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The Daily Texan’s Guide to
SXSW Friday, March 13, 2015
Enjoy this complimentary copy of The Daily Texan's guide to SXSW. Like what you see? Visit supportstudentvoices.org to help us keep producing quality content every day.
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Friday, March 13, 2015
SXSW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Friday, March 13, 2015 STAFF Editors Kat Sampson Danielle Lopez Design Editor Alex Dolan Photo Editor Amy Zhang Lauren Ussery Writers Mary Cantrell Emily Gibson Mackenzie Palmer Alex Pelham Katie Walsh Cover Photo Shelby Tauber
Editor’s Note It’s here. The event of the year. The one that costs an arm and a leg. The one that forces so many Austinites to flee the city. It’s also the event that inspires generations of filmmakers, helps pioneer new technologies and brings fresh voices to the city. South By Southwest has begun. Take these 28 pages chock-full of wisdom and keep Austin weird.
FILM
GUIDES
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Tech block party highlights
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SXSW Volunteers spend spring break in Austin
Introvert’s guide to SXSW
Best free shows to attend without a wristband
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Beginner’s guide to SXSW
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Texas towns to visit for a getaway
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MUSIC
Texas high school film Competition
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Ten Austin musicians and bands to see
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Movie category breakdown
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Most popular multi-day music events
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Ten weirdest exhibits at SXSW
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Introvert’s guide to SXSW
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Q&A with Shivery Shakes
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3-D printing’s next project? Nipples
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Film student premieres short “Carne Seca”
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Q&A with Mr Little Jeans music video directors
WHO’S COVERING SXSW Kat Sampson
@katclarksamp Kat will be doing any combination of eating, crying, laughing, tweeting, singing, schmoozhing and geeking out during SXSW. Kat will not be sleeping.
Lauren Ussery @thedailytexan
Watch our SXSW video coverage here.
INTERACTIVE
Lauren will spend most of her time trying to figure out how the Austin bus system works.
Danielle Lopez
@ldlopz Danielle will pretend she’s having the most carefree time of her life but really she’s just going to stalk every celeb she possibly can.
Marshall Tidrick @marshalltidrick
Marshall will be covering the sensory overload that is SXSW music, film and interactive.
Alex Pelham
@TalkingofPelham Alex will be covering all things film while also describing how his eyes will melt from his face due to exposure from hours upon hours of movies.
Michael Conway @thedailytexan
Michael will be desperately trying to cover all aspects of SXSW, but don’t worry, when he’s coming in hot there is nothing to fear.
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SXSW 2015
The rookie’s guide to navigating SXSW By Katie Walsh @katiehwalsh_atx
South By Southwest is unlike any other festival. It requires a different mindset and level of D physical stamina than is necessary for quaint three-day, p- noon-to-midnight festivals. re It is a grueling week of chaos that runs nonstop, from 5 a.m. live radio shows to 2 a.m. sets on Sixth Street. It is simultaneously sprawling, crowded and intensely personal. Feeling intimidated? Don’t be. Below, we’ve provided some tips for SXSW rookies so you can learn to cope with the chaos, get the most out of your week and generally have the SXSW experience of a lifetime. 1. Make a plan, but don’t get too attached to it. Being flexible is by far the
most important tip for SXSW rookies. Nothing is ever set in stone at SXSW. Just because a band is on the official roster, it does not mean their shows will be open for you to attend. Many shows are badge-holders only, 21+ or scheduled at ridiculous times. Bands cancel, venues reach capacity and shows often run behind schedule. Therefore, the right attitude is critical. The easiest way to avoid schedule-change heartbreak is to approach SXSW with a flexible mindset and a plan you are ready to adapt.
to see again. Your time will be much better spent discovering new music, elsewhere.
2. Skip big-name bands. Those down-several-blocks lines are rarely worth it — especially when the concert venues don’t even guarantee entry. Don’t waste your time waiting in line for three hours for a band you’ll have the chance
4. Use Twitter. Use Twitter. Use Twitter. If you don’t have a Twitter, get one for the week — we promise not to make fun of your egg profile picture. Follow venue accounts, friends at the festival, official SXSW profiles
3. Double check to find out if events are 21+. If you are underage, SXSW can be a tricky maneuver to pull off. A lot of events won’t explicitly state 21+ on the online invitation and still enforce age restrictions at the door. A good rule of thumb is that any show inside an actual bar — regardless of the time of day — will likely be age-restricted. Sorry, younger friends.
and all of the various Twitter profiles that aggregate events and tweet info throughout the week, including rumors about secret shows. Follow your favorite bands and speakers to stay informed about last-minute schedule changes, or, again, potential secret shows. Did we mention the secret shows? 5. Bring a phone charger. If you are following the previous tip, expect your phone to die before the night ends — all that tweeting will drain a battery mercilessly. Pack a charger in your bag, and plug it in any time you’re waiting at a venue or a restaurant. 6. Arrive to everything earlier than you think you should. There is always a bigger
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Illustration by Victoria Smith | Daily Texan Staff
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SXSW 2015
Avoid the SXSW crowds: Take a drive to these nearby spots By Mary Cantrell @mkcant
Enjoying all that Texas has to offer but sick of pretentious hipsters drinking endless cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and blowing American Spirit smoke in your face? Get in your car — and get out of Austin. With everyone and their mother swarming around the city, nearby towns offer a change of pace and a breath of fresh air. These five towns, all within driving distance of Austin, are perfect for spontaneous road trips with friends. Fill up your tank, grab some Twizzlers and check out these easy-to-overlook Texas marvels. Yee haw.
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Fredericksburg Distance from Austin: One hour and 30 minutes Fredericksburg is a city bursting with Texas culture while proudly preserving the community’s original German and Czech heritage. Stroll along the city’s garden-lined, historic Main Street and duck into bike shops, haberdasheries and wine lounges. Although antiques might not be feasible on a budget, it’s always fun to browse and compare odd findings with your companions. Located just 18 minutes north of Fredericksburg is Enchanted Rock. Can you really call yourself a Texan if you’ve never hiked the state park’s massive, pink granite dome? More than 250,000 people visit the National Natural Landmark each year. Get some exercise in the middle of SXSW — hike, camp and rock climb, then stay late into the night to stargaze. Admission into the park is $7 a day for adults. San Marcos Distance from Austin: 35 minutes San Marcos, home to Tex-
Illustration by Amber Perry | Daily Texan Staff
as State University, offers a wide range of outdoor and cultural activities. Take a break from your jam-packed South By schedule, and float lazily down the San Marcos River in a giant, inflatable donut. The river stays a cool 72 degrees year -round. Food and drinks are permitted on the river, so feel free to enjoy some spring libations or plan a real picnic. Tube rentals are typically $10 a day, and there are multiple companies to rent from in the area. While you’re in San Marcos, tour Texas State’s campus, and stop by the Alkek Library to check out its Austin-focused art exhibits. “The Face of Texas,” a collection of portraits from famous portrait photographer Michael O’Brien, will be on display during spring break. The 48 portraits feature a range of subjects, from average townspeople to the legendary Willie Nelson. Iconic posters of the Austin music scene in the ’60s and ’70s will also be on display.
Gruene Distance from Austin: 45 minutes Gruene (pronounced green) is a quaint town sprinkled with antique shops, boutiques and restaurants. Situated along the Guadalupe River, Gruene is famous for being true to its original Texas roots, with a plethora of historic buildings that have been converted into established local businesses. Still want to listen to live music, even during your SXSW hiatus? Gruene Hall, founded in 1878, is Texas’ oldest dance hall and boasts music every day. Under Gruene Hall’s highpitched tin roof, you’ll hear the echoes of renowned singer-songwriters from the past and present. Get in touch with your adventurous side and raft along the Guadalupe River. Take-off sites are in Gruene and New Braunfels, and trips can last either two or four hours. Rafting is a great way to get a workout and take in the natural landscape along the Guadalupe.
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SXSW 2015
Ten Twitter accounts to follow during SXSW By Austin Reynolds @blanelikeaplane
There’s no need to constantly open up Google and search “SXSW 2015 set list.” With Twitter readily available on your smartphone, you have no need to feel dazed and confused about who’s performing when you arrive at the music festival scene. Here are 10 mustfollow Twitter accounts for any South By Southwest attendee. The Daily Texan
@thedailytexan
If you’re not already following The Daily Texan on Twitter, shame on you. If you still haven’t followed our account after reading this, shame on me. With more than 37,000 followers, @thedailytexan is home base for campus news and entertainment. Campus dies down during spring break, but this account never sleeps. Expect constant SXSW updates and fresh news content
ROOKIE
continues from page 3 fan than you — and usually, there are several. Lines are inevitable, so arrive early to ensure entry. Being fashionably late is neither fashionable nor possible if you plan on actually listening to music at SXSW. 7. Put comfort before style when choosing your outfit. SXSW isn’t Coachella. Dressing fashionably is difficult in a city where the weather fluctuates from hour to hour so come armed with a jacket for cold venues and shoes that can deal with the miles you’ll walk scouring the city and standing in lines. There’s no sitting
streaming down your newsfeed all week. SXSW
@sxsw
The most obvious choice is the official Twitter of SXSW. Follow @sxsw for news about conferences and behind the scenes action. If you don’t feel like following the Twitter account, #SXSW will give you all the most recent details about parties and juicy rumors. IFC at SXSW
@IFCsxsw
The IFC Fairgrounds is not just the prime locale for entertainment, it also has a Twitter page with more than 7,000 followers. The reason behind its Twitter fan base? Exclusive details on interviews, music showcases and giveaways. unofficialsxsw
@unofficialsxsw
Don’t have a music wristband or an all-access platinum badge? Unofficialsxsw at SXSW. 8. Know that Uber and Lyft prices will be high. Even including the inflated rates you’ll see as a result of an increase in demand, you can expect traffic to further prolong any ride you take, further driving up costs. The same supply-demand equation applies for taxis and pedicabs. Stick to walking or biking rather than relying on expensive ride-hailing companies or inconsistent public transportation. 9. Resist all urges to accept free stuff. Unless you are going to eat it, free stuff is not worth carrying around all day as you traverse the city. The lighter
is the source for free events and late-night secret shows. If you’re hyper-conscious of your follower-following ratio, you can get all of unnoficialsxsw’s updates by searching #SXSW. Willie Nelson
@willienelson
It’s apparent that the iconic country-folk singer isn’t handling his own account, but the tweets are still hilarious. Not a #ManCrushMonday goes by without a photo post of a squinty-eyed, joviallooking Nelson. Nelson, Austin’s leading legalization advocate, will host his fourth annual Heartbreaker Banquet. Look forward to the occasional allusion to drugs and the promotion of Willie merch. Cameron @ SW
@CameronAtSX
Looking for a more personal touch? Cameron, a Dallas resident bitten by the SXSW bug, is a great resource for all the parties your backpack, the better. You really don’t need six different promotional koozies. You just don’t. 10. If all else fails, end the night at Auditorium Shores with a huge free show. The music at Auditorium Shores is guaranteed to be good, and everyone is guaranteed entry. Shows run Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Shows typically start in the early evening and end at 10 p.m. Attendees can opt to stand in front of the stage with the eager, youthful crowd, or relax on a towel in the back. In a festival where schedules can change at a minute’s notice, it’s nice to know there’s always at least one place you can end up.
