I should have published this earlier today, but uh, it took me more than 12 hours to think of a title. And I sure as hell didn’t want to use “SXSW 2011: Day…” But, after said 12 hours and other titles that didn’t work or were way too much of an inside joke, I settled on this pulitzer-prize winning title that will serve as my recounting of whatever the hell will happen over the next 7 days including the release of our first album on the Closed Sessions label (thank you Decon for seeing our vision), our release party, interviews, parties, drunken honesty, lots of walking, trash-talking, and everything else that Austin has to offer. Aside from the album release, and our release party on Thursday night and in-store on Friday, it’s some of the other stuff that excites me the most.
This is going to be my fourth SXSW, and I really feel the most comfortable. I remember the first time we went in 2008, literally a few weeks after launching RubyHornet. We were pretty much nobody’s, just music lovers, guys with some connections and a lot of enthusiasm, squeezing in as much as we could and taking it all in. The next year we returned with a little bit of a name, better connections, better equipment, and sponsored what were two of the best Hip Hop parties that year in Knuckle Rumbler and Creme De La Creme. Last year we came down to Texas, and recorded a Closed Sessions album, having 6th street come to us, venturing out only to see A-Trak x Travis Barker on a Thursday night.
This year we are back to hit the streets, and I can’t wait. We have a new album to talk about, new knowledge to share, and I feel now more than ever that I know what we’re all about. The online music game is wide open, and full of creatives. I hope to talk to and build with as many people as possible, randomly run into old friends, new artists, publicist I only know through a computer screen and random people playing bluegrass without shoes on.
After getting in late last night, I woke up and watch The Fab 5 30 for 30 episode, which took us all back. I remember those days and the impact those guys had on college basketball and pop culture. Jalen Rose is the s**t. Juwan Howard is the s**t. Chris Webber… I don’t know. It seems like everyone always had his back, but when it was his turn to have theirs, he has kind of let everyone down, and threw Ed Martin completely under the bus… After that, we did a lot of planning and networking for this CS: ATX release (in-stores now!). We hit Nice Kicks where I picked up some new joints (Air Max’s of course). Now it’s time to get ready for tomorrow and what will be an amazing week.
You know, this is my fourth SXSW, and I’ve yet to actually sleep on a bed. Ha! But, as I inflated yet another air mattress last night, inside yet another really fresh condo, I felt happy to be back. My bed awaits when I get back to the Chi… For the next week it is really #nosleep. Word to YP.
