South
by Southwest 2004 - Day 6 - Wednesday March 17, 2004
I had to go back to the daily grind of my day gig today
(working for the man) and will be working 9 to 5 for the
rest of the festival, so my activities will be relegated
to the night. Christian called me and was back in town
from his trip from the valley, so we talked about seeing
some movies over the next few days. Unfortunately, he
had some problems today, so we didn't hook up to see "Saved"
as I had hoped we would.
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I got to the Millennium Youth at about 6:30
for the 7 o'clock show. There were a few people
in line but not enough to make me worried about
the place being too packed. I hadn't been there
but a couple minutes when a guy I met in line
earlier in the week came up behind me and we started
talking. He brought up "Dogville"
and I guess he heard me ranting about it after
the screening on Monday night. We laughed and
talked about the film. I had to admit that if
a film causes a reaction, even a negative one,
and you end up talking about it days later, it
cannot be without value. Still, I am very angry
about that film. I took it personal. I did not
see it as an affront to my country. I did not
see it as an affront to my government. I saw it
as an affront to me - as an American. Von Trier
is saying that I, as an American, will exploit
and use anyone who shows vulnerability and weakness.
(As you can tell, I'm still a little bitter).
I introduced myself to the guy and his name
was Russell. We talked more and even sat together
during the movie. Russell works for a video game
company here in Austin. He used to work in animation
for Dreamworks.
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We were having a really good and interesting conversation
when this weird guy sitting next to us interrupted and
pretty much yammered on and on until the movie started.
Weird guy talked about some of the Asian films he had
seen at the festival. He told me that "The Grudge" was
one of the best films he had seen this year. He said
"Azumi," which I am planning on seeing with Christian
on Saturday, is quite gory and bloody. We also talked
about "After the Apocalypse," which he had seen on the
opening night of the festival. (Apparently the Q&A was
pretty vacant as everyone rushed to the Paramount to
see "Code 46.") He had also seen the animated shorts
and when he started to praise "this one about a cat,"
I asked him if it was called "Milton is a Shitbag."
He said yes and laughed and said it was hilarious. "Milton"
is a short animated film by my friend Courtney Davis.
I wish I was able to see it during the festival.
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After the film, I said my "see you later"
to Russell (he was going to the Arbor to see "Rick")
and went to Starseeds as I had about an hour to
kill before Hobble took the stage for their showcase
at Room 710. Hobble, for anyone who doesn't know
me, is my fave local band and has one of the most
kick-ass live shows you will ever see. Their new
album "Gods
Work" (no apostrophe) is one of the best CD's
you will ever hear. They have had a showcase at
SXSW for at least two years now and I refuse to
miss an opportunity to go out and support them.
I got downtown at about 9:30 and as I walked
past the bar on 8th and Red River (it used to
be called Ocean's 11 and now it's some other name
I think. They have some sort of Tiki decor) a
Texas Roller Girl handed me a flyer. It made me
want to see Bob Ray's documentary. He's just starting
on post but maybe it will premiere at next year's
SXSW!
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| I got to the door at 710 and paid
my ten bucks to get in. I didn't mind the exorbitant
cover charge as seeing Hobble is worth any price.
Excess Lettuce was suppose to be on stage before
Hobble and as I have seen them before (and been
unimpressed) I was in no hurry to be early. Usually
showcases start at the top of the hour and go 45
minutes but when I walked in at 9:30, Hobble was
already setting up. Apparently Lettuce played a
short set. (I think one of their members may have
had a broken collarbone or something). Anyway, I
said hello to some of the Hobble fans I see at nearly
every show, a young couple. Their son was in Hobble's
video for "Little Secret." Occasionally the kid,
who is only six, comes to the shows. The guy's name
is Richard. I can't remember what his wife's name
is. Richard is cool and funny and we always have
a good time joking around and flirting. Seeing them
at a Hobble show is just another part of a great
experience. My friend Patricia who works at AMN
and who is a big Hobble fan also came to the gig.
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The band started a little early. They actually
had a set list which was something I had never
seen them do before. They started with some newer
songs and although they were quite good, the vibe
just wasn't there. This was fueled by one of the
most harrowing things I have ever witnessed at
a show.
Now, chicks are always all over Oriah at
his shows and tonight was no exception. But this
one drunk chick ruined the show for everyone.
She got up on stage about a third of the way into
the set and then wanted to stage dive but, of
course, no one in the audience want to catch her.
Finally one of her stupid friends (who obviously
hate her because they didn't stop her from acting
a fool) tried to catch her as she ran offstage
and flung herself upon him. What a stupid cunt.
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| The whole show fell apart when,
mid-way through the set, she attempted to get on
stage again and Oriah blindsided her and she came
crashing at my feet on really hard the cement floor.
The band continued the show while she just laid
there. I stood stunned waiting for blood to start
to pool about her head. Seriously, I didn't know
if she was dead or what. She just laid there. Finally
some of her dumbass friends came over and tried
to get her up and drug her away. I felt bad because
Oriah had obviously done this on purpose but I didn't
blame him. The stupid cunt had absolutely no business
trying to get on stage! This is their SXSW showcase
you fucking bitch! How dare you ruin it. |
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The stupid cunt came back for more. For
the next few songs, she stood quietly leaning on her
friends. Then when Oriah got up on Tom's shoulders,
as he is wont to do during their show, and got down
in the audience, she ran over and started hitting him
on the butt. When he got back on stage and the song
ended, she said something to him and although you couldn't
hear her, you could hear Oriah say, "You can't get on
the stage." Do you think this stopped the STUPID CUNT?
Nope. She was back on the stage two songs later trying
to get one of her dumbass non-friends to catch her.
If I were Oriah, I would have belted her square in the
fucking jaw.
I love Oriah and Hobble and I don't blame them
one iota for this horrible show. They soldiered on as
best they could even though the negative vibe in the
room was as thick as cheddar cheese. Nope, I am really
most angry at 710 and at SXSW for providing absolutely
no security for the show. No one official came out to
put a stop to this fucking idiocy. It ruined the whole
damn gig. And you know what? I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY
BACK. I think the moral here is obvious. DON'T PLAY
SXSW UNLESS YOU LIKE BEING VULNERABLE ON STAGE. Where
the fuck was security? This is the worst show I've ever
been to. It was repugnant.
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I wanted to leave after the girl got herself
knocked out cold but I just couldn't walk out
on my favorite band during their SXSW showcase.
As the last song ended, I left disgusted.
I walked to my car and was headed home crossing
Red River when I saw my friend Matt LaCommette
and his girlfriend Melissa passing through the
crosswalk. I rolled down my window and shouted
hello and they kept looking back and finally realized
who it was and came over and said hello. There's
no stoplight at this intersection anymore, so
we talked for quite a while as I wasn't really
blocking any traffic. One of their cute friends,
who is from Denton and who came to the taping
of the Lube TV 100th episode, was with them. We
talked about SXSW. They had been to a show featuring
our friend Patrick Healy. Matt and Pat play in
a band called The Oblong Boys. They are also the
main components of the Lube TV Arkestra. They
both have numerous side projects. Patrick had
been playing on this evening with his band that
plays children's songs, The Telephone Company.
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I kinda wish I had went to that show instead.
We talked about getting together and having them
on another episode. That would be awesome. I'd love
that. I went home and it was a little after 11pm, so
I switched on channel 16 and discovered that Lube TV
was being pre-empted by some SXSW music stuff. Some
days just end up sucking.
Lodger@SXSW2004
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