hidden beneath the smoky atmosphere. His updates include great “how-to” tips, daily reminders and local businesses’ offers. Jacob Stetson
@JacobStetson
Who better to learn all things SXSW than from an Austinite? Stetson is a SXSW savant/freak. He will fill your Twitter timeline with the “who’s who” of SXSW and help you survive the hordes of music lovers. food trailers austin
@FoodTrailersATX
Forgot your trail mix at home? Food trailers Austin will guide you through Austin’s food-truck scene and help you find the nearest barbecue-sauce smothered brisket and seasoned corn on the cob. Cheap food, short lines and big serving sizes — three things we can all agree are classic SXSW comforts. BrooklynVegan @ SXSW
@bvSXSW
Brooklyn Vegan has the
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Schulenberg Distance from Austin: One hour and 20 minutes Schulenburg is famous state-wide for its Czech and German heritage and the rare painted churches that are scattered throughout the rolling hills. Tour more than 20 painted churches in Fayette County, some of which are over 100 years old. Czech and German immigrants who moved to Texas in the late 1800s built and painted the churches to serve as community spaces. They feature ornate architecture, stained glasses windows and golden altars. For many Texans, this is the clos-
Illustration by Hanna Bernbaum | Daily Texan Staff
SXSW hook-up, including prizes, hotel rooms and parties. Seriously. The account’s team concentrates on all the perks this musical holiday has to offer. Do512
@Do512
Do512 is the powerhouse
est they’re going to get to the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The town is also home to the Texas Polka Music Museum. Wimberley Distance from Austin: 45 minutes Wimberley, a small town deeply dedicated to preserving its own natural beauty, is home to a number of rivers, creeks and parks. The huge variety of plant and animal species in Wimberly — population 2,582 — make it an ideal destination for any nature lover. Jacob’s Well is an artesian spring located just north of Wimberley. The spring is actually fed by one of the longest underwater cave systems in
of SXSW knowledge. Updating about every 20 minutes, the account always delivers. Heard that Hozier is making a surprise appearance? This Twitter distinguishes SXSW truths from rumors. Let Do512 lead you in the right direction so that you can stay involved. Texas and is open year-round to visitors. Swimming is not permitted until May 1, but Jacob’s Well acts as a serene picnic spot all year long. The royal blue water and limestones surrounding the well show off the beauty of Central Texas (and make for a great photo op). Stargazing gets easier the farther you travel from lightpolluted cities, and Wimberley residents and visitors have a magnificent view of the night sky. The town’s stargazing community charts meteor showers and phenomena year-round. The unobstructed view of constellations is a sight to see. Make sure to BYOT (bring your own telescope).
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SXSW Startup Village programs any entrepreneur should attend By Katie Keenan
By Rebecca Fu Film, music and interactive events form the foundation of any good South By Southwest experience — but if you’re looking to diversify your schedule, the following artworks and galleries are especially innovative. Listen to your inner artist and detour slightly off the beaten path because this art deserves a block of time on even the busiest schedule.
If you’re a student entrepreneur and it’s your first time going to South By Southwest Interactive, deciding where to go and with whom to awkwardly network can be challenging. The Daily Texan combed through hundreds of events and opportunities and compiled a list of the best SXSW Startup Village events to attend if you’re interested in starting a business. Good luck, you go-getter, you.
Young Millennials: Entrepreneurship for a New Era Maybe you have an amazing idea that could revolutionize the tech industry, but you don’t know how to convince financial backers of its potential. This session will prepare young entrepreneurs for the business industry by teaching techniques for getting big investors on board with newer startups. Take these strategies back
Must-see innovative artworks and galleries @thedailytexan
@KeenanArroyo
Launched From a Dorm Room When people talk about young startups, a few famous CEOs — Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs or Michael Dell — are bound to come up in the conversation. The one thing they all have in common: They are college dropouts. Student entrepreneurs from Yale will give advice about balancing school with managing a business and discuss how going to college while developing a startup can be both overwhelming and advantageous. The lecture will cover what it takes to create a successful startup and whether dropping out is some sort of prerequisite. The presentation takes place Friday.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Illustration by Victoria Smith | Daily Texan Staff
home with you, and maybe you’ll have luck convincing some future financial investor. Better yet, use your networking skills wisely and meet a seasoned business leader during the session. The presentation takes place Saturday. How Universities Can Create More Startups Whether you’re a Longhorn or an Aggie, encouraging your university to engage with student-led business ventures is a way to get yourself a successful platform for entrepreneurial growth and innovation. Alumni of the NYU Summer Launchpad, a 10-week summer program, will share their
experiences in the program and explain how it prepared them for the positions they are in today. The NYU program seeks to help students launch their own startups by providing business and creative support. A presentation about the program will take place Sunday. Longhorn Startup Showcase Do you like competition? Check out Longhorn Startup Showcase, in which UT students pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of judges who could potentially fund their proposals. The panel will select five finalists, and the competition
culminates with an intense Q&A session between the students and the judges. If you decide to participate next year, the publicity alone could connect you with someone interested in investing. The presentation takes place Monday. Having a game plan in place before heading to SXSW Interactive distinguishes you from other first-timers. Attending these events could potentially be the gateway to meeting the right person, sparking a groundbreaking idea or encountering your next business partner. Tread with confidence because now you know where you’re headed.
SXSW Eco Light Garden Get lost in the midst of glowing LED lights at the SXSW Eco Light Garden, an interactive public art project that bridges innovative light technology with landmark art. The light show runs from Sunday to March 21 at Republic Square Park. Colorful neon lights are the most prominent feature of the garden, and visitors can walk both on and among the displays. With towering light structures and bright colors, the Eco Light Garden gives off an otherworldly vibe while simultaneously showcasing the latest developments in efficient LED technologies. During SXSW, the garden will feature projects from various art studios and advanced lighting companies such as Lumenpulse, Ink Tank Art Collective and Houndstooth Studio. The Sailor Jerry Gallery Ever been inked? If you like your tattoo, you probably have Sailor Jerry to thank. Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, known as the godfather of the American tattoo, will have his art featured in “The Sailor Jerry Gallery: The Original
Artwork of Norman Collins,” a collection making its American debut at SXSW. The exhibition includes Collins’ original flash — or tattoo designs — art and sketches influenced by elements of Southeast Asian culture he encountered during his travels at sea. Collins’ depictions of hula girls, bottles of booze, dice, pistons, birds of prey and nautical imagery are extremely popular in Hawaii, where his last studio was located. The collection premieres Thursday and runs through March 21. SXSW’s Impossible Wall Project Between the “Hi How Are You” frog and the “i love you so much” wall, what else is as distinctly Austin as brightly colored graffiti gracing otherwise unremarkable walls? In the spirit of creating art, SXSW has partnered with POW! WOW! Hawaii and sprATX to paint over dull, blank spaces around the city. The central event of the week will bring together more than 100 local and international artists to collaborate and create murals, transforming some of Austin’s still-blank walls into enriching works of art. POW! WOW! originated as a week-long event in Hawaii that has since expanded internationally, promoting appreciation for art through lectures, gallery shows and art installations. Hello Lamp Post: Austin “What do you think is Austin’s biggest claim to fame?” Soon enough, you might be getting text messages like these, but not from your human friends — instead, from
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SXSW 2015
A how-to guide for introverts es who want to survive SXSW
Colng its By Emily Fu XSW. @efu_utexas ludes — or Thousands of people from and all over the world gather in ele- Austin for the annual South Asian By Southwest festival, bringdur- ing with them a chaotic energy that is thrilling — and, at times, hula borderline terrifying. For introdice, verts, an influx of people this and large can easily become overex- whelming. Whether you’re an awaii, introvert braving the crowds was or avoiding SXSW completely, pre- here are some tips to guide you runs in your festival experience.
Dress to repel Are you excited to experience SXSW but dreading the w Are obligation to chitchat with rane you dom strangers as you’re waiting e is as in those long SXSW lines? No ghtly worries — the trick is to dress oth- to repel. Add celebrity-size walls? sunglasses and a floppy hat or g art, baseball cap to your wardrobe with essentials. Accessorize with and your phone in hand because dull, that gives you a “busy and une city. approachable” vibe. week One warning: Subtlety is key than to successfully accomplishing ional this trick. You want to give off and a generally intimidating air, but ming don’t overdo the “covert, busy, blank trying to hide” getup unless works you want to appear to be an undercover celebrity. Go too nated far, and you will attract curious, n Ha- star-minded strangers. nded oting Bring your posse ough Introverts tend to feel and drained and alone in large crowds, and they are more comfortable in familiar setin tings with small groups of close Aus- friends. To make the most of me?” your SXSW experience, bring ht be your best friends with you. Not like only will they keep you enerr hu- gized throughout the day, but from they can also serve as a human barricade against unwanted communication. They can do
all
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all the talking and schmoozing while you smile stiffly behind them. After all, isn’t that what friends are really for? Take the time to recharge After being around people all day, the best way for an introvert to recover is a nice, long block of alone time. Instead of following your friends to late-night SXSW parties, opt instead to go back home. Put on some music or turn on the TV, eat some leftovers, and let the day’s events wash over you. Sleep for a long, long time. You’ll do this all over again the next day, and although you’re quite excited, recognize when your introverted batteries need recharging. Stock up on provisions Before the endless wave of festival-goers start rolling in, make a trip to the nearest H-E-B, and stock up on all the groceries you’ll need for the next several days. Face it — there is probably no way you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite local restaurants. All your usual haunts will inevitably fall to an overwhelming swarm of out-
of-towners armed with Yelp, so play it safe and plan on cooking at home for a week. Master the art of productive hibernation Next comes the question of what you’ll do while cooped up in your den. Remember all those tasks you’ve mentally stored for “when you’re not too busy”? Now is the perfect time to clean out the refrigerator, fill out that scholarship application and resolve that lingering issue with your dental insurance plan. Call your grandparents! Get ahead on your homework! Or just spend an insane amount of time watching Netflix while eating out of a giant jar of peanut butter. We won’t judge you. We promise. Your computer is your best friend Watching your friends gush over the cool bands they’ve seen and celebrities they’ve met sounds like it would be jealousy-inducing. It won’t be. Just looking at endless albums of blurry
INTROVERTS page 17
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High schoolers showcase short films By Alex Pelham @TalkingofPelham
Although adult filmmakers produce the majority of the movies showing at South By Southwest, some teenagers are also getting in on the fun. The 12th annual Texas High School Film Competition is their chance to show off. Thousands of high school students submitted short films for the competition, but only 22 movies will screen during the festival. The winning films, all under five minutes, will premiere at the Marchesa Theatre. Caitlin O’Brien, Robert E. Lee High School junior from San Antonio, submitted her film, “Home,” to the competition. She said she’s excited to show her work to thousands of festival-goers. “I was really nervous submit-
ting the film because I wasn’t sure it would get in,” O’Brien said. “It’s really exciting. [My film has] premiered in San Antonio before, but it’s still really cool to see it on the big screen.” “Home” follows a terminally ill girl who lives in a house programmed to care for her. She wrote and directed the short, drawing from the Ray Bradbury story “There Will Come Soft Rains.” She said when it comes to her future in filmmaking, she simply wishes to strive for perfection. “[My goal] is to have the vision that comes to my head when I write my scripts to come perfectly to life on screen,” O’Brien said. Anderson High School senior Meredith Morran initially created her short, “It’s a
HIGH SCHOOL page 9
Ellyn Snider | Daily Texan Staff
Anderson High School senior Meredith Morran wrote, filmed and edited her short film, “It’s a Thing,” in 24 hours for South By Southwest’s 2014 Make a Film in a Day Competition.
