Monday, January 26, 2009

SXSW II

SXSW
SXSW Music is four hyperactive days of making connections for musicians, recording companies and every other business touching on music, from concert bookers to copyright lawyers, publishers to Web geeks." New York Times, 3/19/07

My American Pie rises

A long, long time ago...I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.


And still does – otherwise why would 1700 bands show up to play their music just for me?

Steve and I will do our second journey into blissfully hard rhythms and melodies and verses telling stories that come from today’s new musicians. These are talented, accomplished artists sometimes looking for their first record deal. Mostly, they look to find a chord lost and a riff yet to come. When they do they come to SXSW.

I know I’m a little selfish about this festival, but seeing as how I’ve missed the first 24 blowouts, I think I should be allowed to gather more than my share at this years fest that runs from March 18 through 22. I know from last year that Steve and I must be quick and durable and have earplugs for some of the small clubs that the electrified and amplified music drives out to adoring (and critical) audiences.

Do you believe in rock n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul

I’ve known of this festival for years and somehow never got here. Now that I’m a little older and still a believer, this venue has provided a saving shock to my soul. I was around for those early first strains of rock and roll that broke down the non-believers with its energy and poetry and love of an up-tempo beat - and then was lost.

Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We were saved by the music coming out of deep urban centers that sent forth the embryos to a disappointed and disaffected generation. We awakened and subsequently nourished rock and roll back to vigor and endurance.

Now SXSW serves my music still; those who make this festival and those young musicians alone with their guitar who play and learn in solitary places. Together they may well be that wellspring of embryos to supply a soul to generations behind me.
Heavy? Maybe so! Yet, today

maybe they’ll be happy for a while.
Thanks, Don