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SXSW 2018 EDITORS Chris Duncan Charles Liu Andrea Tinning
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
BASIC 4 INTERACTIVE 5
FILM 9 MUSIC 11
DESIGNERS Sunnie Lee Rena Li Aaliyah Jenkins Andrea D’Mello
WRITE RS Caroline Betik Collyn Burke Justin Jones Christa McWhirter Sierra Quarzaza Trent Thompson ARTISTS Mel Westfall Geo Casillas Nikole Peña Victoria Smith
C H R IS D U N C A N Although this is Chris’ second year covering the festival, he will spend most of his time attempting to get into events his badge doesn’t allow for.
ANDREA TINNING Andrea will be freaking out about everything. And by everything, we mean everything.
R U B E N PAQ U I AN Ruben will be crying all week from the sheer joy of being at SXSW. Ruben will also cover music.
B RO O KE S JO B E R G Brooke will be running around covering as many panels as possible and stalking Mark Hamill.
J AM E S PR E S T O N PO O L E V W Preston will be covering any and all films he can while also making sure to blink intermittently.
CARLOS GARCIA Carlos will be hustling all the free food and drinks he can get while providing quality images and coverage of the festival.
J U A N F I G U E RO A Juan will probably die before the festival is over. RIP 1996-2018, He was so young.
AN G E L U LLO A Angel will be covering all things music at SXSW, secretly hoping Rihanna will pop out of nowhere.
PHOTOGRAPHERS Juan Figueroa Carlos Garcia Editor’s note: The most euphoric week in Austin is upon us. You’ll jam out with your favorite artists, attend premieres with the biggest stars and discover bold visions for the future. But the path is fraught with peril, young grasshopper. Survive with the help of these 12 pages. Read them — or use them as toilet paper. Your move.
cover photo by josh guerra | the daily texan staff
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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
EATS
By Caroline Betik @carolinebetik
When done right, South by Southwest can be an experience of a lifetime, but it can also be hard to figure out the best way to survive the hectic week without a little advice. That’s why The Daily Texan has provided a few tips and tricks to navigate the week of SXSW and make it a little less overwhelming for all first timers out there.
By Collyn Burke @_collyn_
Use Public Transportation
One thing to take into consideration when planning the week is how to navigate the busy streets of Austin. When huge events such as South by Southwest draw many people into the city, getting along in your own vehicle can be a huge hassle. Instead, take advantage of the wide range of public transportation offered throughout the city. Lyft, a mobile ridesharing app, is acting as an official partner for SXSW 2018. Whether it is a ride from the airport or back home after a long day, ridesharing is probably the best option if you need a lift. There are also promo codes available online to make the ride even cheaper. There are other avenues of travel as well. The B-Cycle program in Austin recently installed a vast array of bike racks which can be found all over downtown using the B-Cycle app. Capital Metro bus systems may also be one of the more affordable options when traveling to and from events, but neither of these are completely reliable modes of transportation. Buses will often fill to capacity and bike racks are not guaranteed to have a bike available for use. For those reasons it is recommended to leave at least an hour before you want to arrive to an event in order to be on time.
Don’t Be Tardy
At SXSW, lines are inevitable, but getting into an event is not. That’s why “to be on time is to be late” is the phrase to live by during the festival. Do your best to arrive early at events, because there will always be a group of fans who are committed to be in line before you, no matter how early you arrive.
Be Social, Make Friends
Although it may be tempting to take out your device to help pass time while waiting, try to keep it in your pants. Instead, turn to someone nearby and make conversation. You will thank yourself later for preserving precious battery life and you will get a sense of all the different, interesting people who come to the festival each year. It can also be extremely helpful when looking for recommendations on what events to check out later or where to go for dinner.
Be Ready for the Elements
While heels and a miniskirt may make you look great on the ‘gram, it will certainly not be the most comfortable. Due to the unavoidably large amounts of walking and standing in lines, it is recommended to wear an outfit that will be fitting with the weather and shoes that won’t leave your feet begging for mercy at the end of the day. With that in mind, it is easy to dress for both the occasion and the weather. Just be sure to monitor the forecast when planning what to wear and always bring a jacket and rain poncho if there is any chance either might be needed. It is also important to apply sunscreen. Many people often think it is not necessary, but whatever the weather, it is always a good idea to sport some SPF.