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SXSW 2015
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continues from page 6 the fire hydrant down the street. “Hello Lamp Post” is a new city-wide project that combines technology and art to encourage interaction between pedestrians and objects dubbed “street furniture,” such as lampposts, telephone poles, parking meters, mail boxes or any structure with an identifier code. Hello Lamp Post was inspired by the idea of the city as a diary. The game goes like this: A passerby picks an object with a code, texts the number with a “hello” and begins a text conversation with the object. Created by London-based PAN Studio and commissioned by the City of Austin in partnership with Art Alliance Austin, the goal of the project is to encourage people to rediscover environments that already feel familiar.
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SXSW 2015
Categorical breakdown of SXSW film roster By Charles Liu
@CharlieInDaHaus
South By Southwest’s film festival isn’t just packed with people — the schedule is stuffed with a ton of movies. Nineteen categories of film will be screened from Friday through March 22. With a roster this huge, you won’t be able to see every movie. Below is a list of film categories and descriptions to help decide which movies are right for you. Headliners Big stars. Big filmmakers. Big premieres. The headliners are the center of attention at SXSW’s film festival. Among them are sci-fi drama “Ex Machina,” the Will Ferrell comedy “Get Hard” and documentary “Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine.” Are celebrities, red carpets and gala events your thing? The headliners will be right up your alley. Narrative Feature Competition and Narrative Spotlight Ten pictures selected out of 1,372 submissions will premiere at this year’s Narrative Feature Competition. Each
HIGH SCHOOL continues from page 8
Thing,” during the 2014 Make a Film in a Day Competition, which Austin School of Film and SXSW Film Festival sponsored. The competition challenged Austin students to write, film and edit a short in 24 hours. “We ended up writing a screenplay for these two characters with irrational fears,” Morran said. “One’s afraid of drowning, and the other is afraid of biological warfare. Then, we kind of just went from there.” Morran said she hopes for a career in screenwriting and di-
of these pictures tell intimate, small-scale human stories. The competition’s roster offers a variety of genres, ranging from romance (“6 Years”) and drama (“Sweaty Betty”) to comedy (“Manson Family Vacation”) and thriller (“THE BOY”). If you want to enjoy the best of the best at SXSW’s film festival, watch any one of these films. Documentary Feature Competition and Documentary Spotlight These 10 selected documentary films focus on intriguing real-world stories. The category includes stories of rising musicians growing up (“Breaking a Monster”), Afghan journalists rebuilding the press in their war-torn country (“FRAME BY FRAME”), twins discovering they might have been separated (“Twinsters”) and a former sheriff investigating shootings that his SWAT team committed (“Peace Officer”). These pictures will expand your view of the world and leave you enlightened.
amples of narrative and documentary filmmaking. Watch real scientists develop methods to save Earth from potential asteroid impacts in “Disaster Playground” or get grossed out by “Nina Forever,” a horrorcomedy about a guy whose dead girlfriend appears every time he has sex with another girl. The Visions films offer a number of perspectives and stories, so give any one of them a shot if you want to experience something new. Midnighters SXSW offers some scary and provocative flicks for the nocturnal. The films in this category will screen at midnight. The roster includes “The Corpse of Anna Fritz,” a narrative picture about necrophilia that will make your skin crawl, and “The Nightmare,” a documentary concerning the terrifying nature of sleep paralysis. If you don’t like horror, check out “Turbo Kid,” a post-apocalyptic action picture about a kid battling to rescue the girl he loves.
Visions Movies in the Visions category are bold, innovative ex-
Episodic SXSW’s film festival gives TV some love with its exciting
recting independent films. “I know that’s a bit ambitious, but that would be amazing,” Morran said. “Hopefully, I can make films that people like and that change people’s outlooks on different things.” However, not all students who submitted films plan to make a career out of it. Nathan Jowers, Clear Brook High School senior from Friendswood, said his love of filmmaking doesn’t outweigh his plans to pursue philosophy or theology. “I don’t know where my filmmaking is going to go,” Jowers said. “I don’t want to give it up. I do think it’s something that I’m good at. I might
find a way to use it, but it’s not something that’s going to be the central focus in my life.” Jowers’ submission, “Awake After Sleepless Nights,” explores the story of a young man who uses online gaming to alleviate his sleep deprivation. He said his interests lie in the technical aspect, although many student filmmakers are more concerned with storytelling. “I love film for the color and cinematography and the language through the camera,” Jowers said. “I have a particular focus on what the color is telling the audience [and] what the [camera] angle is telling the audience.
Episodic presentations. Check out the premieres of shows such as “iZombie,” which chronicles the life of a medical student turned zombie, and “Angie Tribeca,” a police comedy Steve Carell wrote and directed. 24 Beats Per Second and Music Videos The films in the 24 Beats Per Second category follow musicians and explore the impact of music on popular culture. All but one of the pictures in this category are documentaries. “Hot Sugar’s Cold World” follows young musician Nick Koenig on his journey to create an eclectic album with sounds from around the world. The only narrative film in this category is “Gloria,” a biopic about Mexcian pop star Gloria Trevi.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Kevin Hart, right, teaches Will Ferrell how to survive a stint in prison in Warner Bros. Pictures’ film “Get Hard.” The film is just one of the headliners premiering during SXSW.
It is a gripping tale about ambition and scandal. Meanwhile, the music videos will feature artists such as Blood Orange, Hercules and Love Affair, Duke Dumont
and more. SXGlobal Travel the world with the
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Headliners feature diverse mix of comedy, sci-fi, drama By Alex Pelham @TalkingofPelham
From all corners of the globe, movie fans are streaming into South By Southwest to catch the latest cinematic treats the festival has to offer. As always, several highprofile films will make their debuts at venues scattered throughout Austin. Here are just a handful of the big films playing at SXSW. All of them will screen during the film portion of the festival, which starts Friday and ends March 21. Get Hard (100 Minutes) Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. at Paramount Theatre Comedic powerhouses Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart team up in this comedy about a hedge fund manager who must learn how to get tough before he begins a prison sentence. This Rrated comedy aims for belly laughs, banking on the manic personalities of its lead actors. This is the first film the duo has starred in together, so it will be interesting to see how they play off each other. Ex Machina (108 Minutes) Saturday, March 14, 8 p.m. Documentary headliner “Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine” covers the Apple cofounder’s ascension into superstardom. The film premieres Saturday at the Vimeo Theater.
Photo courtesy of SXSW
at Paramount Theatre Fans of science fiction and general creepiness will likely crawl toward “Ex Machina,” a movie that explores what happens when artificial intelligence software starts to develop emotional attachments. This is the directorial debut of Alex Garland, whom movie buffs may recognize as the writer of horror-film favorite “28 Days Later” and the action-packed “Dredd.” Fans of Garland’s work can expect the same cyber-punk elements and chilling characters that line most other items on his résumé. Manglehorn (97 Minutes) Saturday, March 14, 2 p.m. at Paramount Theatre Al Pacino returns to the silver screen with “Manglehorn,” a film in which he plays a small-town locksmith who struggles to retain emotional connections with his son, his protégé and others after his wife dies. Not much else is known about the film, except that it’s new territory for director David Gordon Green. Green, who is known for his well-received comedy “Pineapple Express” and the widely hated “Your Highness,” has a hit-or-miss
record as of late. Perhaps a small-scale, dramatic film will show Green’s strengths as a director. Spy (120 Minutes) Sunday, March 15, 9 p.m. at Paramount Theatre Having already played a comedic role in buddy-cop film “The Heat,” Melissa McCarthy will now step up her game as a deskbound CIA agent who is unexpectedly tossed out into the field. McCarthy’s brash, funny personality has been a reliable hit with audiences, and her role in “Spy” will likely continue the trend. McCarthy’s pairing with co-actor Jason Statham is an interesting choice that could lead to hilarious results. The actress reteams with “Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig for “Spy” and will also star in the director’s reboot of “Ghostbusters” next year. BRAND: A Second Coming (118 Minutes) Friday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. at Paramount Theatre Perhaps the strangest film in this year’s lineup, “BRAND: A Second
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UT student’s film to premiere at SXSW By Katie Walsh @katiehwalsh_atx
While many students relax on the beach or drunkenly meander on Sixth Street for spring break, Jazmin Diaz will spend the week screening her short film, “Carne Seca” at South By Southwest Film Festival. Diaz, radio-television-film and marketing senior, wrote and directed the short “Carne Seca,” which means “dried meat” in Spanish. The short follows the story of two young brothers in rural Mexico who must sell a cooler full of meat before sunset or face the wrath of their aggressive father. It premieres Friday at the Long Center and screens again Tuesday and Thursday in different theaters around Austin. “The essence of the movie is about a character who finally has enough and decides to stand up for himself,” Diaz said. “I didn’t want it to be about the hardship that the characters go through. I wanted it to be about what the characters are capable of.” The 11-minute, characterdriven drama pulls extensively from a feature-length film Diaz
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continues from page 10 Coming” explores comedian and actor Russell Brand as he delves into popular culture and to apparently argue that it depraves the world’s population. Brand is an odd figure in the Hollywood spotlight, so naturally, a biography about him seems destined to be as weird and avant-garde as its subject. It’s likely that the critical reception of the film will be based on whether viewers are attracted to Brand’s irreverent personality or repulsed by it. Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (127 Minutes)
originally wrote for a screenwriting class last spring. “Carne Seca” combines the characters from that feature with stories Diaz’s dad used to tell about his experiences selling meat out of a truck in Mexico, she said. Production for “Carne Seca,” began last fall in another of Diaz’s classes — her Advanced Narrative Production course. After a month, 20 students submit a script, and the class votes on which five scripts should be produced. “Carne Seca” was one of the five shorts chosen. The weekend her script was chosen, Diaz and radio-television-film seniors Haipei Han, the producer, and Jonathan Cox, the cinematographer, hunted for a filming location. The trio departed on an 18hour road trip across Texas in search of a site that resembled the vast, open countryside of rural Mexico. After 17 hours of no luck, Diaz said she and her crew stumbled across a pastoral Mexican landscape in the back of a trailer park in Blanco, Texas. Behind the trailers stood a little blue house with lazy farm animals and a chicken coop. She said it was exactly what she Saturday, March 14, 3:30 p.m. at Vimeo Theater Considering that the last cinematic exploration of Steve Jobs was a critical failure, this documentary may finally give audiences what they’ve been waiting for — full insight into the mind of the deceased Apple guru. The film promises to show multiple sides of Jobs and won’t shy away from addressing claims that Jobs was a tyrant. This documentary may hold the power to change the audience’s perception on the man who made Apple what it is today. Check the SXSW website for additional screening times and venues.
