Day Three - SXSW

It's hard to believe that SXSW is almost over. Colleen and I have been having a blast!

Today, we had lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse and then headed over to the Convention Center. We walked through Flatstock - exhibits of music artists - very creative folks. I understand that Austin music poster artists created the greatest poster art anywhere in the country. Some famous Austin artists include Michael Priest, Jim Franklin, Harry Gonzales and Gilbert Shelton.

Then we went through the vendor exhibits. There is supposed to be a great music blog at http://club.kingsnake.com. Haven't checked it out yet, but the vendor gave a great sales job about it.

After checking out the convention center and making sure we knew where Rachel would be performing at her DirectTV show, we headed over to Brush Square Park to the Muzak Tent Party where Susan (AustinGal)had set up a table. She decorated the table with Who targets and In the Attic symbols. Other bloggers who joined us were Burton, June, JunebugTX, and Lauren. We had a great time getting to know each other. The weather had cooled off some, but was still nicer than what I hear the NorthEast was getting - we heard PA and NJ were getting inches of snow.

A funny thing happened as we were waiting for Rachel. We saw a line forming and at the front of the line was a young attractive guy who looked like he was a lead singer in a band. People at the front of the line were talking to him and it looked as if people were lined up to talk to him. I wondered who this guy was and Burton said he would ask. He got up and asked the people in line what they were waiting for. He came back and told me "His name is John." Everyone was waiting in line for the PortaPotties. Burton is a good man!

We had a good time waiting for Rachel to arrive. Sitting outside, listening to the other bands, both at our tent and at the tent next door, drinking beer and margaritas and getting to know each other better. Susan brought an "In the Attic" sign and we all signed it with a message to Rachel.

Also, while we were waiting, Sean and Joleon (Rachel's guitarist) were walking around looking for the rest of the crew. I had a nice conversation with the two of them. Joleon had played with Rachel back in 2004 and ran into her at the Reno Who concert and she invited him to play with her at SXSW. He was very sweet and nice to talk to.

Rachel arrived and we went into the tent to watch her. All the bloggers were in the front row. She looked beautiful (pictures to follow when I get home). She played many of the same songs she later played at DirectTV - Cigarettes & Housework, Pleasure Seeker, Sir Walter Raleigh, Blue and Sunrise. As she walked off stage, we handed her our signed Attic sign.

After the Muzak Tent Party, Colleen and I went over to a place called Bourbon Rocks. It was fairly empty but we saw a good band called LoneLady. Because the place was pretty empty, we had lots of room to dance. We walked to the Rio after that to meet AustinGal, but by the time we got there, she had already left for DirectTv and we got a call that the line was forming so we headed over there. We got to the Convention Center, got in line for about 15 minutes and then headed into the studio.

Rachel was charming and on target for the DirectTV show. At the last Joe's Pub show, she said she had been told that her piano playing was tentative that night. She was not tentative on DirectTV. Her piano skills were very evident as were her singing skills. I was really surprised that she played "It's a Motherfucker" but she said that the TV had cut away for that song and it would be played at a later time. Rachel invited Pete to join her for the Sunrise song and he explained that he wrote that song for his mother, the first song that he had ever written. Martha Wainwright and Pete also joined Rachel for one of Martha's songs. I enjoyed the three of them better than when Martha plays alone. Rachel's piano playing added quite a bit to the song and it definitely was not tentative!

Rachel explained at the DirectTV show that Pete had helped her overcome her stage fright about singing. And, Pete said that Rachel used special sign language to talk to old deaf rockers. They talked about how they wrote the In The Mix song for Pete's 59th birthday. They sang it together, with Rachel away from the piano singing and using "sign language" along with the song. For example, she tapped the inside of her elbow when saying he was her fix.

As we left the studio, we saw on the monitor that Rachel was being interviewed but we were not able to hear it. For some reason, they have big TVs outside the DirectTV studios, but there is no volume. People were sitting outside watching concerts they were unable to hear. Why, I don't know.

Burton, Colleen and I headed back to the clubs but because Burton did not have a badge, we were not able to get into the first club we tried. So instead, we went to a margarita place and sat out on the deck with margaritas. SXSW is a good place for music, but it is also a good place for people watching. Rachel - people need to listen to your Fashion Tips webcast!

After our rest and a margarita, Colleen and I headed back to Bourbon Rocks. We saw a great UK band, Ron Sexsmith. JunebugTX had told us to go see them and she was right. They had a great sound and I am going to look them up on iTunes. The next band was from Chicago and we were told they were a Beatles band. They looked like the Beatles, but in no way, did I think they sounded like the Beatles. Their name was The Redwalls and they were also very good. Colleen and I danced for two hours before the lights came on and we had to head home.

Blogger party tomorrow afternoon as well as a full slate of other bands and activities. But tomorrow is the last day for me as I go back home on Sunday. I think there are a few events Sunday night that I will miss but for the most part, SXSW ends tomorrow. Colleen and I are already making plans to come back next year.