There is a different world to music when you are at a music festival. This past week was SXSW and as my first time there I was exhausted walking the streets of downtown Austin and seeing showcase after showcase. I left New York with the cold rain and snow to arrive to sunny hot Texas. Almost everyone in the music industry had made their way down to Austin to experience this massive music festival. You cold see acts walking around with mobs surrounding them such as Waka Flocka.
I closed out my Friday night with a showcase from Mass Appeal with performances from Rockie Fresh, Roc Marciano, Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar, and many more. I was lucky enough to be backstage with friends from the industry along with running into Mr. 800 who immediately offered to buy me a drink. But before he could pull me away, an old friend from S.O.B.’s (who was not Mr. S.O.B.’s) pulled me aside to get my attention. My friends were watching me wondering how I was going to juggle to guys at one showcase. I am not the juggling type, so I left to the memorable Illmore. If you’ve never been to SXSW, the Illmore is a mansion type house where some of the craziest parties of SXSW take place. I jumped in a taxi with my friends for a private party for A$AP Yams and A-Trak.
The entrance was a bit intimidating with Texas rangers as security. The theme of the party was bit of a twisted haunted murder house mansion party with walking zombies. Pro Era was there with Joey Bada$$, Flatbush Zombies, some of A$AP Mob minus Rocky, The Underachievers and World’s Fair. Trinidad Jame$ even stopped by to the event the crowd was intense and it seemed like the audience was going to fall through the ground with all the hype. I had almost lost track of time till I saw the sun rising and realized it was 6am and time to get some sleep.
The next day was the last day of SXSW and I finished it with showcases at Fader Fort with performances from Macklemore, French Montana, and many more. Then next is was Boiler Room with Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers, and a no show from Chief Keef. I closed out the festival with the Fool’s Gold showcase with performances from World’s Fair, Flosstradomas, Danny Brown, Flatbush Zombies, and A-Trak.
For a week the music world took over Austin and it was an incredible site to see. I was fortunate to be in the thick of it hanging adventures left and right roaming back stages and running into old friends. I didn’t head straight to New York, but went on the Beast Coast Tour to now find myself in Portland. I guess let the good times roll.
-Music Junkie
