If you’re hungry after a SXSW showcase, it’s no big deal, because food trucks are everywhere in downtown Austin, and they’re open late. I mean some of them as late as 3 AM.
South By Southwest
Cities Aviv is arguably the most important new Memphis hip-hop artist to emerge in several years, and he took SXSW by storm, performing at least four times in as many days in Austin. This performance at the Swan Dive was his first of the week, Tuesday, March 13, 2012
12th Street, East Austin, SXSW
Just as Austin is not a typical city, East Austin, traditionally the ‘hood, is not a typical ‘hood. Juke joints, food trucks, restaurants and coffee bars are thrown together in seeming disarray. Old heads in the neighborhood live next door to young hipster musicians or artists. Condominiums sit across the street from projects. Music drifts up the hill to 12th Street from clubs and events down on 6th. Brightly-colored murals adorn walls. The result is a virtual explosion of art and music. On Tuesday night, the seeming contradictions of East Austin were juxtaposed on one small block of 12th Street. Club 1808, a venue that had the look of a classic juke joint was hosting an official SXSW showcase, with mostly rock bands on both its mainstage and in its annex. Next door was Red’s Lounge, an authentic neighborhood juke that was sponsoring a birthday party, and whose crowd of locals had spilled out onto the street. The DJ there was playing good soul and blues music. In the next block was the legendary White Swan, but on this particular night, it was closed and dark.
Madgods Temporary Hip-Hop Shop at SXSW 2012
Madgods, an Austin-based hip-hop clothing line, had this temporary store between Sixth Street and the Hilton hotel. There were some really cool designs, but, unfortunately, they didn’t have the shirt I liked in my size.
Sixth Street, SXSW, Austin, March 13, 2012
Almost any kind of music can be heard on Sixth Street during SXSW, from marching band drumlines to African and South American musicians.
If the Austin Convention Center is the central focus of SXSW by day, Sixth Street becomes the central focus by night. With showcases in the clubs, crowds walk the street in such density that it can be hard to walk. Groups are always gathering around street musicians or food trucks as well, but it is usually a well-behaved group, despite all the apparent chaos.
Street musicians are a common sight on Austin’s Sixth Street, particularly during SXSW. This bucket drummer kept up a compelling rhythm while accompanying himself with occasional raps and rhymes. Eventually he attracted a couple of young MC’s who began rhyming to the beat he was playing.
Scenes from SXSW, Austin, March 13, 2012