I’m going to be honest, I’m not a well-traveled individual. I grew up outside of Boston and spent most summer vacations in Maine and Cape Cod. Not until moving to Chicago had I really experienced “traveling”. Enter SxSW: I’m all of a sudden spending my first sacred holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, below the ol’ Mason-Dixon. Austin, as it turns out, is pretty damned legit. Of course the rest of the civilized world knew this a while back, but understand where I’m coming from.
South By Southwest came as an entirely overwhelming experience. Loud music. Crowds of people. Promotional items. Boarded-off streets. Repeat. As a first-timer, I’d consider myself pretty lucky to catch some great bands, get involved with some interesting panels, and all the while see how all sectors of the music industry really interact in one setting. Management firms, publishing companies, labels, promotion groups and artists dictate the scene.
I grew an early distaste in life for lines (thanks, Six Flags), but SxSW has taught me how to deal with such. I’ve never been one to start a conversation in a van with strangers about business and music, but once more, thanks SxSW. And finally, I’ve never gotten into such heated debates about mash-up artists and why the RIAA hasn’t sued them — but sure enough, Austin brings out the best (and sometimes worst) in all opinionated sectors of the music biz.
Of course there is more to come, but I’d like to say that as I sit here typing at 1 AM from a hotel, my head is honestly spinning, and I’ve never been happier to report such a thing.