South by Southwest is here, and although most attendees’ focuses are on the events and speakers, it would be a disservice to Austin to not explore some of Austin’s quick food options. Get your badges and your buddies, figure out what you want to attend and how you’ll get there, and don’t forget to plan what food you’ll chow down on. Below are four of the best places to grab a bite during your time at SXSW.
Emmer and Rye
SkyHouse, 51 Rainey Street If you’re looking for something a little fancier than a food truck, check out Emmer and Rye. Heralded as one of the best examples of the Austin food scene, Emmer and Rye serves up small, seasonal plates with local ingredients and prides itself on its dim sum menu. It is a fantastic place to disengage yourself from the South by Southwest chaos, meet up with a group of friends and enjoy a good meal.
Southbites Trailer Park
Southbites Trailer Park, intersection of Rainey Street and Driskill Street SXSW’s official food truck trailer park is returning for its sixth year, gathering a new group of food trucks to showcase a true taste of Texas. This year, Southbites will play host to 13 vendors, including: Bodhi Viet Vegan Cuisine, a vegan Vietnamese truck operated by a group of local Buddhist nuns; Ranch Hand, whose mission is to create dishes by using classic Texas ingredients in a healthy and sustainable way; and Tamale Addiction, a truck that serves up an organic, gluten-free version of their family’s traditional tamale recipe. Not only does the food taste fantastic, but the collection of food trucks is open to the public with a free SXSW guest pass.
KORIENTE 621 E 7th St.
If SXSW starts to drain your wallet, check out Koriente. Koriente features Asian-inspired dishes made with fresh ingredients at wonderfully cheap prices. The restaurant also prides itself on using as little MSG, salt, oil and sugar as possible. Perks to Koriente include an unlimited vat of miso soup, free refills on bubble tea, and a patio that looks onto a nearby park.
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden 79 Rainey Street
Doubling as a SXSW music venue, Banger’s is the perfect spot to stop in for a bite during your time at the festival. Banger’s features a variety of inventive sausages from a traditional German Bratwurst to a duck, bacon and fig sausage and a south Texas twist on an African antelope merguez. In addition to their sausages, Banger’s is also home to the Manmosa, a massive beer stein filled with an entire bottle of champagne and a splash of orange juice.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
By Trent Thompson @ trentthompsonut
There is not one category of content at South by Southwest that doesn’t induce sensory overload. Like any other part of the festival, SXSW’s speaker conference is enough to make any attendee feel like they may miss all the high points. Fret not, for The Daily Texan has a list of the speakers you won’t want to miss at SXSW this year.
Michael Dell and Dr. Clay Johnston
(Austin Convention Center ballroom D, March 10, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) The U.S. faces many challenges with its current health care system. Michael Del, global business leader and philanthropist, wishes to face these challenges head on by creating new ways for health institutions to help people. Dell will join Dr. Clay Johnston, inaugural Dean of Dell Medical School, in a conversation about the health projects he supports through the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. With 30-plus years of experience in the tech industry under his belt, Dell wants to share his ideas on how to fix the issues hurting our nation’s healthcare system with the power of technology.
Susan Wojcicki Center and Nicholas Thompson
(Austin Convention ballroom D, March 13, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) The entertainment industry is always changing in this endless age of digital upheaval. YouTube has had a pretty big hand in this internet entertainment growth. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki will join Wired editor-in-chief Nicholas Thompson in a discussion about how this flow of content is changing the face of the creator economy and the media landscape around the globe.
Westworld showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy with cast
(Austin Convention Center ballroom D, March 10, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) HBO’s hit show “Westworld” presents a simulated reality in which humanity has created the means to live out its most lawless fantasies freely. Cast members Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, James Marsden and Jeffrey Wright will join showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy to share a behind-the-scenes look at the show thus far and preview the upcoming second season.
Philanthropist Melinda Gates devotes her life to promoting more justice in society and to empowering women and young girls ...”
