SXSW The Daily Texan 2017-03-10

1

SXSW The Daily Texan’s guide to

Friday, March 10, 2017

Name: 3952/University House Leasing O; Width: 60p0; Depth: 2 in; Color: Process color, 3952/University House Leasing O; Ad Number: 3952

2-Contents/Calendar

SXSW 2017

2

WHAT’S INSIDE?

B A S ICS 2

Beginner’s Guide to SXSW Alternative Housing Transportation

MUSI C 5

Free Events Metal Bands Best ATX Bands

FILM 9

SXSW Film Roster

I N TE R ACT IV E 10

Asian American Showcase

SXSW Friday, March 10, 2017

EDITORS Mae Hamilton Daisy Wang Morgan O’Hanlon DESIGNERS Elizabeth Jones Megan McFarren Rena Li Sierra Garcia

WRITERS Acacia Coronado Chris Duncan Stephen Acevedo Charles Liu Hannah Plantowsky Chris Peck Ashley Salinas

ARTIS T S Hyeyun Jong Audrey McNay Michelle Peck Victoria Smith Mel Westfall

E DIT O R ’ S N OT E Every year, thousands descend in culture-hungry hoards upon our fair city to experience the best in music, film and technology. We have compiled a short and sweet SXSW survival guide so you can live, breathe and enjoy the best the festival has to offer. Take it easy, dude, but take it!

— Mae Hamilton, Life & Arts Editor

BASICS

3

SXSW 2017

Budget-friendly hostels strengthen community

By Hannah Plantowsky @thedailytexan

Austin is known for keeping it weird, and there is no better way to encapsulate that reputation than by staying in one of Austin’s hostels during the city’s famous entertainment festival.

Given the influx of incomers during SXSW, alternative housing accommodations are a traveler’s best way to circumvent the issue of overpriced and fully booked hotels.

“It’s a cheaper form of accommodation, plus you get a real Austin feel,” Seonaid MacDonald said. “We all know that SXSW accommodations book up, so I feel like hostels cater to an audience and make it accessible for them to be a part of this amazing festival.”

After three and a half years of backpacking, Seonaid MacDonald opened Austin’s Hostel 512 in October 2016. She said she knew couldn’t travel forever but wanted to remain a part of the hostel community. So, she decided to open her own hostel.

“I’ve always enjoyed travelling and staying in hostels was one of the key compo-

TRANSPORT

continues from page 4 city.

Pedicabs If your legs are too tired from a long day of exploring the festival, let someone else do the pedaling! Pedicab drivers are licensed under the City of Austin Ground Transportation Department and usually charge per block or simply work for tips. Pedicabs run at all hours of the day and are easy to find at all

Illustration by Hyeyun Jong Daily Texan Staff

nents,” MacDonald said.

“I’ve stayed in hotels, but I really liked the vibe and the people in hostels.”

History senior Kevin Lefkowitz said he appreciates hostels like MacDonald’s because they accommodate for low budget travelers.

“Hostels are great places to stay if you have a tight budget because they are just as nice as most hotels and likely a fifth of the cost,” Lefkowitz said.

Lefkowitz typically travels in larger groups, but said he also enjoys meeting new people at the places he visits.

“With hotels, you only see the people in your room, but in hostels you have to move around more,” Lefkowitz

said. “You get more interaction with the other people staying there.”

After traveling to 3040 countries, Andy Ward, owner of Drifter Jack’s and a UT alumni, said he developed an admiration for the communities that form in hostels. Ward opened the hostel in 2013 based on his two favorite things: his time abroad and Austin, TX. “If you’re staying at a hostel, you’re probably there to make new friends and see the city with other people,” Ward said. “We do a really good job of bringing people together so they can meet new people and experience Austin in a really awesome way.”

the downtown hotspots like the Business District and the Rainey Street and East 6th Street areas. If you’re having trouble finding a pedicab, most companies like Easy Rider Pedicabs, Austin Pedicab Company and Metrocycle Pedicabs are reachable by phone.

on the city’s official website, but spots are likely to fill up fast.

And don’t let parking give you anxiety — technology has your back and can even save you money. SpotHero is an app that books your parking spot online, sometimes even at half the price of the regular parking rate. SpotHero is sponsored

by SXSW and is available to download on Apple and Android phones. The promocode SXSW17 could save you $5 on your first spot if you’re new to the app.