Jazmin Diaz, radio-televisionfilm and marketing senior, wrote and directed the short film “Carne Seca,” which will screen at the South By Southwest Film Festival. From driving all across rural Mexico to managing a large production crew, Diaz said she learned an incredible amount about the filmmaking process while creating this short.
Rachel Zein Daily Texan Staff
had envisioned. Diaz said casting proved to be her next challenge. After deciding to cast people who had never acted before to make the film feel more authentic, she found the first brother inside a local boxing center and the second through an audition she held inside a middle school
CATEGORIES
continues from page 9 international films of SXGlobal. Visit Hungary in “Free Entry,” the coming-of-age story of two 16-year old girls, or tag along with two Colombian brothers as they drive mules through the Andes in the documentary “Monte Adentro.” Let yourself be whisked around the globe as you encounter fascinating people, places and cultures through fresh perspectives. Festival Favorites The films of the Festival Favorites category have already received critical acclaim and
locker room. Diaz said the two boys were exactly what she was looking for. “The characters were so distinctive and personality-based, it wasn’t about spitting out certain lines,” Diaz said. “It was more about demeanor. [The two boys I found] were the epitome of what these characpremiered in other festivals. Have some laughs with “Adult Beginners,” a comedy about a yuppie returning to his childhood home after a financial disaster. Explore a first-contact scenario with aliens in “The Visit.” Learn about daredevil stuntman Evel Knievel and the public affection for spectacle in the documentary “Being Evel.” The movies in this category comprise a film festival within a film festival. Special Events Want to see a classic film on the big screen, be part of a live podcast recording and more? Check out the Special Events at SXSW’s film festival. You can catch a reissue of the clas-
ters were.” With editing help from radio-television-film senior Michael Gonzalez, the team submitted “Carne Seca” in November to the SXSW Film Festival. Diaz said she never expected “Carne Seca” would get accepted into the festival. “We’re just excited because sic apocalypse flick “The Road Warrior,” or enjoy “Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation,” a shot-for-shot remake of the first Indiana Jones movie made by fans. Director Judd Apatow will show his next film, “Trainwreck,” in its unfinished state. One-off screenings and events dominate this category. Want to get the most bang for your buck at SXSW? Take part in the Special Events — you’ll get an experience few others will. Shorts (Narrative, Documentary, Animated, Midnight, Texas and Texas High School) Shorts tell simple stories in elegant ways.
we’re so young,” Diaz said. “It feels like this is the beginning of a lot of other things. This film is my most intensive in that there was a huge production crew, and I finally learned the different facets of filmmaking and how to bring them together. This one felt like a complete story.” Some of them deal with real-life issues: In “We’ll Find Something,” a couple struggles with the simple task of finding a place to eat, while “Share” is about a 15-year-old girl whose explicit video has been shared around her high school. Some films involve the weird and the fantastic: The simply animated “World of Tomorrow” follows a girl’s journey into the distant future and “CROW HAND!!!” shows the deadly nature of a mysterious totem. The Texas Shorts were either shot in the Lone Star State or feature stories related to it. The Texas High School Shorts showcase young Texas talent.
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Program features music documentaries By Cat Cardenas @crcardenas
Documentaries probably aren’t the top priority for music badge holders out there, but with films that cover everything from Kurt Cobain to banned music in Mali, you might want to give them some of your attention. The 24 Beats Per Second Program features 20 films all music badge holders can access. The program will premiere the first day of the festival. If you want a break from standing in concert crowds, take a seat in a theater. Here are four documentaries you’ll likely want to check out. All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records
Russ Solomon originally operated his record shop, Tower Records, in the back of his father’s drugstore. Solomon would eventually expand Tower Records across five continents, establishing the store as a cultural powerhouse. In 1999, the company grossed $1 billion. But just five years later, Solomon filed for bankruptcy. “All Things Must Pass” is more than just a story about Solomon’s rise and fall — it’s a commentary on the ever-changing nature of the music industry. They Will Have to Kill Us First When jihadists took control of northern Mali in 2012, they banned most forms of music, leaving musicians
to choose between their art careers and their personal safety. In one night, the musicians of Mali became outlaws. The documentary captures Mali’s musicians’ resilience and determination to continue making music, even in secret and behind closed doors. Follow Malian band Songhoy Blues as they fight to express themselves at risk of their own lives.
Montage of Heck Eight years ago, director Brett Morgan set out to “reintroduce” Kurt Cobain to the world. After combing through home movies, drawings, recordings and journals, Morgan assembled his documentary, “Montage
BEATS page 24
Photo courtesy of Andy Morgan
“They Will Have to Kill Us First,” one of the twenty 24 Beats Per Second Program films, follow the members of Malian band Songhoy Blues’ fight to express themselves as they leave their homeland.
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The best places to eat during SXSW By Elisabeth Dillon @thedailytexan
Between keynotes, film premieres and keeping track of secret pop-up shows, it’s easy to forget the most important — or at least my favorite — part of South By Southwest: eating. SXSW is a non-stop experience that can leave you in the dumps if you don’t treat your body well and give it more than just the free candy and alcohol promoters are peddling on the streets. The Daily Texan compiled a list of six conveniently located places to stop and refuel. Iron Works BBQ Where: 100 Red River St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday Hanging out in the convention center? Head down the street to Iron Works BBQ and enjoy some delicious Texas barbecue. It’s a casual dining experience, where you can walk straight up to the counter — barring potential SXSWlength lines — and order food served on cafeteria trays. Don’t even think about skipping out on the sauce. Go big or go home. Sides are also crucial for a beautiful barbecue plate. The potato salad and beans are delicious, as are the pickles. Plate prices range from about $9 to $18, depending on the meat. Easy Tiger Where: 709 East Sixth St. Hours: Bake Shop — 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Beer Garden — 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. All that partying might make you sleepy, so be sure to carb up at Easy Tiger. The bakery serves American-style baked goods, and the restaurant offers German sausages. Their housemade breads and pretzels are glorious snacks and pair well with any of the alcoholic
Rachel Zein | Daily Texan Staff
Tacodeli’s cowboy taco, pictured above with the restaurant’s signature Doña salsa. Tacodeli offers tasty, savory tacos that can be found nowhere else.
Six tacos in Austin to try during SXSW By Elisabeth Dillon Mariana Gonzalez | Daily Texan Staff
For SXSW-goers, bakery, bar and restaurant Easy Tiger offers everything from German sausages to outdoor ping-pong tables.
offerings you can enjoy in the beer garden, which is open until 2 a.m. Try the $12 snack board to get a mix of all the best offerings. Gourdough’s Public House Where: 209 W. Fifth St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday Gourdough’s, which started as a donut food truck, has since expanded to include the original food truck and two brick-and-mortar locations. Gourdough’s Public House on Fifth Street offers wacky donut sandwiches topped with things such as fried chicken in addition to their eccentric dessert donuts. If you’re looking for a music-themed sugar rush, try the Fat Elvis. With peanut butter icing, grilled bananas, bacon and honey, this donut lives up to its name. Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill Where: 303 Red River St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday brunch 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday dinner Located just behind the convention center on Red River, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is a true southern experience. It’s a more formal and pricey dining experience, so don’t show up in a tattered band T-shirt and cut-off jean shorts. Entrees include chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and blackened catfish. The restaurant fills up quickly, so show up early, or make a reservation if you’ve got a late-night party to crash. Daily Juice Where: 205 W. Third St. Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday If all the free food and alcohol is leaving you a little sluggish, make your way to Daily Juice at Third and Lavaca streets. Serving up
healthy smoothies, juices and food options, it’s the perfect grab-and-go option. Try the cosmic trigger smoothie, loaded with maca and cacao, blueberries, banana, coconut water and hemp oil. Whole Foods Market Where: 525 N. Lamar Blvd. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. storewide 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. coffee bar Whole Foods is another healthy and quick option and a must-see for outof-towners. The original Whole Foods includes a hot and cold buffet, a juice bar, a gelato shop and a sushi bar. Stock up on snacks from the bulk section where you can make your own granola mix and choose from a host of dried fruits. Pick up any of their prepared food options to eat in-store or take with you for a pick-me-up after your adventures are over each day.
@thedailytexan
South By Southwest wouldn’t be complete without an overload of tacos. Tacos are an Austin staple, and, whether you’re a local or just visiting for SXSW, they’re the key to making any day amazing. The Daily Texan compiled a list of six of the best tacos in Austin to satisfy any craving. Migas Tacos Veracruz All Natural Veracruz All Natural is a Tex-Mex joint just east of I-35 that serves up migas tacos that can’t be missed. The creaminess of the avocado paired with the crunchiness of the tortilla chips is a true breakfast taco dream. Tortas de Coliflor Papalote Taco House Always a top critic’s choice, Papalote Taco House serves up your best vegetarian taco option with their tortas de coliflor — a cauliflower cake topped with cabbage, avocado and huajillo sauce. The taco comes with queso fresco, the cheese that elevates it to the next level.
