Every year, we recap the best and worst of SXSW, but really, as a journalist and a music fan, this only captures one side of the fence. On the opposite side of the fence are all of the musicians, the bands that come out to SXSW and make it what it is.
In order to capture a snapshot of SXSW from that side of the fence, we grabbed a handful of musicians and performers and asked them two questions:
What is SXSW to you?
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
Here’s what they had to say.
Bryan 'Papillon' Kienlen of the Bouncing Souls (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
South by Southwest means all the fun of playing a show in Austin, plus all the fun of watching lots of other great shows, plus all the fun of partying with friends I don't get to see often enough.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
The Bronx.
Neil Starr of Attack! Attack! UK (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
SXSW for me was a great chance to be part of an amazing, world-famous event, play with some awesome bands, meet new people, and, to top it off, play in America for the first time.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
To be honest there were so many highlights! Band-wise, the Bronx were amazing, as were Fighting with Wire, You me at six and Twin Atlantic. It was great to sample the atmosphere of Austin and meet the local people too. The copious amounts of free alcohol was pretty cool too.
Amanda Palmer (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
SXSW has a very particular quality about it that you get used to year after year. I remember being so terrified the first year my little unknown band the Dresden Dolls was there, because of the overwhelming feeling that we were being judged by every set of eyes. Then, coming back a few years later once we'd toured a s**tload, we cared so much less about the politics. This time around I didn't even write a set list. I almost forgot about the showcase itself until it was happening. Then again, I was also off my head with jetlag.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year? The best thing I saw at South By this year was a cab that I took that had a box of dirty laundry with a set of drumsticks stuck in the trunk.
Theresa Andersson (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you? The type of crowd that might gather at a SXSW show is different from any other venue or festival. There are music lovers and music industry people side by side. It's maddening and incredibly stimulating at the same time.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year? I fell in love with Wildbirds & Peacedrums -- an amazing dynamic duo from Sweden.
Stephen Kilroy of Middle Distance Runner (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
SXSW is one of those places where you can just wander around and find things you'd never heard of before, musical and otherwise. The city itself is great because you can play a packed show and then go find a quiet place to stuff your face with barbecue. You're not forced into the huge crowds, but they're there when you're up for it.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year? I saw a bulldog-boxer mix in a bar on 6th street. I grabbed its face until it was awkward for both me and the owner.
Chad Howat of Paper Route (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
SXSW means a week of interesting people, loud music, overhyped bands, underhyped bands, bad traffic and parking, great food and overall chaos. We absolutely love it. We get to see all our friends we've toured with over the previous year. It's a big reunion of sorts.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
The best thing I saw at SXSW this year was probably Efterklang, this great band from Denmark. They had some technical difficulties because their computer was melting, but the music was captivating and beautiful. I also walked into Kid Cudi's show right after we played our last set and he was pretty great, too.
Pap Shirock of Shirock (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
To me, SXSW is a time to reconnect with bands and business people who we’ve come across while touring, be inspired by artists new and old of all different genres, and in general enjoy a great atmosphere.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
This year, I’d have to say the most outrageous thing I saw was a band who set up a Tesla coil that generated electric currents to the beat of their music. The best music I heard this year, was a band I hadn’t previously heard live, called School of Seven Bells -- beautiful vocal melodies and harmonies, beats that make you move, and great guitar tones.
Girl in a Coma (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you? It’s basically a place where bands can promote themselves and meet other people they can work with and or tour with. Lots of great bands all in one place.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
Amanda Palmer, Maragaret Cho and a drunk guy who we'll call "Mr. Big Shorts" stumbling in the middle of the streets, blocking our manager’s car in and then walking over the top of it.
Margaret Cho (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
Lots of bands, lots of fans, lots of drinking, lots of walking, lots of fun.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
John Wesley Harding and Eugene Mirman -- a genius pairing in so many ways. Catch them on tour this spring!
Daniel Martin-McCormick of Mi Ami (MySpace Site)
What is SXSW to you?
SXSW is a bunch of people getting drunk in the sun and talking shit. It is fun for that reason. I like how it's kind of like a state of the union for underground music. I don't like how people think it's a big deal for their careers. The best thing for your career is to get back in the practice space and then play at lot of shows and be good at what you do.
What’s the best thing you saw at SXSW this year?
These Are Powers were luminous. Also a ton of shitty 40-year-old mall goth Hot Topic'ed out neo-hair metal bands. How weird would it be to specifically target your music to pre-teens? A rough life.