Nonny de la Peña
(Austin Convention Center room 18ABCD, March 13, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) Commonly known as the “Godmother of VR,” Nonny de la Peña is the founder of the Emblematic Group and New America Fellow, two media companies trying to immerse their audiences through state-of-the-art augmented reality and virtual reality and by broadening news stories to be more inclusive. In her presentation, Peña will relate what she’s learned from pushing boundaries in technology and storytelling. She also plans to unveil Emblematic’s new project, “Reach,” a VR platform that allows anyone to author their own stories in VR.
Melinda Gates
(Austin Convention Center ballroom D, March 11, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) Philanthropist Melinda Gates devotes her life to promoting more justice in society and to empowering women and young girls, exercising this passion through philanthropic mediums such as the “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation” and “Pivotal Ventures.” Gates will challenge the gender exclusivity and unequal nature of the American workplace along with Joanna Coles, chief content officer of Hearst Magazines, and Stacy Brown-Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit.
Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jeffrey Goldberg
(Austin Convention Center ballroom D, March 10, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) Ta-Nehisi Coates, a politics and social issue writer for The Atlantic and the current scribe of the “Black Panther” comics, has sparked national discussion about race and racism in America. Discussing how his life experiences have shaped his work with The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, Coates will dig into the heart of racism in America through the mediums of modern politics, pop culture and comic books.
copyright hbo, and reproduced with permission Read The Daily Texan’s guide to this year’s conference speaker events, including an inside look into HBO original series “Westworld” with the creators and cast.
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FRID
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
the daily texan’s monday, march 12 Strange Brew VII When: 1 p.m. Where: Hotel Vegas — 1502 E. 6th St. Age Restrictions: 21+. RSVP required. About: For the seventh year in a row, this all-day concert offers live music — 28 bands-worth of it. Lineup includes A Giant Dog, BRONCHO and Kolars.
DC Comics at SXSW When: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Runs until Saturday, March 18. Where: 717 Red River St. Age Restrictions: All ages. About: DC fans unite at this outdoor haven of Batmobiles, a massive pop-up shop, illustrators, free beer and coffee.
A.V. Club and The Onion Present: Just Another Manic Monday When: 3:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Where: Mohawk — 912 Red River St. Age Restrictions: 21+. About: Yes, you can party on a Monday! Lineup includes Superchunk, Wye Oak, Lomelda and Field Report.
Outdoor Film Screening: Cartoon Network on the Green When: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Where: Long Center Terrace — 701 W. Riverside Age Restrictions: All ages. About: For the truly young and the young at heart, Cartoon Network will screen fresh-out-ofthe-studio episodes of shows such as “Ben 10” and “Unikitty,” as well as a sneak peek of “Teen Titans Go! to the Movies.” Before the screening even begins, there will be games and chances to grab some free swag.
tuesday, march 13 Media Temple’s SXSW Interactive Bash When: 8:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Where: Stubb’s BBQ — 801 Red River St. Age Restrictions: 21+. RSVP required. About: Turn up because this lineup includes Steve Aoki and SuperDuperKyle.
Pandora House When: 1 p.m. – 5:20 p.m., 8 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Runs until Thursday, March 15. Where: The Gatsby — 708 E. 6th St. Age Restrictions: 21+. RSVP required. About: Find new music to add you playlists with artists Mt. Joy, Demo Taped, Elley Duhe and more.
She Shreds When: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Where: Kinda Tropical — 3501 E. 7th St. Age Restrictions: All ages. About: The magazine dedicated to women musicians is hosting a lineup full of female artists including La Luz, Speedy Ortiz, Hinds, Shamir, Shopping and many more.
101X Day Party When: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Where: Buffalo Billiards — 201 E. 6th St. Age Restrictions: 21+. About: Acoustic performances, interviews and meet and greets with SXSW artists such as White Reaper, Mt. Joy, Lo Moon, Fort Never and more to be announced.
Do512 Family Picnic When: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Where: The Midway — 1905 S. Capital of Texas Highway Age Restrictions: All ages. About: Get outside or take a break at this picnic with a fun lineup of musicians including Red Yarn, High Waisted, Cirkus Funk and Magician Black Bert. Or, grab a bite at local food trucks Dock & Roll Diner, Waffle Love, Stony’s Pizza and MOOJO.
wednesday, march 14 UO Live in Austin When: 2 p.m. – 6:45p.m. Runs until Saturday, March 17. Where: 2420 Guadalupe St. Age Restrictions: All ages. About: This outdoor party is a great way to chill and get away from the downtown crowd. There will be giveaways, food trucks and live music from Baum, Mereba, Cloves and Nilufer Yanya.
