[RH Photos] Fast Times At SXSW by Cooper Fox
Here's a few shots by Cooper Fox showing the high energy hustle that is South By South West. Featuring live performances, quite backstage moments, and everything in between.
[SXSW 2016] The Roots Inaugural SXSW Jam Session
SXSW's 30th edition wrapped up this weekend with a bang. For those privileged with special access badges and wristbands, the legendary Roots Crew put on a Jam Session Saturday night that still has people talking. In collaboration with Bud Light Music, at the Bud Light Factory, the inaugural Roots SXSW Jam Session was brought together. In an event originally advertised as "The Roots with Big Grams and Special Guests", event goers had no idea what was in store.
Even with limited information on the lineup, the entry line stretched around the building, but was well worth the wait. When I finally got in, Phantogram was playing their hit song, "Fall in Love", with the Roots backing them, a sweet set to walk in to. As I made my way towards the front, Big Boi came out playing new tracks from their collaboration, Big Grams. Once Phantogram left the stage, Big Boi continued to perform some of his Outkast favorites with a Roots flare. Then the surprise guests began to roll in one after another, bringing on Talib Kweli, Yo Gotti, Ashanti, and Naughty by Nature. Before I arrived other artists included X Ambassadors, Emily King, Tish Hyman, and Marc E. Bassy. The night ended with more classic Roots tracks, and Black Thought announcing their first of many more jam sessions to come to SXSW. All in all, the event didn't disappoint and with the free beer, I guarantee I'll be at the next one.
In case you missed it, definitely check out some of the photos I managed to capture inside a very hyped crowd.
[SXSW 2016] Culturally Diverse Lineup at the Remezcla Perreo Showcase
It's been a few days since SXSW wrapped up, and while many people are still recuperating or cleaning up the streets of Austin, I still can't get over Remezcla's body moving Perreo Showcase. What started as a monthly party series in NYC, Remezcla brought their scene to Austin this past Friday, kicking off a music filled weekend as an official SXSW Music showcase, bringing together "the next generation of global urban sounds" to the Swan Dive Patio.
The event featured a lineup full of bicultural, up-and-coming artists that each kept the crowd moving from start to finish. I walked in to the bass thumping sounds of Lil Debbie, and it didn't stop from there. At Swan Dive's outdoor patio, John Grvy was wooing the crowd with his electro-R&B groove, bringing warmth to a slightly chilly Texas night. From there, Corpus Christi based DJ/producer, El Dusty, kept the crowd dancing with his mash of Cumbia/Trap/Dub mixes, and introduced fellow Texan, and bilingual rapper MLKMN. Between going back and forth to the venue's indoor and outdoor stages, the slew of artists also included Puerto Rico’s Audri Nix who just dropped her debut EP, El Nuevo Orden Vol. 1. Another dope Boricua MC that hit the stage was Mike Towers, and the list went on to include Miami's Kat Dahlia, Dj Happy Colors, El Freaky, Colombia’s renowned global bass collective. And completing the night was NAAFI, the Mexican underground label/crew continually gaining international fans across the globe.
In case you missed it check out some photos below, and definitely check out the links above to add some new music to your daily shuffle.
[SXSW 2016] Celebrating 30 Years of Music
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In the height of America's booming music festival business, it's time for SXSW to celebrate 30 years of music goodness with tons of exciting lineups in store. According to Twitter Analytics, one in ten Americans attended a music festival in the past year, and social media conversations around music festivals spiked 34%. There's no question Millennial's love a good music fest and this year SXSW isn't looking to disappoint.
SXSW is truly a unique convergence of music, film, and emerging technologies, and continues to grow every year, gaining international recognition. Having originally stemmed from music, Austin’s music festival is rapidly approaching (March 15 through March 20), providing a long list of music lineups, with tons of surprise guest appearances.
Beyond the music, simply walking around to different venues and bars, you're met with excited locals and fest-goers from around the globe, many of which are eager to share their art. This is alongside the occasional pop artist sighting, casually strolling amongst the crowd. Last year, walking from Austin's infamous 6th St. to Rainey St. I literally bumped into Wiz Khalifa, while shooting a random group of dancers from Brooklyn. Later that night, I ended up backstage at the Fader Fort, meeting Chicago's very own Chance the Rapper and Comedian Hannibal Burress, after shooting Timbaland's surprise performance with Tink, after Travis Scott. Austin certainly doesn't stray from it's rock roots, providing endless indie lineups and special appearances as well.
