Real life feels lame and unfulfilling now that I am back from SXSW

Guys, how am I supposed to go back to boring old reality after a week of careless daydrinking at free shows in 80 degree sunshine? This desk job is not living. Overhearing my Jamaican little girl neighbors sing along with Barney the Dinosaur through my bathroom wall is not living. Using almost-stale tortilla chips to scoop a giant bowl of homemade guacamole into my face during 30 Rock is only kind of living.

How am I meant to go on this way, still craving authentic Tex-Mex in my tiny fluorescent-lit cubicle, which at least has a sliding door to close, but still? Nobody on the internet gives a shit about me now that my world-famous SXSW spreadsheet is obsolete. Life’s feeling pretty meaningless & tiresome— like the day after Christmas when you realize you’ve got nothing to look forward to anymore. :( :(

Anyways. Listed below are the bands I caught during my 4 days at SXSW. Sets marked with *** are ones I particularly enjoyed.

Some Shaky Hands’ feet at Club Deville

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
Explode into Colors @ Club Deville ***
The Shaky Hands @ Club Deville ***
The Paper Chase @ Club Deville
The Bronx @ Emo’s
King Khan & BBQ Show @ Emos
Pete and the Pirates @ Ms. Bea’s
Here We Go Magic @ Ms. Bea’s ***
Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Ms. Bea’s
Telepathe @ Ms. Bea’s

Up against the stage for Camera Obscura at Flamingo Cantina

THURSDAY, MARCH 19
Busdriver @ Bird’s Barbershop
Handsome Furs @ Fader Fort ***
King Khan & the Shrines @ Bird’s Barbershop ***
Lucero @ Red 7 ***
The Hold Steady @ Red 7
Best Friends Forever @ Ms. Bea’s
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ Ms. Bea’s

Handsome Furs at Fader Fort

FRIDAY, MARCH 20
The Mae Shi @ Emo’s ***
Little Boots @ Emo’s
Max Tundra @ Emo’s
Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Emo’s
Woods @ Emo’s ***
School of Seven Bells @ Emo’s
Jason Lytle (of Grandaddy) @ Flamingo Cantina ***
Camera Obscura @ Flamingo Cantina ***
Peter Bjorn & John @ Fader Fort ***
Dan Auerbach & Hacienda @ Bill’s Place ***

Peter Bjorn & John killed at Fader Fort

SATURDAY, MARCH 21
King Khan & the Shrines @ Waterloo Park
Cursive @ Waterloo Park
Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down @ Waterloo Park ***
Vivian Girls @ Waterloo Park ***
The Thermals @ Waterloo Park
Erykah Badu @ Auditorium Shores ***
Explosions in the Sky @ Auditorium Shores ***

My lower half & some beers I drank at Waterloo Park

(Photos by Jessica, my most gracious Austin hostess & partner in crime)