Dr. Marten’s Presents Collide When: 12:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. Runs until Friday, March 16th Where: 90 Rainey St. Age Restriction: 21+. RSVP required. About: All day event full of bands and DJs including White Reaper, Bully, Porches, The Qualitons and Soccer Mommy.
StubHub at SXSW When: 12 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden — 79 Rainey St. Age Restrictions: All ages. RSVP required. About: Be on the pulse with up-and-coming musicians such as Morgxn, Lola Marsh, Lawrence and Joey Dosik.
Floodfest 2018 When: 12 p.m. Runs until Friday, March 16. Where: Cedar Street Courtyard — 208 W. 4th St. Age Restriction: 21+. About: Flood Magazine will feature performances by Dan the Automator, Hinds, Amy Shark and more special guests.
South x San Jose When: 12 p.m. Runs until Sunday, March 18. Where: 1316 S. Congress Avenue Age Restrictions: All ages. About: Food, local vendors including Esby, Sunstream Goods Manready Mercantile, and live music from Gang of Youths, Natalie Prass, Liz Cooper & The Stampede and more.
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DAY, MARCH 9, 2018
O FREE SXSW EVENTS thursday, march 15
friday, march 16
saturday, march 17
Sound+Vision Showcase:
NadaMoo! SXSoLa Block Party
DO 512 presents The Big One
When: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
When: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
When: 11:30 a.m.
Where: The Mohawk Austin — 912 Red River St.
Where: 1701 S. Lamar Blvd.
Where: Barracuda — 611 E. 7th St.
Age Restrictions: All ages.
Age Restrictions: All ages.
Age Restriction: 21+. RSVP required.
About: This concert is a sight to see. With performances by Kelela, Cuco, G Flip, Super Orgasm, Jack Harlow and more.
About: Free dairy-free, gluten-free ice cream, games, free food and drinks. Beats provided by DJ Phauxkis.
About: Party it up on the last day of SXSW with drinks, two stages and performers from all over the world. Lineup includes Ron Gallo, Hinds, Michael Rault, Speedy Ortiz and more.
SXSW Marketplace
Waterloo Day Party
When: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Runs until Saturday, March 17; 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
When: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Lucy’s Fried Chicken Revival
Where: 600 N. Lamar Blvd
When: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Where: Austin Convention Center — 500 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Age Restrictions: All ages.
Where: 2218 College Ave.
About: Lineup includes Shame, Starcrawler, SunSeeker, Wallows, Josh Hedley and Paul Cauthen.
Age Restrictions: All ages.
Age Restrictions: All ages. About: In its second year, SXSW Marketplace will be located at the epicenter of the madness, just a hop and skip away from Flatstock 65. The marketplace brings together local and national brands in the hope of creating a unique onestop, pop-up shop for all your shopaholic needs.
Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake When: 5:15 p.m. Runs until Saturday, March 17 Where: Lady Bird Lake — 800 W. Riverside Age Restrictions: All ages. Free SXSW Guest pass required. About: SXSW’s largest venue will be holding its annual charity concert events with Los Lobos, Nathaniel Rateliff and Roky Erickson headlining.
Southwest Invasion When: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Runs until Saturday, March 15. Where: Whole Foods Rooftop Plaza — 525 North Lamar Blvd. Age Restrictions: All ages. About: Held at the flagship Whole Foods Market downtown, this event features 40+ artists on the store’s rooftop plaza. Music lovers of all ages can enjoy live performances by Larkin Poe, In the Valley Below, Dorothy and more.
“Heathers” x Pitchfork SXSW Party
About: For the eigth year, Lucy’s presents live music, drinks and, of course, fried chicken.
When: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Shameless at the Showtime House
Where: Barracuda — 611 E. 7th St.
When: 1 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Age Restrictions: 18+.
Where: Clive Bar — 609 Davis St.
About: This day party includes performances from musicians such as Kelela, Kevin Morby, Shamir, Andrew W.K., Porches, Ought, Snail Mail, Nilüfer Yanya, Lucy Dacus, JPEGMAFIA, Superorganism and Topaz Jones.