Barbacoa Taco Joe’s Bakery It doesn’t get much more authentic than Joe’s Bakery — and the prices are pretty killer too. For $1.99, you can get a stellar barbacoa breakfast taco and add extra toppings for only 40 cents more per topping. Toppings include items such as rice, beans, eggs and potatoes. Lucky for you, breakfast is served all day long, so you’re free to head to Joe’s after that keynote you’ve been waiting on. Cowboy Taco Tacodeli You can find Tacodeli breakfast tacos at joints across Austin, but its best non-breakfast taco can only be found at its actual locations. The cowboy taco is packed with beef tenderloin with grilled corn, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, guac and queso fresco. Al Pastor Rosita’s Al Pastor When you get out of a secret show around 2 a.m., head to
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Your SXSW MONDAY
Badge-less? Don’t sweat it
TUESDAY
SPOTIFY HOUSE When: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Where: 901 E. Sixth St. Lineup: Run the Jewels, Ryan Hemsworth, The Vaccines, Buraka Som Sistema, Speedy Ortiz Age Restrictions: 21+ Spotify is bringing you six days of different artists, kicking off Sunday with James Davis followed by others, including Conrad and Stromae.
WEDNESDAY
HYPE HOTEL When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Fair Market Lineup: Spoon, Odesza, Rae Sremmurd Age Restrictions: 21+
THE PITCHFORK PARTIES When: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: House of Vans at the Mohawk Lineup: Rae Sremmurd, Courtney Barnett, Torres Age Restrictions: None
This five-day lineup is all about celebrating the 10th anniversary of music blog Hype Machine.
Located at the House of Vans at the Mohawk, The Pitchfork Parties will be using an indoor and outdoor stage.
COLORADO MUSIC PARTY When: 3 p.m. to 1:55 a.m Where: The 512 on Sixth Street Lineup: Indigenous Robot, Robby Wicks Band, RipRats, Ben Marshal Age Restrictions: 21+
BIRDS BARBERSHOP When: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: 1107 E. Sixth St. Age Restrictions: None
Music industry entities will put on Colorado Music Party from the Centennial State itself. More than 30 bands hailing from Colorado will play.
Grab a free beer, get a haircut and watch a live stream of the Fader Fort party. MANIC MONDAY When: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Where: Red 7 Lineup: Wooden Wisdom, East India Youth Age Restrictions: 21+
SHE SHREDS When: 8 p.m. Where: Spider House Cafe & Ballroom Lineup: Megafauna, The Shivas, Bobby Jealousy Age Restrictions: None
MUSIC TECH FEST When: 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Where: Swan Dive Who: The Octopus Project, Chipper Jones, Resonant Frequency, CAPYAC Age Restrictions: 21+
MUSIC TECH MASHUP When: TBA Where: Empire Lineup: Shakey Graves, Gary Clark Jr., Tuxedo Age Restrictions: 21+
After the Music Tech Fest shows, attendees have the opportunity to meet some of the band members for selfies and autographs.
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Hosted at Empire, Music Tech Mashup’s lineup of this venue features more than 20 bands. The official times have not yet been released.
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RAY-BAN X BOILER ROOM 006 When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Where: TBA Lineup: Kaytranada, Madlib, Ghostface Killah, Shash’u, BadBadNotGood Age Restrictions: 21+ If hip-hop, rap and R&B are your thing, come check out Kaytranada, Madlib and Ghostface Killah at this late-night concert for the night owls. PANDORA DISCOVERY DEN When: 2 p.m. Where: 708 E. Sixth St. Lineup: Elliphant, Peking Duk, Halsey, Odesza Age Restrictions: 21+ MONSTER ENERGY OUTBREAK HOUSE When: 8 p.m. Where: Antone’s Who: Riff Raff, Nova Rockafeller, BIC Age Restrictions: 21+ Wednesday is college night at the Monster Energy Outbreak House, featuring rapper Riff Raff.
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t. Check out the week’s best free events.
THURSDAY
HARD ROCK CAFE: CULTURE COLLIDE AT CONTAINER When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Container Bar Who: Twin Peaks, The Cribs, Diwan Saz, Skyroads Age Restrictions: 21+ Come hear some of the best DJ sets from around the world, with performers from the U.K., New Zealand and a lot in between. FLOODFEST When: TBA Where: Cedar Street Courtyard Lineup: Courtney Barnett, The Ting Tings Age Restrictions: 21+ THE YARD When: 12 p.m to 7 p.m. Where: La Barbecue Who: Chelsea Lankes, Gemini Club, Spirit Animal, Genevieve Age Restrictions: None An outdoor music showcase in the heart of Austin’s top barbecue spots, La Barbecue. DOSTUFF AND PABST BLUE RIBBON: DOXPBR When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where: The Scoot Inn Lineup: Elliphant, Ice Age, Georgrapher Age Restrictions: 21+ Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah are headlining and kicking off the start to a great show. They are also hosting a crawfish boil.
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FRIDAY
SPIN AT STUBB’S When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Stubb’s Lineup: Run the Jewels, Twin Shadow, Earl Sweatshirt, Kate Boy, Viet Cong Age Restrictions: 21+ The 13th annual SXSW day party at Stubb’s is sure to be a good one with a two-stage venue and top names in all genres of music. WINDISH AGENCY DAY PARTY When: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: The Mohawk Lineup: Alvvays, Odesza, Wolf Alice, Juce Age Restrictions: 21+ Here you will find some of the best in rising indie bands. With an inside and outside stage, you will find an awesome band playing wherever you go. QUANTUM COLLECTIVE SOUTHWEST INVASIONWhen: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Whole Foods Market Lineup: The Zombies, Big Data, Sheepdogs Age Restrictions: None REPUBLIC RECORDS When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Where: 907 Congress Ave. Lineup: Dotan, The Mowgli’s, Charles Hamilton Age Restrictions: 21+ Republic hosts a full day of music with DJ sets. There will be plenty of food and drinks available.
SATURDAY
FUN FUN FUN When: 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: The Mohawk Lineup: The Blind Shake, Thee Oh Sees Age Restrictions: 21+
House of Vans is presenting a full-day party event that does not run on an RSVP system but a firstcome, first-served rule. ANTIQUIET When: 7 p.m. Where: Clive Bar Lineup: Just Blaze, Nadus, Dave Luxe, El Blanco Age Restrictions: 21+ Not only is there a great lineup of free music at this show, but there will also be free pizza. Visit their page to watch recaps of last years showcase. BEAT HAUS When: 7 p.m. Where: Voodoo Room Lineup: Just Blaze, Nadus, Dave Luxe Age Restrictions: 21+ Serato, the world’s leader in DJ software, is giving away a sweepstakes prize in software supplies. LIVEVIBE: PARTY IN MY PANTS When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Little Woodrow’s Lineup: Bobby, Hey Marseilles, Tameca Jones, Mini Mansions, Smallpools Age Restrictions: 21+
1. Alvvays | Photo courtesy of Gavin Keen 2. Best Coast| Photo courtesy of Janell Shirtcliff 3. Rae Sremmund | Photo courtesy of Diwang Valdez 4. Shakey Graves| Photo courtesy of Nina Valdez 5. The Ting Tings | Photo courtesy of Chris Owens
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Nipping: the next frontier of 3-D bioprinting By Ellen Airhart @ellenairhart
The printers in the TeVido Biodevices office don’t print concert tickets or English essays — they use live fat cells to print nipples and areolas. TeVido, a technology company that just moved to Austin, has the primary goal of developing techniques to print human tissue using 3-D bioprinters. The company’s first project is printing nipple-areola complexes (NAC) for breast cancer patients who have undergone mastectomies Currently, reconstructing the NAC after a mastectomy typically involves invasive surgery and color tattooing. If TeVido’s project succeeds, doctors will be able to adhere printed NACs to breast cancer
patients in a matter of minutes. TeVido co-founder Laura Bosworth and Chief Technology Officer Scott Collins will lead a discussion about the company’s endeavor during South By Southwest. The event, “3D Bioprinting: The Next Revolution in Healthcare,” takes place Monday at the JW Marriott. Scientists have used 3-D bioprinters to print skin, tracheae and even bladders, but they typically have difficulties keeping the tissue alive in a human body. If the tissue is over 1-millimeter wide, cells on the interior of the tissue are less likely to receive necessary oxygen and nutrients. Human muscles have solved this evolutionary problem with billions of small veins and other vascular channels. Collins said the team is
trying to increase the width of a viable printed organ from a millimeter to a centimeter. “Being able to direct and steer the growth of vascular channels would allow us to do the kind of engineering we need to make something more complex,” Collins said. As the mortality rate of breast cancer continues to decrease, as it has since 1989, more breast cancer survivors live with scars from mastectomies. Collins said these scars can cause negative psychological consequences, including depression, but patients with well-reconstructed NACs are less likely to experience these effects. TeVido’s reconstruction technique uses a patient’s own fat cells. Since the cells belong to the patient, the patient’s immune system is less likely to
reject them. The NAC is relatively small and most patients have plenty of fatty tissue to spare, so doctors can easily collect it during surgery. “The nipple will look exactly as the patient wants and grow with her over the rest of her life,” Collins said. When the TeVido team finishes the NAC project, Collins said kidneys are next on the list. The NAC project might not be finished for several years, Collins warned. “The clinical trials will probably take three years and cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars,” Collins said. All around the world, researchers at a number of facilities are conducting similar projects. Researchers at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology printed a miniature, functioning
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Mariana Gonzalez | Daily Texan Staff
Scott Collins, chief technology officer at TeVido, works in TeVido’s lab where they use 3-D bioprinters to construct nipples and areolas for mastectomy patients.
kidney that could survive for four months in a lab. Organovo, an American technology company similar to TeVido, has created viable liver tissue. Collins said he dreams of using bioprinting technology to
change lives in a powerful way. “I did most of my research in cellular regenesis and vascular engineering,” Collins said. “The idea was to apply that to developing an artificial heart.”