Driving Should you decide to bring your own set of wheels to the festival, a map of parking locations during SXSW is available

HOSTELS page 10

4-Opinion 4

SXSW 2017

BASICS

Keep your cool with our SXSW beginner tips

By Stephen Acevedo @thedailytexan

It’s finally that time of the year when the annual South

by Southwest Festival takes over Austin for a week with an infinite number of concerts, film premieres, panels and of course, advertisements. With every new year comes a fresh crop of SXSW first-timers who haven’t the slightest clue where to begin with this behemoth.

Luckily, the Daily Texan has compiled a beginner’s guide to make one of the coolest festivals on the planet just a little bit less intimidating.

The music component of SXSW is undoubtedly the biggest draw of casual attendees, as it showcases the hottest acts of the previous year along with who will likely blow up in the coming year. Without a badge, though, it becomes generally impossible to slip into any official SXSW music showcases.

Fortunately, for every official show an artist plays, they will usually play another five free parties that should be sought out by non-badge holders in attendance.

For daily curated lists of free events during the festival, be sure to subscribe to Do512’s email list, as they do

a great job of highlighting unofficial shows as they come up throughout the week. Free parties usually call for attendees to RSVP beforehand, so it’s best for anyone interested in them the night before, or earlier.

Just because an event is free doesn’t mean everyone is getting in, though. If an unofficial party is hosting an even slightly notable act, there will almost certainly be a decent line for entry. If there’s a show that you absolutely can’t miss, be sure to arrive as early in the day as possible. The later you show up to a free show, the longer the line will be and the lower your chances of getting in.

AUSTIN FESTIVALS:

Know the Differences

Another thing that should be taken into consideration when planning a SXSW outing is transportation. Getting around Austin on a normal day is already a nightmare by itself.

When one of the biggest festivals in the world takes up residence in the city, that nightmare increases twentyfold—be sure to plan accordingly.

The Capital Metro bus system is probably the most affordable option, especially for UT students who get free bus fare, but it certainly isn’t the most reliable. Buses will often be at maximum capacity and unable to accommodate new passengers. For that reason,

so save your money for drinks at the bar or a rideshare home when the buses are all full.

While there are plenty of free unofficial events for non-badge holders, there will inevitably be an official showcase that you and your friends are too stubborn to not try to sneak into. While it’s not advisable, the most important thing to remember is to just act like you belong. If someone tries to stop you or asks for your badge, just act too busy to be bothered by them. A little bit of confidence goes a surprisingly long way in all of the chaos.

Navigate festival, in style, with transportation options

By Andrea Tinning @andreawinning

The city of Austin can already be a difficult place to navigate, but during South

By Southwest, it‘s even more confusing. Rest assured, there are a wide range of transportation options to make sure you get to your show on time and home safely.

Infographic by Rena Li | Daily Texan Staff

it’s good to leave about an hour grace period between when you leave your home and when you want to get to an event.

One of the best things about SXSW is the absurd amount of free food, clothes and other merchandise being handed out all week. Don’t forget to take advantage of that. You’ll thank yourself later when the inevitable drink spill happens or a drunk tourist yacks on your shirt. With food sponsors for events, you should also be sure not to spend unnecessary money on food. Doritos and Taco Bell will surely be handing out free samples of their newest abominations all over the city,

SXSW Festival Shuttles When navigating within the festival, the official SXSW Festival Shuttles will get you within walking distance to your event, no matter how remote it may be. Shuttles are free and leave the Austin Convention Center every 10 minutes. On March 10, shuttles will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. and then will run from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. for the remainder of the festival, except for March 12 when they will run late to account for daylight saving time.

The Bus System The most inexpensive and popular option for citywide transportation is public transportation. Capital Metro extended its hours specifically to accommodate SXSW. From March 6 to March 18, MetroRapid buses will run Monday-Saturday until 2:30 a.m. and until 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Night Owl buses are planning for higher volumes of people and will operate under double capacity and will run until 3 a.m. for most of the festival. The CapMetro app is also free and available to conveniently plan your route to and from the festival.