Age Restrictions: 21+. RSVP required.
Sony Lost In Music When: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. Where: 99 Trinity St. Age Restrictions: All ages. About: Sony brings a showcase of rising artists including headliners such as Noah Cyrus, Cam, Caitlyn Smith and Lo Moon.
About: This party will be anything but shameless! Performances by Tank and the Bangas, WAVVES, Shamir, DJ Costa and more.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
BY THE
sxsw
NUMBERS
attendees breakdown
421,900
700 attendees in 1987
attendees in 2017
By Christa McWhirter @chrismac1193
$348.6 mil generated for the Austin economy in 2017
7,800 total acts preformed, spoken or showcased work at SXSW in 2017
95
22%
different countries, nearly half of the world, was represented by attendees.
of attendees came from countries outside of the U.S.
lodging breakdown
50,175
$375
hotel rooms booked for SXSW in 2017
a night
70
The average cost of a hotel room — an alltime high.
official hotels
transportation 16 ways to get to SXSW SXSW Shuttles
LYFT*
SuperShuttle
Pedicab Austin B-Cycle
Austin Cab Company
Electric Cab
Austin Taxi Co-Op
International Chauffeured Service
CapMetro
Lone Star Cab
Chariot
CAR2GO*
Yellow Cab of Austin
CityLinq ENTERPRISE*
*special offers LYFT - $5 off first ride with code SXRIDE18 CAR2GO - $10 off drive time credit with code SXSW ENTERPRISE - $10 off drive time credit with code SXSW infographic by rena li | the daily texan staff
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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
FILMS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS By Justin Jones @justjustin42
Between the under-the-radar midnighters and big-time headliners, it’s hard to figure out which South by Southwest film screenings are worth your time. Former Longhorn Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” headlines a week of premieres, including 85 other world premieres from filmmakers across the world. Here’s a list of a few interesting flicks that stand above the pack as must-see experiences.
A Quiet Place Premieres March 9, 6:30 p.m. at Paramount Theatre
SXSW opening film, “A Quiet Place,” marks a milestone for director John Krasinski, as he steps way out of his comfort zone with his third feature, though the picture does not look like it’s going to break any boundaries. Starring real-life couple Krasinski and Emily Blunt as parents of two young children, this tense movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where monstrous creatures hunt anything that makes noise. As such, most of the film will contain long stretches of visual storytelling as the characters stay quiet, an interesting challenge for any director. In the hands of a more experienced filmmaker, this would make for an exciting concept, but as Krasinski’s first serious film, it’s a risk. Nevertheless, Blunt and Krasinski starring in a film together is an intriguing prospect, and the thriller looks to start the festival with a silent bang.
Blood Fest Premieres March 9, 11:55 p.m. at Stateside Theatre
On the surface, “Blood Fest” is a gory horror comedy about teenagers who love scary movies that have to survive inside of one. But if you look a little deeper, it seems to be a criticism of the Austin film community by one of its most prominent members. Director Owen Egerton’s directorial debut came in 2015 with “Follow,” a well-reviewed but under-the-radar horror film. He’s known as a large personality in and around the local film community, performing with Master Pancake, a comedy show at Alamo Drafthouse Theatres, and hosting an annual event at the Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest. Last fall, allegations of Drafthouse owner Tim League’s history of minimalizing sexual abuse rocked Austin’s film scene. “Blood Fest,” a film about the festival that celebrates horror movies, looks to be a direct response to this. Its official description reads, “the charismatic showman behind the event has a diabolical agenda.” At worst, “Blood
Fest” is a coincidentally timed film, but at best, it’s an Austin Film insider’s criticism of the system itself.
Galveston Premieres March 10, 11:45 a.m. at Paramount Theatre
Acclaimed French actress and director Mélanie Laurent makes her English-language directorial debut with “Galveston,” a crime film set in the Texas beach town known for its distinctive gray ocean sludge. Laurent, who Americans would recognize as Shoshanna from “Inglorious Basterds,” adapted the film from a novel by “True Detectives”’s Nic Pizzolatto. The picture follows the friendship between a young prostitute and a hitman as they plan revenge on a crime boss who wronged them. With a bright cast, including Elle Fanning and Ben Foster from “Hell or High Water,” “Galveston” looks to make waves in the film community at large in its world premiere at SXSW.