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Booths to visit at SXSW Interactive Trade Show By Megan Kallus @megmayumi
South By Southwest might be famous for its music and film offerings, but the festival is a wellknown hot spot for the tech crowd as well. SXSW Interactive gives festivalgoers the chance to get up close and personal with emerging technologies. The Interactive Trade Show is a four-day event that features hundreds of exhibitions, ranging from tiny startups to multinational corporations. Any SXSW badge gets access to the trade show. The Daily Texan compiled a list of seven booths to visit. WonderWoof If you’ve ever wondered what your dog does all day when you’re away from home, WonderWoof has the answer for you. WonderWoof, the product of St. Louis-based company Wondermento, is a realtime dog tracker. The device delivers information to any location on a dog’s
activities, reporting whether the dog is eating, playing or dreaming. WonderWoof also integrates with social networks so that members get updates on a friend’s dog as well. Jamit Violins are famously difficult instruments to learn to play. Jamit, part of Samsung’s C-Lab acceleration program, aims to smooth the violin’s steep learning curve. Jamit combines a tablet app and a violin accessory, creating an interactive practice space for beginner violinists. DJ-51 There are plenty of smart music libraries and social networks on the market, but the DJ-51 takes a fresh approach to sharing music. To create a miniature social network, DJ-51 syncs all Spotify libraries within a small physical space and then compiles playlists based on music that all members of the network enjoy. The group playlist lasts until the final
member leaves the area. Plotagon A team of developers from Stockholm created the Plotagon app. Plotagon lets writers bring their stories to life at no cost by allowing users to customize 3-D animated videos using user-supplied scripts. Writers can choose from a wide variety of character looks, scene settings and songs. Eye Sea, I See Tokyo Denki University’s IWAI lab developed “Eye Sea, I See,” a small sensor ball that can be dropped into marine environments. The device offers humans a peek at underwater life. The ball streams real-time video, photographs, locations and water-temperature information to any tablet or smartphone. Scanalytics Milwaukee-based company Scananlytics specializes in producing technology for intelligent store spaces. The company
Illustration by Melanie Westfall| Daily Texan Staff
equips shop floors with sensors that measure and analyze consumer patterns, providing store owners with information about foot traffic and buyer habits.
Free-Hand Click Japanese company JUICE DESIGN will exhibit its new system — the Silhouette/Skeletal User Interface. The interface
SXSW diversifies volunteer experience By Austin Reynolds @blanelikeaplane
South By Southwest takes place during one of the most celebrated collegiate holidays: spring break. In order to accommodate the influx of people, festival managers recruit volunteers from around the world, but many of them come from right here at UT. One of the biggest appeals is a SXSW event badge. The badge grants access to SXSW festivities based
on the amount of time one volunteers. Badges range from the lowly gold badge to the highest honor, the platinum badge. Radio-television-film junior Cameron Saenz will volunteer at SXSW for the first time. He said volunteers are required to spend at least three days working the festival. While working during spring break may not be at the top of every student’s spring break wish list, music headliners and new film doc-
umentaries lure volunteers away from typical vacations to experience SXSW. The volunteer program receives more than 3,500 applicants each year, according to SXSW’s main website. The volunteering process begins as early as January in order to prepare volunteers for the program, and it ends at the conclusion of the festival. “[SWSX’s] volunteer process can be confusing, but
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Illustration by John Pesina | Daily Texan Staff
eliminates devices such as remotes and touchscreens. Instead, the users manipulate items on a computer screen by making hand gestures and touching their own palms.
INTROVERTS
continues from page 7 pictures will be enough to give you the beginning of a massive headache, affirming all your life choices. To keep up with your friends’ adventures, count on replaying your friends’ Snapchat stories at least three times. First, listen to what the band is actually playing. Second, try and hear what your friend is shouting in the video. Third, process all the flashing lights and ecstatic faces. See? Aren’t you glad you’re in the serenity of your own home?
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Guide to the 10 weirdest SXSW events By Charles Liu
@CharlieInDaHaus
South By Southwest wouldn’t be an Austin event if it weren’t weird. For those of you who love the unconventional, SXSW Interactive offers robots, brain hacking, a geeky band and more. To help you take the road less traveled at SXSW Interactive, The Daily Texan created a list of the festival’s 10 weirdest events. Identity Crisis: You’re Not Who You Think You Are Out-of-body experiences and terrifying illusions prove your brain doesn’t always perceive reality correctly, according to Simon Frantz, editor of BBC Future. Learn more about the fragility of your mind at this event made for “X-Files” junkies and lovers of all things supernatural.
VOLUNTEERS
continues from page 17 it’s worth it,” Saenz said. “It increases the level of professionalism for each volunteer.” Saenz said applicants are given two options: They can be conference volunteers or production volunteers. Samantha Huang, linguistics sophomore and
‘Burning Man’ Meet-Up “Burning Man,” the annual burning of a large wooden structure in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, takes place in August, but it’s never too early to start planning your trip. Along with those pyros, this event is also for those with a “burning” curiosity. Meet “Burners” from around the world at this event and connect with representatives with Burning Man HQ. Would You Torture a Robot? Robots can’t feel pain so torturing one would be easy, right? Wrong. As robots become more lifelike and sociable, people find it harder to mistreat them. But why would we avoid harming machines? Presenter Richard Fisher, deputy editor of BBC Future, examines why this happens and what it says about us.
past volunteer, said the main difference between volunteering jobs are the shifts. Conference volunteers work hourly in the Austin Convention Center doing jobs such as helping panelists, checking tickets and working closely with the SXSW planning staff. Production volunteers work in shifts assisting at music
DIY Brain Hacking, Electroceuticals and You Want to build gadgets that let you control the minds of others? Then attend this talk and learn how to create a device that allows you to hack into a cockroach’s brain and steer it. Brent Williams, retired director of the Kennesaw State University iTeach Center, will explain how electrical stimulation repairs the faulty wiring in our brains and even reshapes them. It might even be the future of 21st-century medicine. ‘Coffee Geeks Unite!’ (And Meet-Up!) Coffee enthusiasts rejoice. “Coffee Geeks Unite!” will get you up to speed on the latest tech in the specialty coffee world. Bring coffee shop recommendations and prepare to write down those of fellow a t tendees.
clubs, on streets and behind the scenes of SXSW. “One day, I was working a film venue, taking tickets, and the next day, I was stationed in the Austin Convention Center running badges,” Huang said. “The job was constantly changing, and there was never a dull moment.” Some SXSW jobs restrict
Porn, the Quiet Pioneer of Marketing Criticize the porn industry all you want, but the industry pioneers in marketing. Porn’s e-commerce success preceded the rise of Amazon and eBay. You can stream movies and TV shows because porn streaming technology came first. Attend this event and learn about how porn has revolutionized, and will continue to revolutionize, internet marketing.
Where’s Waldo’s Voice: Social Media for Mascots In the era of Facebook and Twitter, mascots such as the Chick-fil-A cows and the Aflac duck have their own social media accounts. These mascot accounts interact with the public and advertise their pro duc ts without
SADvertising: Why Tears Are the New Tactic Commercials aren’t just funny or sexy anymore — they deliver huge punches to the gut. From the moving Budweiser ad about the friendship between a horse and a dog to the MetLife commercial about a poor father struggling to provid for his daughter, tearinducing content is becoming
The Plaid Jackets The Plaid Jackets, the geekiest rock band of all time, will bring their talent to SXSW. They wear tacky, plaid jackets, and their songs are tributes to sci-fi and comic book franchises. Their hilarious hits include “Adam West is Batman” and “Ode to Chewbacca.” Expect them to deliver a fun, high-energy performance. Robot Petting Zoo Head to the Robot Petting Zoo and meet robots that you can touch, operate and program. Many ground and aerial robots will be available for your enjoyment — from those that collect data after natural disasters to those that mimic humans. This is a hands-on event that shouldn’t be missed.
age; all require volunteers be at least 16 years old, and some require volunteers to be over 21 years old, according to the SXSW website. Saenz said a variety of people volunteer for SXSW, and there is no stereotypical volunteer. “I’ve seen an entire family volunteering as though it is some tradition,” Saenz said.
being “in your face.” Attend this event to learn about the people behind the mascots’ profiles.
“Some people are new to volunteering, but some have been volunteering for up to 24 years. No one is too old for SXSW.” Saenz said he chose to volunteer based on his interest to meet producers and directors. For Huang, it was access to the free parties. Rebecca Ramirez, English junior and a second-year
more popular now than ever before. At this talk, advertisers explain why sob stories are so powerful and why connecting with consumers emotionally is better than persuading them to buy their products logically.
volunteer, said a benefit of volunteering is meeting people from various backgrounds. She said the workload was worth the interaction and networking opportunities that come with volunteering. “It was a hectic and busy job,” Ramirez said. “But I enjoyed being a volunteer and encourage those daring enough to give it a try.”
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Exhibition to host Azeri photos, media By Mary Cantrell @mkcant
Glen Dolfi, the curator of La Peña’s latest art exhibit, is bringing Azerbaijan to Texas. The multimedia exhibition is a combination of photographs by Azeri photographer Rena Effendi, Azeri music and archival footage shot in Azerbaijan by French filmmaker Vincent Moon and radio-television-film senior Garson Ormiston. Dolfi said the artists he met during his travels to Azerbaijan captivated him. He knew he had to bring their unrecognized talents to America. “There are a lot of imaginative, creative people sort of hidden away,” Dolfi said. “Many people here don’t know anything about it.”
Dolfi said the artists come together to represent a poetic voice from a relatively unknown country. The photo series, titled “Liquid Land — Land of Fire,” compiles Effendi’s portraits of Azeri people and images of regional butterflies that Effendi’s father took. “This is not just a photojournalism project; this is a connection from the area that [Effendi] grew up in,” Dolfi said. “She has this loving connection to her father, his work and photographs that were never published in his lifetime.” In addition to the photographs, a number of musical artists from Azerbaijan will perform at the gallery during South By Southwest.
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Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
Plan II senior Blair Robbins and radio-television-film senior Santiago Dietche perform at La Peña art gallery Sunday evening. The gallery features photographs by Rena Effendi’s “Liquid Land — Land of Fire” series, which will be showcased at La Peña art gallery during South By Southwest.
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continues from page 13 Rosita’s Al Pastor trailer for its signature al pastor taco. Pastor is a traditional marinated pork dish originally from Mexico, and Rosita’s keeps it classic with all of its al pastor options. Be sure to ask for sweet pineapple to go with your taco. Tortillas are made fresh daily to really kick up the ante. La Fresa — Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon This drive-thru taco joint serves up the only chicken taco you’ll find on this list. Fresa’s classic la fresa taco is piled with achiote chicken, avocado, cotija cheese, white onion, cabbage and cilantro. It’s a bit steep at $4.25, but you’ll taste the difference in their locally sourced chicken.