Ride-Hailing Apps If you’re tired of crowds and looking to get home quickly, ride-hailing apps may be the best option. The official ridehailing service of SXSW is Fasten, which advertises a fair paying system for its drivers.

New customers can get $5 off their first ride with the promo code RIDEON. Ride Austin is

another popular choice among locals and charges $1.25 plus 99 cents per mile and 25 cents per minute. A third ride-hailing option is Fare, which separates itself from the rest by allowing customers to schedule their ride 30 minutes to a week in advance.

Biking To accommodate for road closures and to avoid tiring walks downtown, bicycles are available for rent from shops throughout the city such as Austin Tri-Cyclist, Barton Springs Bike Rental and Waterloo Cycles. Austin B-cycle is another route to explore when planning your route home. B-cycle docks are located throughout the city, especially in the SXSW area, and bikes are available to rent for an hour at a time. Once a person registers with Austin B-cycle, bikes can be removed from their docks and can be returned to any B-cycle station in the

TRANSPORT page 3

MUSIC

5 5

SXSW 2017

At Showcase, brightest Austin performers shine

By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc

By providing Austin artists an avenue to share their music, South by Southwest maintains its reputation as the premier way to discover the best and brightest the city has to offer. This year is no different, with hundreds of Austinites on the Showcase bill. Here’s a list of some of the best performers and up-and-coming local musicians showcasing at SXSW this year.

Alex Napping This Austin-based rock quartet looks to bring their recent momentum into this year’s SXSW festival. With their new album, Mise En Place, coming up on the horizon, the band is looking to evolve their guitar-centric music into something more arrangement-oriented to create an unforgettable, multidimensional experience. SXSW will be a first look at their new album and a well-deserved refresher for one of the biggest up-and-comers in Austin.

A. Sinclair Aaron Sinclair is no foreigner to the SXSW scene, returning for a second year in a row for the music festival with his eclectic indie-rock sound.

His music feels nervous, placing the listener on edge with a punky attitude, tension-forming riffs and vocals that come straight from the gut. Sinclair embodies the Austin DIY style with his raw approach to music and performance, making him an act worth seeing.

Capyac One of the premier dance/ electronic acts hailing from Austin, Capyac found their

groove touring through UT co-op houses and local venues until their online breakout in 2015 with their EP, Movement Swallows Us. Since then, they’ve created a fashion line and focused on developing their image, but their music still takes top priority.

With their live shows rooted in improvisation and heavyhanded jams, Capyac’s SXSW performance will be a mustwatch for music fans of all walks of life.

Jeff Plankenhorn As Austin’s resident resonator guitar expert, Jeff Plankenhorn finds himself playing with some of the great Southern singer-songwriters of Austin quite often. Mixing soul with roots-rock, Plankenhorn hit his stride singing night after night throughout the bars of Austin and eventually found himself touring the country and the world.

Mother Falcon With their wide-ranging instrumentation and collaborative style, Mother Falcon acts as more of a collective rather than a band. The symphonic rock group entered the Austin limelight in 2013 with the release of their sophomore ralbum You Knew and began touring throughout the nation. Now, they’ve written an original score for the upcoming Glass Half Full Theater production of “Petra and the Wolf" and continue to work on refining their music and style. If you’re looking for a break from the many loud rock and electronic acts of SXSW, Mother Falcon is the perfect band to see.

Sailor Poon For those seeking fresh

energy or a twist in the typical garage act, look no further.

Taking garage rock by storm, Sailor Poon’s message is one of empowerment and feminism, satirizing garage and punk rock’s heavily male-dominated scene. Their style is slightly more subdued compared to other garage acts, taking influence from surf and psychedelic rock, but their performances are an energetic sight to behold with a variety of weird props accompanying the band’s image.

Spoon In case you haven’t heard of Spoon already, the band formed in 1993 and has since become the most recognizable Austin band in the past 25 years. With hits galore, Spoon is an international indie-rock band that found its breakout moment in 2007 after the release of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and they haven’t looked back since. With their newest record, Hot Thoughts, right around the corner, look for the band to debut some new songs at SXSW and pull out all the stops for their hometown audience.