Take a look back at 30 Years of SXSW here. Also check out a few upcoming events that I'm personally excited about below:
Santigold & Crystal Castles at Stubbs
Deftones, CHVRCHES, Vince Staples & More with SPIN
Nas, DJ Khaled, Yo Gotti & Just Blaze
Anderson .Paak & BJ the Chicago Kid at the Spotify House
Guac-N-Roll with Culture Collide
Miike Snow, Baio, The Kills, Bloc Party, Ghostland Observatory, X Ambassadors, Polica & more
[SXSW Interview] Jim Murphy (Lava)
[This interview was originally published during our SXSW 2015 coverage. It’s being re-posted to coincide with Inside Out's theatrical release.]
Video by Elijah Alvarado
Pixar is renowned for their ability to tell captivating stories that can not only appeal to a large audience, but do so by tapping into very real emotions. Lava, the new short by first-time director Jim Murphy, tells the story of a volcano who yearns for someone to love as millions of years pass. In this short clip from our interview with Murphy during SXSW, he discusses the inspiration behind Lava and even performs a part of the Lava song, as well. Prepare to have the song stuck in your head for days!
Lava will premiere in front of Inside Out when it comes to theaters June 19th.
[SXSW Interview] Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy (Spy)
Video by Elijah Alvarado.
To coincide with the film's theatrical release, we are re-releasing our Spy interviews from this year's SXSW.
Paul Feig has risen up as one of Hollywood's best directors for comedies thanks to films like Bridesmaids and his penchant for creating strong female characters in a socially-aware landscape that asks for such positive depictions. It's this specific point that I wanted to hear more of from both Feig and Spy lead actress Melissa McCarthy (who also played a supporting role in Bridesmaids). I got the chance to do exactly that during a roundtable interview with Feig and a short red carpet interview with McCarthy ahead of Spy's SXSW premiere on March 15th.
[Video Interview] Kim Shaw, David Dastmalchian, and Collin Schiffli (ANIMALS)
[Ruby Hornet will be covering SXSW from March 7th to March 16th. Follow along as we bring you exclusive film reviews, photos, daily features, and interviews with filmmakers, actors, and musicians!]
ANIMALS holds a special place in my heart. The dark drama details the story of a couple, Bobbie (Kim Shaw) and Jude (David Dastmalchian), addled with opiate addiction while living in Jude's car in Chicago. During this year's SXSW, I had the chance to talk to Shaw, Dastmalchian (who also served as the film's writer), and ANIMALS director Collin Schiffli about the film, any semblance to real life events, and how important of a role Chicago played, both as a setting, but also as a narrative piece. ANIMALS won SXSW accolades for Special Jury Recognition for Courage in Storytelling for Dastmalchian's writing, so it's not just my personal bias speaking out about how amazing this film is.
You can watch the video interview below and expect a full review of the film super soon.
[Review] ANIMALS
[This review was originally posted as part of our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with the film's wide release.]
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ANIMALS
Director: Collin Schiffli
Rating: N/A
Release Date: March 9, 2014 (SXSW), May 15, 2015 (Theaters/VOD)
There have been many films about addictions in the past. For most, the first that comes to mind is Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, a dark, sometimes satirical look at the consequences of various forms of addiction. In a way, what helped make Reqiuem such a great film was how digestible the film was due to some of its outlandish, sometimes satirical tone. Sure, it was a dark and gruesome film, but it was somewhat sensationalized and over-exaggerated at times that helped hide or shield some of the more serious moments.
In ANIMALS, addictions are once again front and center, but they shape and characterize the love story between the film's two leads, Jude (David Dastmalchian) and Bobbie (Kim Shaw). The couple is homeless, living out of a car parked right outside of Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, as they spend their days running elaborate cons to fuel their opiate addictions. As their options for low risk cons begin to run dry, Jude and Bobbie must turn to shadier jobs to supplement their growing addictions that cause friction in the couple's relationship.
Throughout the film, there's a foreboding sense of despair swirling around Jude and Bobbie, as is often the case within films similar to ANIMALS. However, the manner in which it manifests isn't something inherently dark, unlike the fall in the aforementioned Requiem for a Dream, but something that fits within the context of the film. That's not to say the drama or suspense is suspended; rather, it's understated and kept grounded in a way that makes it feel more realistic and natural.
ANIMALS is loosely based on Dastmalchian's personal struggle with opiate addiction years ago, so the intimacy and reality of the situation is derived from an honest place that doesn't sensationalize any aspect of addiction, something I feel most other drug films do. ANIMALS might not find wide distribution, so if you get the chance to catch it at an indie or small run theater, I highly recommend catching it.