Family Premieres March 11, 4:45 p.m. at Stateside Theatre
TV’s best comedians unite in “Family,” the debut of filmmaker Laura Steinel. “SNL’s” Kate McKinnon, “Atlanta’s” Brian Tyree Henry, “Orange is the New Black’s” Taylor Schilling and “Veep’s” Matt Walsh star in this dysfunctional-family comedy about a woman who has to take care of her brother’s 12-yearold daughter who wants to become a juggalo. Steinel, who has spent a career in writers’ rooms and small on-screen roles, looks to finally break into the field with an absolutely stacked cast of underrated-performers (also, juggalos).
Blindspotting Premieres March 11, 6:00 p.m. at Paramount Theatre
Sundance darling “Blindspotting” is a love letter to Oakland and a celebration of its people. Written by and starring the multitalented Daveed Diggs and his right hand man Rafael Casal, it addresses gentrification and race politics in the modern era. Fresh off the heels of his acting debut as Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in Broadway’s “Hamilton,” Daveed Diggs is getting the job done. The movie follows an ex-con who witnesses a police shooting, as he wrestles with how to cope with seeing such a disturbing event and what he can do about it. It drifts back and forth between a straightforward narrative and unconventional breaks in the fourth wall, delivering a soulful blend of spoken word poetry and rap to the camera. Diggs, also a rapper, is a wildly talented individual and one of the hottest creatives of the moment, set to blow us all away again.
copyright 20th century fox, and reproduced with permission Get ready for the best good boys in Wes Anderson’s adorable “Isle of Dogs.”
Isle of Dogs Premieres March 17, 8:00 p.m. at Paramount Theatre
This is one of the easiest sells of all time — Wes Anderson made a stop-motion film about good boys and basically named it “I Love Dogs.” On top of that, it’s a Miyazaki and
Kurosawa-inspired celebration of Japanese culture and cinema, with one of the most stacked casts in an animated movie ever, including Bryan Cranston, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Ken Watanabe and many other beloved actors.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
By Sierra Quarzaza @squarssq
South by Southwest’s gaming festival offers a variety of challenges and competitions for all players across a selection of popular tabletops and video games. With all the categories and events taking place at such a huge festival, finding the perfect one could be difficult. Here are The Daily Texan’s picks for popular and mind-blowing gaming events that players can participate in this year.
Donkey Kong Highest Score Challenge March 15 – 17, 12-8:00 p.m. (12:00-7:00 p.m. on March 17) Austin Convention Center Exhibit 3 Arcade Bunker
Perfect for Nintendo and classic arcade lovers, SXSW’s Donkey Kong Highest Score Challenge aims to be more fun than a barrel of monkeys. The gameplay is bananas — it’s an open session and players can return every day to defend and climb their way to the top. At the end of the festival, the gamer with the highest score wins a prize.
Mortal Kombat II Challenge: The Rise and Fall of Mortal Tombat March 16 – March 17, 2-6:00 p.m. (2-4:00 p.m. on March 17) Austin Convention Center Exhibit 3 Arcade Bunker
If you think you can dethrone a king, the Mortal Kombat II Challenge is a must-attend event. Legendary “Kombat” player Mortal Tombat’s open challenge allows players of all shapes and sizes to wrestle with the biggest name in the fighting game. Winners will earn the bragging rights of defeating the self-proclaimed champion of “Mortal Kombat” and kick a champion out of his 50 plus winning streak.
A classic staple of many gamers’ childhoods, SXSW is ready to teach what every millennial had no idea how to do – play the Pokemon card game.” Overwatch Tournament with Nighthawk Pro Gaming March 17, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1 PC Arena
Sponsored by esports gaming company Nighthawk Pro Gaming, the Overwatch Tournament is a team-based single elimination. Any team can sign up to compete at any time before the start of the special tournament, and winners can win signed jerseys from the Korean esports team Seoul Dynasty.
League of Legends College Rivalry Series March 16, 4-8:00 p.m. Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1 PC Arena
This esports event puts five Texas universities,includingUT,head-to-head
to battle for the bragging rights of ultimate “League of Legends” players. The teams must be pre-registered for the event to participate, but the event can also be watched by spectators in the PC Arena. For spectators, this competitive event promises to pack a punch with its powerful Texas rivalries.