SURVIVE Known for their inclusion on the “Stranger Things” soundtrack, S U R V I V E has been producing horrorthemed synth music for nearly a decade. Using analog instruments to create their dark sound, the band settled into their niche with their 2012 full-length album Mnq026 and has since seen national success and recognition with their second full-length album RR7349. Look for the group to attract a large audience with a subdued and introspective show.

MARCH 22, 2017 10 AM - 3 PM UT MAIN MALL

• UTexas.rent Tent with tons of student housing options • Exhibitor booths with awesome samples, giveaways and special offers • Recruiters with internship and job opportunities, interview tips and more VISIT WWW.UTAUSTINMARKETPLACE.COM FOR MORE INFO.

6-Doubletruck 6

SXSW

Illustration by Audrey McNay | Daily Texan Staff

2017

Doubletruck-7 7

8 8

SXSW 2017

MUSIC

Local metal bands aim to make SXSW edgy again

By Chris Boyd Peck @ChrisBPeck

Though South-by-Southwest is one of the reasons Austin has earned the title “live music capital of the world,” the festival is lacking in one of the largest live music genres: Metal.

“We’ve always kind of felt like metal bands are the stepchildren of the scene,” said Shauan Twyman, vocalist for local metal band Death of a Dream.

Metal music, known for its fast beats, screaming vocals and outrageous mosh pits, has found a growing home Austin. The members of Death of a Dream, who will be playing the South

by South Death Showcase on May 16th, said the festival began to incorporate

heavier acts into the lineup after Metallica’s surprise performance in 2009.

Their performance was so popular it shut down multiple blocks, but Death of a Dream rhythm guitarist Try Ybarbo said the festival is still unsure if there’s a substantsial audience for this music.

“We know it’s not an accepted genre like pop and hiphop,” Ybarbo said. “We’re loud and annoying, but we enjoy it.”

Austin metal band Beard the Lion will play at the Texas Takeover Showcase on March 14th. Beard the Lion vocalist Ethan Carhel said SXSW is a chance to get broader exposure outside of a standard show because of the festival’s status and attendance.

“I have to say some of our most loyal fans came from [our 2015 SXSW] show, and

there was people from all over the world coming out,” Carthel said.

Ybarbo said one of the largest drawbacks to the scene’s success were promoters organizing the shows without understanding the nature of metal. This is changing due to promoters like Anthony Stevenson, who through his company Come and Take It Productions has been fighting to bring more metal acts to Austin. Stevenson said one of the main focuses of his company is to use bigger artists to support the homegrown Austin metal scene.

“I made it a goal and priority to give locals the opportunity to open for national artists whenever they come through,” Stevenson said.

METAL page 11

Illustration by Victoria Smith | Daily Texan Staff

Free events offer relief for heart, soul, wallet

By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc

Although South by Southwest started as a humble Austin culture festival, it has grown to epic proportions.

Most festival-goers do it on a budget without a badge, hunting down free events to make their travels worthwhile. Here’s the Texan’s list of several free events to make this year’s festival one to remember.

Waterloo Records Free Parking Lot Shows – March 15th – 18th at Waterloo Records The famous Austin record store is a common spot for locals who want to catch great shows on a budget, and

this year is no different. From Austin indie rock legends Spoon to more alternative artists such as Chicano Batman and Modern English, Waterloo has almost everything a music fan could ask for, and for free.

Pandora @ SXSW – March 11th – 18th at The Gatsby If you’re looking for a diverse lineup of young artists, look no further than the Pandora showcase at this year’s SXSW. On March 11 and 12, Pandora will host some of the best local bands Austin has to offer, including Gina Chavez and Riders Against the Storm.

After March 13, they will showcase the likes of Young M.A., Rainbow Kitten Surprise and The Lemon Twigs.

Be sure to RSVP online to get a Pandora wristband.

She Shreds SXSW 2017 – March 14th at Las Cruxes Some of the best rising female rock musicians in today’s scene will congregate during SXSW to put on one hell of a show for She Shreds’ annual SXSW event. Acts include Diet Cig, Thelma and the Sleaze and Indie rock staple Chastity Belt. The lineup for this one-day event is stacked, so it will likely be one of the most popular hangouts at the festival for those without a badge - plus, there’s free beer!

