free events, sans wristband.
• Tuesday evening's good for me, I can't do saturdays at all, sadly.
• I might still be in town on Tuesday night, I might not...I'm assuming you mean the Saturday of music, not interactive.
• I'm not back until the Monday of the interactive, but moneys are welcome to gather in my absence. Would Sunday lunch be better for the music weekend, or will folks be jetting off to their exotic locales by then?
• Would someone tape Malcolm Gladwell's talk? I like his mind.
• Tom Waits is coming? bumps possibility of trip up on priority list
• Er... well, you should still come and all, but the Tom Waits thing... See, I was employing a rhetorical device called an "outright lie"... Sorry.
• a rhetorical device called an "outright lie"... Hee!
• Sigh. The Tom Waits thing notwithstanding, I'm tentatively in. No wristband though. The 19th - 25th is ideal for me.
• YAY! See, kids, lying really works!
• shh.
• anyone know if they webcast the interactive stuff? (yay for Muffpub, and the clever lie of Nickdanger! if only Tom Waits would come to Austin again, sigh). do we have a date? should I set up a poll thingie?
• patita, i think a poll thingie would be marvelous. In: me Nickdanger Drivingmenuts patita schlim Maybe: amandaudoff? squid? new guy? is this correct? am i forgetting anyone? omg patita - i just read your Monkeygifts profile - wanna play DYNASTY WARRIORS???
• ok, i'll try to get a poll set up... i'm out of town on business so it might take me a bit. Muffpub! I have only one word to answer you: elephants!
• I'll likely be in Houston from tomorrow through Wednsday, but anytime after Wedndsay at around 8 or so I should be free, and definately interested in this Austin meetup idea.
• ok, business travel and parental health issues are not letting me put together a poll... so, in lieu of this, I am going back to the previous suggestion of Tuesday night at the Dog & Duck or Opal Divines (8pm?) and Saturday at or um, sometime after 3. Somewhere. drivingmenuts? or some place without music (since places with music will be crowded). Spider House? Early dinner at Ruby's? somebody else drive, I'm starting to see things.
• won't somewhere with music be way too loud? i'm not sure if somewhere overly loud or crowded is the best meetup place. patita, what is this "tuesday" and "saturday" you speak of. you mean this coming week? Tuesday's out for me and saturday's tricky. :( could we push it back a week? i'm not out of school until next friday (march 18).
• Yeah, we better start talking specific tuesdays and saturdays. Add to that one more word: Patio.
• I'm teaching some classes M-W nights, done by 9 most nights, if people were/are in town for an interactive meetup, perhaps a Tuesday the 15th lunchtime meetup? Casino for lunch after noon? I've got an interactive day pass and will be hanging out with some friends all day. Tuesday night works for me, after 9 I can meet folks, perhaps downtown somewhere? Opals and Dog and Duck were mentioned, both are fine, I'd prefer Opals. As for music, things are insane as soon as it starts, and a daytime/early afternoon meetup might work out better. We could try meeting up at a downtown venue - which would be loud and rowdy, or try to catch a smaller alternative during the day- South Congree (Jo's) too packed? - or perhaps one of the side festivals? For folks out of town, it may be tricky getting around too much without a ride. Those are my thoughts - what does everone think?
• *bump* like i said, the earliest i can do is saturday.
• ok, I'm back in Austin but I've totally wrenched my back. tuesday and saturday were suggested as independent meetups because it seems most everyone can make it to one or the other (but not both). at this point it seems we meed to name a time and place for both, and accept that even our best efforts won't result in everyone being able to go. I'm on far too much painkiller right now to handle logistics... but i can look at pictures. so somebody name a place and time for Tuesday, and then use a time machine to send me pictures (please)!
• I am there the 17th-21st. I can MAYBE do sat. the 19th, but I have a lot to do in a short time, so I'm not sure I can make it at all... Probably not actually. Forget I posted this and go about your business.
• patita, which are you going to? are you able to make it at all?
• I'm in for the Saturday. but since I live here, I'm flexible (make it Sunday, make it next week, I'm good). Just don't ask me to bend over right now.
• No aliens for patita.
• it's a consolation ;)
• Is there anyone who would find Sunday better than Saturday for the meetup? Muffpub, potentially Nickdanger and drjimmy11? other locals?
• *homesick* Monkeys who aren't there should at least get the music. Not the same as BBQ at Ruby's and monkey company, but it will have to do for those of us far away.
• So I take it there's nothing going on tonight?
• Sunday nights are good. I hope nothing happened tonight, cuz I missed it if it did. Let's say this sunday? The (mental math) 20th? 'Tis most auspicious, as it's the equinox, and palm sunday, and Simpsons Night. I'm off work at 7 so how 'bout 8?
• yeah, nothing was decided so today just blew by us...
• there's a Muppet Movie Sing-a-Long at the Alamo downtown at 7:30... :)
• Sunday's better than Saturday for me. Still not even 100% sure I'll be able to drive down. i'm fine with just about anything as long as it isn't super-loud (i hate really loud noises and cant usually hear anyone over them) or really really crowded (which inevitably leads to loudness). i know austin has plenty of both, so there's no need to go out of the way to find something other than that. but, yknow, if it comes down to chill cafe vs. mosh pit, you know where my vote goes.