Pokemon Trading Card Game: Daily Gym Challenge March 15 – 17, 5-7:30 p.m. Austin Convention Center Exhibit 2
A classic staple of many gamers’ childhoods, SXSW is ready to teach what every millennial had no idea how to do — play the Pokemon card game. Gamers must purchase a Cascade Game Events kit if they want to catch them all in this challenge. Players prove they are worthy of being a Pokemaster by destroying other gyms that
challenge them — for every two wins, a player’s gym is awarded 20 Cascade Game Prize Points.
Indie Corner March 15 – 17, 12-8:00 p.m. (12-7:00 p.m. on March 17) Austin Convention Center Exhibit 3
The Indie Corner is a program put on by SXSW to expose players to new and popular indie games in the industry. This program allows for some of the best and budding indie developers to see what their future consumers think of their product. Once participants are finished at the corner, they have the option to vote for the best games in categories of virtual reality, video games, tabletop and mobile. The votes will be used to determine the winners of the indie game awards Gamer’s Voice at the end of SXSW.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
MOTHER FALCON TAKES FLIGHT By Ruben Paquian @rubenpaq
The 12-man Austin-based indie orchestra Mother Falcon, formed in 2008, have been composing and performing orchestral pop tunes for years. After rejecting a contract with record label Universal Music Classics just over a year ago, the band lost a few members and a manager. The Daily Texan spoke with longtime member and cellist Diana Burgess to discuss the future of the band and their upcoming South by Southwest appearance.
The Daily Texan: Tell me, what exactly happened with the whole record label fiasco just over a year ago?
Diana Burgess: It definitely was pretty dramatic and
chaotic last year. What happened: We had a contract presented to us, we decided not to go with it and that resulted in just two members deciding to leave (bassist Dusty Rhodes and guitarist Matt Puckett). They had other things going for them as well, so I don’t think it was the only factor to why they left. But you know, things are much brighter now to say the least. (Everyone) is kind of more creatively on the same page right now.
DT: How has the band been since the record ordeal? DB: Even after that happened, we still went to Canada
and still did a few shows, which was awesome. We are still doing summer camps (to teach children music) every summer. This will be our eighth year doing the summer camp, which is really cool. So this past year, in the fall and then coming up in just a couple weeks, we’ve been touring this (puppet) show, “Petra and the Wolf,” which is this collaboration with this theater group in (Austin) called Glass Half Full Theatre, and it’s an adaptation of “Peter and the Wolf.” We changed it to “Petra and the Wolf,” so it’s a woman-led character, and all the music is original. It’s all stuff that Mother Falcon wrote.
DT: Can we expect any new music from Mother Falcon? DB: Yes. The past couple years we’ve been writing some
new songs. We’re actually in the midst of recording. We’re kind of loosely planning an EP to release. Things are a little more complicated now, without a manager, without a booking agent, but we’re just planning on self-releasing … It’s working a little bit slower than it has in the past, but we’re fine with that honestly. I think everyone is able to think a little more clearly because there’s not the pressure of somebody telling us (what to do).
DT: When can we expect to hear this EP? DB: Hopefully within the next year, maybe by the end of
the year, maybe December. We’ve also recorded all of the “Petra and the Wolf” music, so that’s all done. That will probably be available sooner. We’re all just really excited about working on new stuff.
copyright tamir kalifa, and reproduced with permission Diana Burgess of Mother Falcon talks SXSW plans, future music and the aftermath of their decision to turn down a major record label.
DT: How has the band adapted to the loss of two members? DB: We got a new bass player (Sam Pankey), and he has been teaching in our summer camp for long time, so we have been friends with him for a long time. It was a very natural thing to introduce
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him into the band. And then there’s nobody to replace Matt, but to be honest, his parts weren’t absolutely crucial to our sound, so its been fine without him.
DT: What are your South By Southwest plans?
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DB: We only just have one (South By
Southwest) show. It’s something we’ve been doing for maybe four years, the Austin Composers Showcase. We’ve done so many years of 10-plus shows, we are so happy just to have one show. Now we get to hang out and go see music.
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