Capital One House – March 11th to March 14th

FREE MUSIC page 9

FILM

9 9

SXSW 2017

Festival spotlights films large and small

By Charlie Liu

@CharlieInDaHaus

This year’s prestigious South

by Southwest Film Festival boasts a huge roster of brave new stories and perspectives. It will be impossible to catch all the films, documentaries and shorts that will be screened , so The Daily Texan has a breakdown of the film categories to help you decide which ones to catch.

Headliners If you’re looking for big names and big premieres, the Headliner screenings are the place to be. Terrence Malick will open the festival with Austin-based romance “Song

to Song,” while action comedy “Free Fire” will bring laughs and violence with an all-star cast led by Brie Larson and Sharlto Copley. Other big pictures include Edgar Wright’s crime comedy “Baby Driver” and Wolf Alice documentary “On the Road.”

Narrative Feature Competition and Narrative Spotlight Out of 1,407 submissions, 10 fantastic films were selected to premiere. From the emotionally challenging “A Critically Endangered Species” to the dark crime drama “Like Me,” these pictures are some of the most impactful and meaningful films the festival has to offer.

Documentary Feature Competition and Documentary Spotlight The 10 films of the Documentary Feature Competition will prove real stories can be just as exciting as fiction.

Witness t Chinese students’ cultural shock at a boarding school in Maine in “Maineland,” or follow the family of an unarmed man gunned down by police seek justice in “The Blood is at the Doorstep.”

Visions Junkies for the bold and the daring need look no further than SXSW’s Visions category, which features some of the

most intriguing and unique entries of the festival. Among them are the narrative/documentary hybrid “Becoming Bond,” the story of how George Lazenby became James Bond for only one film, and the fantasy drama “Sylvio” which tracks the exploits of a smalltown gorilla on a journey to discover his own identity. aw Midnighters The Midnighters category is a cocktail of comedy, horror and sex, and, as the category suggests, these films premiere at midnight. Stay up late to check out “68 Kill,” a crime centered around a femme fatale, or “The Honor Farm,” a

prom night horror flick.

24 Beats Per Second Get into the rhythm with the films of 24 Beats Per Second, which will showcase the influence of music on pop culture. Documentaries include “As I Walk Through The Valley,” a picture that sheds light on the underground music scene in the southern Texas border region, and “A Life in Waves,” the biography of electronic music pioneer Suzanne Cianis. Among the narrative features is “Patti Cake$,” a drama about an aspiring rapper.

Global The films of Global will

FREE MUSIC

continues from page 8

Courtesy of Kollaboration

From left to right: Christine Chang, Phil Yu, Dante Basco, Jenny Yang

Panel talks Asian-American music

By Ashley Salinas @ashley_salinas3

This year, South by Southwest will be hosting its first Asian-American music showcase and panel dedicated to discussing Asian-American Pacific Islander issues.

Kollaboration, a non-profit media organization focused on empowering AAPI artists, will be hosting both events.

“I wanted this to be a point of celebration and encouragement so [the artists] feel moti-

vated and like they can be part of this,” said Christine Chang, Kollaboration’s global executive director. “This is a really great platform for them to go and experience.”

In 2015, at a panel featuring record label executives, Chang realized there needed to be more opportunities available for Asian-American artists.

“I got up during the Q&A and I just asked ‘Have you ever signed any Asian artists?’”

Chang said. “One of the guys was very honest and he said,

‘Well there’s a couple that I really like, but my boss doesn’t think it’s worth pursuing, and he doesn’t know how to market them.’”

While the festival has featured international Asian artists and showcases, Chang said Kollaboration’s music showcase aims to place a spotlight on Asian-American musicians who face different challenges breaking into mainstream media.

“Whenever Asians are highlighted in mainstream

media, it’s the K-pop wave,” Chang said. “It’s marketable and popular, but at the same time, that creates a different narrative from what [AsianAmericans] experience.”

Megan Lee, star of Nickelodeon show Make It Pop and a performer in the music showcase, said there needs to be more dialogue about the lack of Asian-American representation in media.

“I hope that the panel and

SHOWCASE page 10

at Antone’s Although Capital One typically aims to attract the Interactive crowd, it never seems to lack an impressive lineup of musicians.