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LIQUID LAND continues from page 19 Qarabagh Ensemble and Qaraqan, who will perform at an official SXSW showcase of artists that perform traditional Mugham folk music, will take part in the exhibit. In an effort to make the exhibit interactive, Effendi’s printed photographs will hang along the north wall of the gallery and in trees surrounding the gallery — free for the taking. Dolfi said “Liquid Land” stands out in SXSW’s increasingly commercialized climate. The project seeks to offer personal art that aims to bridge a gap between two communities isolated from one another, according to Dolfi. “We’re bringing an international exhibit with international music to an international festival,” Dolfi said. “I think it’s a really positive step for the city of Austin and for
La Peña to have the vision to bring international art.” Ormiston filmed Azeri musicians when he traveled the country last summer. His footage will play in the gallery alongside the photographs and music performances. He said the archival footage acts as a window into an unseen world. “I think it’s more like visual poetry. The way we shot it, it’s like a postcard of Azerbaijan,” Ormiston said. “It’s a way to show the culture, sites and sounds. It’s supposed to give you a sense of what the country’s like in a broad stroke.” UT’s Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies and the Center for Middle Eastern studies are co-sponsoring the event. Mary Neuburger, director at the Center for Russian, East
We’re bringing an international exhibit with international music to an international festival. —Glen Dolfi, Curator
European, and Eurasian Studies, said the center supports the effort to inform people about the rich culture of Azerbaijan. “Exposure to these powerful images connects us to distant realities, like the Azeri one, that both differ dramatically from our own, and yet, in their enduring humanity, are also deeply familiar.” Neuberger said.
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R&B-pop singer Max Frost will release his first full-length album in early 2015. He returns to SXSW to perform four official shows.
UT dropout set to drop album By Marisa Charpentier @marisacharp21
Two years ago, at South By Southwest 2013, someone stole Austin singer-songwriter Max Frost’s backpack. The backpack contained Frost’s laptop and hard drive, which held every song he had ever made. All of his music was gone, and he was left questioning his decision to drop out of school to pursue his music career. About three days after the theft, the blog Pigeons & Planes picked up “White Lies,” a song from Frost’s SoundCloud account. The blog post started a chain reaction that’s still going off today. Over the course of the last two years, Frost has signed with Atlantic Records, landed a spot on Rolling Stones’ list of “10 Artists You Need to Know” and been featured on a Beats commercial. With his first fulllength album set to be released in early 2015, Frost is returning to SXSW to perform four official shows. The Daily Texan spoke with Frost about his music and experience at UT. The Daily Texan: How did you get into music?
Max Frost: I’ve always been interested in it. I played drums and banged on things and made noises ever since I was a little kid. I started playing guitar when I was 8 and started playing other instruments when I was 13 or 14 and playing in bands. I just never stopped. DT: How long did you attend UT? Were you playing in bands at the time? MF: One whole year. That was the first year when I didn’t have a consistent live gig with another band going, so I spent a lot of time in my dorm room just making songs on a computer and recording them and writing stuff. That’s kind of where everything got started for my solo project. I was living in Towers — the frat battlefield. DT: So you left school in 2012 after your first year at UT. Why did you choose to leave? MF: I just kind of realized I didn’t want to do a half-ass job at school and music and that if I was ever going to take a chance on it, the time would be now. To me, [college] just felt like a further extension of
high school in a way, and I felt trapped. I felt like I was going to let the better years of creativity and youth slip away. DT: What did you do after you left? MF: I went to [Los Angeles] and spent the summer there with a friend of mine who makes videos. I worked on a lot of music out there and was still super underground. I just stayed in my room and worked on records, but, you know, it’s a good kind of reality check to what the business is like and how big the world really is. Then I came back to Austin and signed back up for classes. I went back for one week I think. After sitting in class again, I was like, ‘Okay, I can’t do this.’ I pulled out, and I stayed in Austin. I kept working on more music. DT: How would you describe your sound? MF: I would say that it’s alternative pop. It’s sort of like my eclectic interpretation of a blend of Western music that I’ve been exposed to my whole life, and I’d say it’s sort of hip-hop influenced without being rap in any way.
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Ten Austin-based bands to see at South By Southwest By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc
Some of the best acts of past South By Southwest festivals weren’t the big names; they were the local bands who were just happy to perform. Check out some of the best musicians Austin has to offer at this year’s event. Spoon Once an underground to sensation, Spoon became one of rock’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful acts. Its blend of punk and classic rock makes its performances enigmatic and memorable. You might know the band from its 2005 classic Gimme Fiction or its most recent release, They Want My Soul. Spoon performs Thursday at Auditorium Shores.
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Max Frost Musical prodigy turned one-man band Max Frost is a local singer-songwriter who has led Austin’s pop scene. At the age of 10, Frost learned to play guitar, and, by 20, he was writing music that incorporated funk, soul and R&B. He dropped out of UT to pursue his music career full time, and his gamble paid off. He performs at Stubb’s on Thursday. Institute Post-punk band Institute aims for a rough sound, hitting the bull’s eye on its EP, Salt. Formed just two years ago, the band gives its all in every performance. Institute performs Thursday at Hotel Vegas.
Quiet Company Quiet Company has quietly come to dominate the Austin indie pop scene. Lead singer Taylor Muse may have lost his faith in God, but he still works miracles in his songwriting. The group’s emotional, melodic songs reel the listener in. The band performs at Red Eyed Fly on Thursday. Jon Dee Graham Named SXSW’s musician of the year in 2006, Jon Dee Graham is returning. Since 1986, he has worked with the best Austin musicians. Graham dropped out of law school at UT to join The Skunks, a local punk band. It opened for The Clash and The Ramones. Graham is most widely known for his time with the True Believers, an Americana rock band from Austin. He performs March 21 at the Continental Club.
Whiskey Shivers With a banjo, fiddle, bass and guitar in hand, the members of Whiskey Shivers resemble a group from the early 1900s. Their bluegrass sound
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continues from page 21 evokes a spirit of joy in listeners. They perform next Friday at the Palm Door on Sabine. Jamestown Revival Jamestown Revival appears as though it just came straight from a retreat in the mountains. That’s exactly what the group did to record Utah. Its indie rock sound with a southern twang was practically made for the festival. The band perform at The Gatsby on March 20. Ume Ume is a hard rock band known for its relentless touring and explosive performances. The band’s selftaught guitarist, Lauren Larson, rocks like no other; her skills are almost unrivaled. Ume perform at Red 7 on Thursday. Ben Kweller Ben Kweller’s legacy is in his performances at the Austin City Limits music festival — specifically the one in 2006 when he suffered a severe nosebleed. He used a tampon thrown on stage by a fan to stop the bleeding. After bleeding profusely on his own piano, he cut the set short. If you don’t want to go see him perform now, I don’t know what will convince you. He performs March 21, but the location has yet to be announced. Jess Williamson Jess Williamson managed to do something very few artists can — create an unhurried record that lasts only 30 minutes. The simple, sparse instrumentation and her emotional vocals make Native State a calming listen. She performs at Cheer Up Charlie’s Inside on Tuesday.
SXSW 2015
Four must-attend free multiday shows By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc
South By Southwest is all about being at the right place at the right time. Decide to venture out and check out a new venue? Good call — you might find yourself listening to the next big thing while standing in a crowd full of people you’ve only ever seen in magazines. On the other hand, miss a band your friends are buzzing about, and you’ll be hearing about it for years to come once that same group hits it big a year later. To maximize your chances of experiencing one of those classic “SXSW moments,” check out some of the festival’s free multiday parties. Here are four events you don’t want to miss. The Spotify House Spotify’s six-day party, which opens on Sunday, will be the premier experience for music lovers. Last year’s event featured Hozier and Vance Joy. This year’s lineup is equal, if not greater, in magnitude. Headlining the party on Monday is one of rap’s hottest duos, Run the Jewels. El-P and Killer Mike released Run the Jewels’ second studio album, Run the Jewels 2, in August, and it quickly earned critical acclaim. Featuring booming voices and abrasive production, the songs on RTJ2 feel like they were created with live performances in mind. Up-and-coming artists are everywhere at SXSW, but Leon Bridges stands out amongst the crowd. Just a summer ago, Bridges worked as a dishwasher.
Illustration by Joanna Levine | Daily Texan Staff
Late last year, he signed with Columbia Records — and now he is working on his debut album. Bridges’ blend of soul, gospel and folk music will leave a lasting impression on attendees. Don’t miss his performance Wednesday. RSVP on their website, spotifyhouse.com, for a chance to join the party. Pandora Discovery Den Although the night shows require a badge, Pandora’s four-day event, which begins Wednesday, boasts an abundance of free daytime shows. SZA’s blend of soul and minimalist R&B has made her one of the premier artists in R&B, and her show Thursday will highlight her obvious talent. Indie rock band Palma Violets, performing March 21, will be another can’t-
miss free performance. This London-based band broke out in 2012 with “Best of Friends” and released a solid debut album in 2013. Look out as they perform songs from their upcoming sophomore effort, Danger In The Club. Waterloo Records Having hosted the likes of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Queens of the Stone Age, Waterloo Records’ reputation alone is justification for swinging by their free four-day event, which begins Wednesday. Twin Peaks will perform the first day, and their garage rock style makes this set one of the most promising of the event. Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, who just released his debut solo album, Policy, will perform immediately after Twin Peaks’ set.
To maximize your chances of experiencing one of those classic “SXSW moments,” check out some of the festival’s free multiday parties. The highlight of the party will happen March 21, when Waterloo hosts Joey Bada$$. His raw talent and hardcore hip-hop sound make him one of rap’s biggest up-andcomers. Bada$$’s debut album B4.DA.$$ is one of the best of the year, and his live performance is unlikely to disappoint. No RSVP is required. Hard Rock Presents: Culture Collide Last but not least is Hard Rock’s three-day event starting Thursday, which will feature the likes of BASECAMP and Son Little. The best performance
of the event will be on the March 20, when The Vaccines, recently arrived in America, take the stage. This UK band is known for having the best-selling debut album of 2011. Their exhilarating brand of rock will make for an unforgettable show. Elliphant’s performance on March 21 promises to surprise. The Swedish singer and rapper may be older than the average up-andcoming pop star, but her work with Skrillex and Dilpo have made her one of the most-talked names in pop. Get into the day parties by RSVPing at culturecollide.com.
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Sihasin: new name, classic sound
The Zombies, the second band from across the pond to have a No. 1 hit in the United States, will perform at Stubb’s on Thursday.
By Cat Cardenas @crcardenas8
Courtesy of Cannonball PR
The Zombies will bring tired festival attendees back to life By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc
Colin Blunstone is the lead singer of The Zombies. Known for their psychedelic sound, The Zombies were the second U.K. band — the first being The Beatles — to have a No. 1 hit in the United States, helping lead the “British Invasion” in the mid-1960s. The Zombies will perform at Stubb’s on Thursday. The Daily Texan: In 1964, you came to the United States. What was it like being one of the first pioneering groups? Colin Blunstone: For us, it was a culture shock. Whereas now a lot of the cultural elements are very similar to the U.K., people didn’t travel back then like they do now. To get on a plane and go across the Atlantic was quite a big deal. We were just 19 years old, and to come to America, the land of rock ‘n’ roll. It was amazing. All of our heroes came from America: Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Little Richard. These are the people we grew up listening to, and it was the place we always wanted to come to.