• Lots of really good places around Katz's on 6th just west of Congress like Little Woodrow's, Opal Devine's, Mother Egan's, and Molotov. Also I think anywhere with an outdoor section would make it easier to hear over the music.
• What about Cafe Mosh Pit?
• not a real place.
• I'd suggest somewhere trashy like Hula Hut but I fear for the vegetarians.
• MeFi is useful after all
• damn, can't make it Sunday (unless it starts after 4 and before 7). I'll be at the Alamo downtown, at the aforementioned muppet movie singalong. But all of you should go ahead and meet... I didn't realize that the tickets had been purchased in advance. *smacks forehead* oh, and it appears Nickdanger and I are the same person, and therefore cannot be in the same place at once.
• If you are the same person, couldn't you only be in the same place at the same time?
• Yes. No.
• what he said.
• Wait, I was just reading MeFi, and apparently SXSW used to be cool back when some people there first went, but now it is "mainstream" and too many people come from out of town. far be it for me to travel somewhere where something interesting is happening. All I wanted to do was check out a festival, I guess I just never stopped to think that I might be... infringing on the hipster sensiblities of those poor Austin natives! *SOBS* Seriously, though, I'm going tomorrow. Dumb question, but I suppose the odds of me getting in to see Robert Plant sans wristband are pretty slim? Is anyone else going to Zona Rosa tomorrow to see Louis XIV?
• drjimmy11, get there early. it's your best bet. some places prefer cash to the wristbands, so you may be in luck (at least that was my recollection as I sat in line at the filled-to-capacity club and folks with cash were getting waved in). Enjoy Louis XIV!
• *pouts*
• Bondurant, your mate's band rocks! It was a nice consolation for the night. I was shut out off the only show I wanted to see, so wandering back to the car we decided to get a drink. Stopped by the Lava Lounge, grabbed a schedule and saw that Starky was there. It took me a minute, and then I realized who they were. The room was mostly industry folks, so maybe they'll get a decent break. They were kind enough to lend a guitar to the lead guy of Gyroscope when his headstock broke off (and he said, "fuck! sorry dad!"--not clear if the sorry was for the guitar or for the swearing).
• so.... sunday?
• Hmm... Sunday. Post 7 works for me, preferably South Congress area (there are some great patios and music and such and I can bring el pooche and the Missus.) Who's in?
• I might be. Allthough I might be downtown. I guess it depends on how far south. South of Riverside or south of 290? (I'm never really clear on what people mean when they say South Congress). Anyway, if it's just south of Riverside then I can probably ride my bike there, and if that's the case, I'm in.
• erm. my brother decided today that he isn't going to let me sleep at his house. so i'm probably going to have to re-back out. crap. details/alternatives from my end as soon as i can get them.
• Let's make it official: This turkey is cooked.
• stick a fork in me!
• Patita- Glad you liked them. They just signed a deal with Universal so hopefully you'll be able to hear a lot more of them in the future. Go Starky!
• *small bump* Long story short, I'm in town now anyway until Thursday and I have *nothing* to do (during the day mostly, though), so if you're bored and want to hang out I'm down. I'm within spitting distance of the capitol until then.
• It's a shame we couldn't pull this together, maybe next time, but SXSW is a crazy time to plan anything. For what it's worth, here's what I did during SXSW as a local. Not too much music, no wristband, and the day shows got lost in a mish-mash of drinking and hanging out with friends. My SXSW Story
• yeah, it's a bummer... we need to pull something together! Muffpub, I hope you had a decent time. I haven't even had lunches free to meet :(
• I had a wonderful time patita! Staying on MLK and Lavaca is great, I'm within walking distance of everywhere and I can just wander around all day immersing myself in the city. It's awesome here, I love it so much more than Dallas. Pity I couldn't see you guys though. Next time fa sho.
• oh good! I was terribly afraid you'd be stuck with nothing. Do come down before you jet up to Boston, and we'll have some sort of meetup when there aren't thousands of extra drunken hipsters in town.
• Hey Patita
• nice Radio Birdman connection! And yeah, Girl Talk is catchy. I just read the song title and now it's in my head.
• Report: Couldnt ssee Louis XIV- sold out. Apparently the headliner, the Doves, are very big, despite me barely having heard of them. Oddly enough, I then walked over to Austin Music Hall, where Robert Plant was extremely easy to see. Overall impressions: I saw some bands who can play, but most of them seem like they are never going to hit it big b/c they just dont have any songs. (Robert Plant obviously excepted) When you get an hour to play, it becomes obvious that all your songs sound alike. The Shack Shakers from Nashville were my favorite, kind of a punk country thing- I only understood about two words the guy said but it was entertaining. Things seem a bit disorganized, especially in the film festival: they let people line up around the block in a "cash" line, then even most of the people with wristbands cant get in! Is it that hard to count heads and stop people from wasting time in line? I hate to be an LA priss but I could do without the smoking in bars. But Austin is very cool and very much a "mini-LA" (which is a compliment from me)
• the whole issue of smoking in bars has been very big recently... I'm also not for it, but the local strip joints are leading the charge against the already weak smoking ban. basic organization skills are not big at SXSW. lots of the staff are volunteers who do it just to get free access.