The venue continues its tradition of great shows this year, offering a solid musical lineup with a broad range of bands from Austin indie rock band White Denim to alt country act Houndmouth. If the music isn’t enough to draw your attention, a celebrity lunch with Anthony Bourdain on the fourteenth is a SXSW can’t-miss.

SXSW’s Own Free Concerts – March 16, 18 and 19 at Auditorium Shores SXSW’s annual free concert series will include an

open windows to places beyond our borders with a selection of narrative films and documentaries. You can head to Colombia through, “Bad Lucky Goat,” a drama about two siblings, or watch the trials and tribulations of high school wrestlers in Germany in the documentary “Win by Fall.”

Special Events For once-in-a-lifetime film experiences, catch the Special Events, which include special screenings of “Alien,” hosted by Ridley Scott, Danny McBride and Michael Fassbender, and anime classic “The Ghost in the Shell,” hosted by director Mamoru Oshii.

“All Latinos Resist Concert” on March 16 and a Prince tribute featuring Wyclef Jean and members of the Revolution on March 18.

To attend any of these three free shows, you’re going to have to register for a free SXSW guest wristband on SXSW’s website. They’ll to be hard to nab during the festival, so act quickly if you’re looking to attend.

Strange Brew 6 – March 13th at Hotel Vegas For two years in a row, one of Austin’s finest concert venues, Strange Brew, has thrown some glorious SXSW parties and this year’s festivities will likely keep the tradition going.

With bands such as Low Cut Connie, Girlpool and Meatbodies, Strange Brew is set to host one of the best free sets of the festival.

Donate Sperm, Get Paid!

Healthy men, age 18-39 apply at

10 SXSW 2017

10

SHOWCASE

continues from page 9 the music showcase, can ignite the sparks to open more spaces for us,” Lee said. “The more voices that are spoken out loud, the bigger our community will be and the more it will be in the light.”

Social media giant Phil Yu, creator of the blog Angry Asian Man, has noticed in an uptick in representation, but also said there’s still a long way to go before the dearth in representation is filled.

HOSTELS

continues from page 3 In addition to their hominess, hostels mirror the culture of the city it resides in, which Ward said inspired him to hire over thirty local artists to paint murals around Drifter Jack’s.

“The reason we did that

“Everybody who is a successful artist in any industry got their break somewhere,” Yu said. “Asian-American artists are just not given a chance.

How does one ever get to prove themselves or be in on the conversation when you’re just never there to begin with?”

Though the panel will feature speakers well-versed in talking about Asian-Americans in the media, Yu said he’s aware not all attendees will be as familiar with the topic.

“We need to operate at a level so that everyone can get some-

thing from it,” Yu said. “It’d be so great for their curiosity to be piqued, and for someone to be energized and inspired to seek out work at whatever level they’re coming from.”

Despite the amount of progress that still has to be made, Chang said she hopes the two events can be a starting point in getting people engaged about the problems at hand.

“I’d love for anybodyto be invited into the conversation or as part of the solution,” Chang said. “I hope we do right by everyone.”

is because we are so in love with Austin, TX and what Austin represents,” Ward said. “Austin has a huge love for art and we wanted to make sure we had that in the hostel as well.”

At all of Austin’s various hostels, Ward said each tries to capture the city’s eclectic vibe while incor-

porating their personalized atmospheres to ensure guests’ enjoyment.

“It’s a tight knit community,” MacDonald said. “[When I stayed in hostels as a traveler], I always felt so safe, you never know who you’re going to meet, and I found it to be very helpful in a new city.”

INTERACTIVE

EVENTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Former

METAL

continues from page 8 “I’m hoping [this] will get these local bands more exposure by playing in front of new faces taht otherwise would not see them.

I’m just trying to build our local scene.”

In addition to better promotion, lead vocalist and gui-

tarist for Austin metal band Screamin’ J Jason McDowell, who will be playing SXSW on March 16th, credits the scene’s growth to the current social climate.

“Aggressive music is coming back because people are starting to get mad again,” McDowell said. “It’s important for bands like us during these times to give some-

one an outlet to get their frustrations out.”

Although the scene is small, it is fast-becoming a self-sufficient underground community of people dedicated to making great music.

At this year’s SXSW, multiple Austin-based metal bands are striving to prove just how strong the metal scene really is.

11-Classifieds

12-Comics