SXSW 2015
DT: What did you use as inspiration to find your sound in the early days of The Zombies? CB: We took our inspiration from a very wide spectrum of music. There’s jazz influences, rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll and pop music all there in our music. That’s one of the things that made our music so different. To give your band individuality can be a great advantage, but, in the beginning, it was a disadvantage as well. People get confused when they can’t mentally connect the music to something they’ve heard before. DT: In your most recent album and presumably your upcoming one, there’s a slightly different style than that of your earlier works. What should listeners be looking out for? CB: We could play something similar to Odessey and Oracle, but we were 20 years old when we played that. What I would say is that people should look out for fine songwriting in the album we’re just starting to record now. Everyone in the band is incredibly skilled, so I would also pay attention to the
musicianship. I just sit back and watch them play as a fan of sorts. It’s a thrill for me to be up on stage, being part of a group with such wonderful players. DT: Where do you see your influence in bands today? CB: When they, themselves, cite us as an influence in how they’ve come to be playing their music and how they’ve developed, our influence is clear, but I can rarely hear it myself. It’s definitely one of the highest compliments you can receive. When people like Tom Petty and Dave Grohl have all said how much they enjoyed our music and cite us as an influence, it’s wonderful. DT: What are you guys looking forward to most at SXSW? CB: I love the madness. It’s just crazy. Last year, we were playing three or four times a day, and, when we weren’t playing, we were moving the gear, going to do radio shows, live sets [and] acoustic duos. It’s just all these different things all the time. It is truly the most full-on festival in the world, and it is a little crazy, but incredibly good fun.
Sihasin will perform at South By Southwest’s Native American Showcase. Brother and sister Clayson and Jeneda Benally previously performed as punk rock band Blackfire for over 20 years. Three years ago, they changed their group’s name to Sihasin, which means “hope” in the Navajo language. Sihasin’s show takes place March 21 at St. David’s Historic Sanctuary. The duo spoke with The Daily Texan for a Q&A. The Daily Texan: After performing as Blackfire, what prompted you to start Sihasin? Jeneda Benally: The inspiration behind the group was hope. We’re probably one of the only music groups who have sued the United States government, but, long story short, we sued the forest service in order to protect children from the reclaimed wastewater being used on our sacred mountain in Arizona. We lost the case, and, for me, that was absolutely heartbreaking. I looked around at kids as young as 9 who weren’t able to find hope after that, so I had to shift my focus. I looked at what I was doing, and I knew I needed to invest in their future. Through our music, we can hopefully provide a sense of hope. DT: How does it feel to have a showcase dedicated to Native American musicians? JB: When you go to South By Southwest, you see so many different groups represented, and we’re so glad we’re part of that. We hope that when people come to the showcase that they can recognize that our music is just as diverse. There aren’t that many differences between us; we’re all one people. DT: How is your culture expressed in your music? JB: We’re a minority today, and we want to bring our music to the masses. We hope we can help showcase the diver-
Courtesy of Rachael Running
Although brother and sister Clayson and Jeneda Benally just changed their band’s name, their music remains powerful.
sity within not only the United States but within indigenous tribes themselves. We’re all so different, but we have this common history, and, when you listen to our music, we want you to get a sense of who were are as a community and individuals. DT: How did your work with The Ramones influence your music? JB: The Ramones gave us a lot of guidance early on; they kind of took us under their wing. Joey and CJ became a part of our family after we went to Austin to catch one of their shows. They gave us some advice as far as structuring our songs. The writing process for each of our songs is very different, but they gave us a basic formula that we still use. It’s pretty powerful to have such incredible mentors.
DT: What do you love most about performing? JB: We get to travel internationally and really see that music has no boundaries. The heartbeat of drums is a common language between people all over the world. It doesn’t matter who you are, but our music is about sharing together in an experience. DT: Why is music so important to you? JB: Music allows us to express our culture and bring it to indigenous people and other people as well. Through our music, we can show people that our culture is still constantly growing. We’re still trying to express grief over hundreds of years of conflict, so our music was a way to talk about that conflict and make sure that our voices were heard.
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SXSW 2015 From left, Andrew Penmer, Jack Thorton, William Glosup and Marcus Haden make up local surf pop band Shivery Shakes. The band will headline at Riot Act Media’s Tuesday showcase at Cheer Up Charlie’s.
Stephanie Tacy Daily Texan Staff
Austin-based pop band on headlining showcase spot By Mary Cantrell @mkcant
Austin-based band Shivery Shakes’ infectious, glitzy, surf pop entertains Austinites throughout the year. During South By Southwest, Shivery Shakes will headline Riot Act Media’s Tuesday showcase at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Their latest album, Three Waves and a Shake, sets a beachy, chill backdrop to this year’s festival. Austin mayor Lee Leffingwell named June 27 “Shivery Shakes Day” after the band gained serious acclaim in the community. The Daily Texan spoke with the band about their SXSW showcases. The Daily Texan: Is this your first year performing at SXSW as “official” performers? Shivery Shakes: This is our first year performing at SXSW officially as this band. A couple of us have done South By officially in the past in other bands or as “hired guns,” but it will be a different experience with this project. We’ve been working really hard on this band for the past couple of years, and, while it might not be the ultimate measure of success, it’s cool that we were accepted. DT: Are you guys working
on a new album? If so, when would it come out? SS: We put our last record pretty recently, and we are still doing the best we can to get it out there. We have a few new songs in the works and preliminary recording on our next record is on the horizon, but we’d like to do our best to get our debut album out there before we put it behind us. DT: Do you think Austin shows local bands enough love during SXSW? SS: Honestly, I think SXSW is a little harder on local acts. However, Austin is generally hard for local acts. It has become a hub for international talent year-round, so local bands are measured against national talent way more thoroughly than anywhere else. That being said, I think it pushes local bands to be very hard-working and well practiced. We are stoked to be a part of SXSW and other festivals around here, but we also have our own scene and friends to enjoy. DT: What is the best/worst part about SXSW? SS: The best part is all of our friends from out of town come here; the worst part is all of the people we aren’t friends with come, too. DT: Can you describe your
sound/your goals and aspirations as a band? SS: Our debut record sounds pretty surfy and poppy. We enjoy that musical genre, but, for whatever we do next, I think we’d like to evolve and transcend genre. We like pop music and also music that we naturally gravitate toward. I think any aspirations we have musically will occur without effort. Other than that, our main aspiration is to get a van, stay on the road and keep making music that we like to listen to. DT: Do you guys like touring or sticking around and playing shows in Austin more? SS: They both have their pros and cons. Touring is a total blast because you get to show different people your music for the first time, which usually gets a very honest reaction. That’s something you never get at home, and it’s usually very exciting. Playing at home is just as sweet though because it’s very relaxed, and you get to play with all of your friends’ bands. We have so many great bands in Austin right now, too. It almost feels like we’re on tour when we play on different bills because everyone here has a very unique voice.
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SXSW 2015 From left, directors Cooper Roberts and Ian Schwartz and cinematographer Pat Scola have been nominated for SXSW Best Music Video for the work they did on artist Mr Little Jeans’ “Good Mistake” music video.
Photo courtesy of Ian Schwartz
Directors discuss nomination for Music Video Competition By Olivia Lewman @dailytexan
Press
Directors Ian Schwartz
lup- and Cooper Roberts’ music Um
video for “Good Mistake” by Mr Little Jeans is nominated for SXSW’s Music Video Competition. Mr Little Jeans, the stage name of dance-pop singer-songwriter Monica Birkenes, released her debut album, Pocketknife, in 2014. The video premieres Tuesday at the Alamo Ritz Drafthouse. Before arriving to Austin, Schwartz and Cooper spoke with The Daily Texan for a Q&A. The Daily Texan: How did you create the concept for the music video? Ian Schwartz: It was a long time ago that we came up with this concept, but it was really open-ended from the record label. We were inspired by the lyrics. We knew we wanted it to totally have a darkness, and we came up with this trucker character. We wanted to see both sides of someone who’s a little bit tortured but somebody who we can see an emotional side of as well. We had all of these meetings for the story and almost
all the people that saw the video didn’t get it. They came up with their own interpretations. They had their own cool theories for what it was about. My mom had this theory it was about this serial killer who was dancing with the ghosts of his victims. DT: Do you tell people what you intended it to mean, and does that impede on their own interpretation? Or do you just let them have their own story? IS: It’s supposed to be an ambiguous narrative. It’s a fine line between something where people go, ‘Oh, that doesn’t make any sense,’ and something that people find intriguing and can add their own meaning to. That was our intention — to have this character not a lot of people have actual relatable experience to but somebody who has emotions and are in a place in their life that might be more universal. DT: The video takes place at a gas station. Were you allowed to just take it over? Cooper Roberts: We searched all over southern California looking for the right truck stop; the stop in Victorville was the winner.
IS: Yeah, I think we went to every truck stop within a 60-mile radius over a week. The location was really important because most would be set there, and we wanted to find a place in the middle of nowhere without a ton of light around it. DT: Tell me about the final scene with the trucker and the woman sitting in the front seat of the 18-wheeler. IS: Yeah, that was an emotional scene. I mean, those women are supposed to be truck-stop prostitutes called “lot lizards.” But we wanted to subvert the idea and make them more like motherly figures to him. It was kinda a tender moment with the “lot lizard,” I guess. DT: What are you looking forward to in Austin? IS: I think the last year, we tried to get into a lot of music showcases, but it’s really hard. This year, we were saying we’re going to try and see more films if possible, which is also hard. It’s really hard to get into things at SXSW — even if you win an award. We talked about going on a little oneday trip somewhere, maybe going fishing.
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4 DaYS 9 venueS
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Wanda Sykes
Maria Bamford
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Patton Oswalt
Dr. Katz Live!
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ParaMOunT THeaTre ron White with Margo rey Patton Oswalt Wanda Sykes John Mulaney Maria Bamford Dr. Katz Live Todd Barry Dana Gould Dom irrera andy Kindler Tom Papa Ted alexandro Simon amstell nate Bargatze Guy Branum Michelle Buteau Blaine capatch Phil Hanley Karen Kilgariff Hari Kondabolu Doug Mellard Kurt Metzger Hasan Minhaj alex reymundo erica rhodes Liza Treyger
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