South By Knit West (SXSW Wrap-up + Contest)!
The South by Southwest Music festival officially wrapped yesterday and as the city recovers from the aftermath of a million-person party and collective hangover, I wonder what it must be like for outsiders who descend onto a normally mellow Austin for just this one, crazy week.
As I mentioned plans for in my last post, we only ventured out to a few event to support friends. All in all, we had a blast and are ever grateful to those artists and musicians who continue to inspire us.
Our first stop was on Friday to meet-up with my dear friend Victoria’s husband, Marko who was here with his side project band, The Playing Favorites. They played, along with several other bands at the Suburban Home Records party at Head Hunters.
Dave & I at Head Hunters before Joey Cape acoustic set.
Although the venue was kind of slumming it for them, it’s “intimate” layout made for perfect, badly shot & edited video making for me. You know how I loves me my new Flip camera and am continuing to attempt to learn iMovie–so here are couple more videos for your viewing pleasure.
“A Whole Lotta Nothin” by The Playing Favorites, ATX 3/08
“Leaving Town” by The Playing Favorites, ATX 3/08
On Saturday, we swung by the Bust Magazine party that was somewhat like a mullet haircut: (crafty) business in the front, and party in the back. 🙂 The Austin Craft Mafia co-sponsored the event (organized in large part, by Jennifer Perkins) which had booths and craft stations in the front room and music and bevies in the back garden. Elijah Wood was the guest DJ–I had to restrain my husband from bringing his entire Lord of the Rings box set to the party, so that the fan boy levels could maintain a solid “6” on the scale, rather than hitting an “11”. 😉
Front room at the Bust Magazine party was set up with Crafty Chica’s paint-your-own tote bags.
Back patio at Bust party, where bands and djs played.
Knitty Gritty fan shows me her ink.
Just in the nick of time, I finished presents for the Deal sisters. Our last SXSW stop, was to see them & the rest of The Breeders kicking off their new, much anticipated cd, Mountain Battles at the ginormous Waterloo Park all-day extravaganza.
Scarves for Kim & Kelley, knit in their namesake color of ROCK yarn.
It was a kick-ass show. They played a couple of oldies but goodies (Cannonball, No Aloha, Title TK, etc.), and a bunch of new stuff including Bang On which manages to be both raw and danceable at the same time. I can’t wait to hear the whole cd! In the meantime though like the rest of the the world, I’ll have to be satisfied with what’s on their MySpace page. Alas.
Dave’s view of Waterloo Park from back stage.
Kim (Kelley’s twin sister, and also legendary bassist for The Pixies) singing.
Before being swept off to do a myriad of post-show press stuff at their hotel, Kelley & I had a little time to hang out, catch up and talk knitting. We’re hopefully going to get the opportunity to do a little more of that, this summer. Oh, and I just saw the pdfs of her upcoming handbag knitting book…and it’s AWESOME. I can’t wait for it to hit shelves so you all can see it!
Kelley and me on one of the stages.
That’s it for me. I’m off to go work on the next KIWI column project which was technically due, uh, today–and then pack for a quick trip to North Carolina tomorrow.
Knit on. Rock on.
xo,
Ravelry: VickieHowell
Flickr: CraftRockLove
YouTube: VickieHowell
P.S. Still reading? All posters names over the next 3 days, will go into a drawing for a “Lemon Drop” scarf kit (yarn & pattern) knit in colors: “Kim & Kelley” & “Trent” (seen in the picture about, left-side). Post now & win!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. 🙂
loved your updates! would love to attend one day. and thanks for all the awesome patterns — just finished another pair of “hand like a hole” for my drummer son who LOVES them! Rock on sista!!
Cindy
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Makes me homesick for Austin (I moved to Seattle late last year)
Vickie, that wounds like to much fun!
I wish they’d do something like that in SoCal.
BTW, have you ever seen an Austin band called “The Brobdingnagian Bards” perform?
Love the SXSW update. I hope to attend one of these days, everyone I know that has been always has had the best time.
Sounds like a blast! One day I’ll make it for for the festivities~~Pia
Vickie, Very cool that you combine music and knitting (needle arts). I love both as well. I really enjoyed your comments and coverage of SXSW—my first intro to this festival. Thanks for all you do for us knitters.
Cool recap of SXSW. Maybe one day I’ll be able to make it down there for that.
i can’t wait to see kelley’s new book. i loved her purse on KG and learned swiss darning from that episode.
I love your blog, rock on!
Love your sunglasses something fierce! Looks like a fun weekend
Looks like you had a blast! Wish I could have gone! Knit on!
Becca
Sooo jealous. Music and crafts are my two favorite things in life. Oh, and Chucks.
My friend and I go to shows around DC and quickly learned you can tell a lot about a person from their Chucks. Mine are gray, drawn on, and getting ratty now.
Vickie, I have been reading your blog for some months now and certainly have enjoyed the knitting information. Now we have music too? Great!!! Who could ask for more? Sorry to say that I am not much of a knitter (although a friend has been giving me some lessons and I did make a pair of mittens) but mostly do crochet and quilting. Hey, it’s all crafty, right? Thanks for the great pictures also. Keep on knitting and inspiring us, Karen
Sounds like you had plenty of fun! Sometimes I wish I live in a place that has these type of festival. CT is old school.
I just squealed with delight and scared the husband and the dogs. I didn’t know that Kelley was putting together a handbag book. Her Swiss Darned Bag is one of my favorites! I can’t wait for that to come out. I’ll be watching for it!
Looks like a blast! We had a cool rock party in my area last year, but got so many complaints about the noise that it’s been banned now… 🙁 Loved the videos! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
~Becky
What a rockstar life you lead! Glad some of us can live vicariously through you.
I love how the scarves turned out…SXSW is on my list of things to do before my 30th birthday.
It sounds like you had a lot of fun. The scarves are gorgeous!
Where are you going in NC?
sounds like you had a blast! wish i could have been there!
Enjoyed reading about your time at SXSW. Seems like it was a really great time. Enjoying your podcast and missing new episodes of Knitty Gritty.
I’m a KIWI subscriber and am excited for the new issue and of course your column.
totally love yr blog. i’ve been lurking for quite some time, and how convenient for me to reveal myself at the mention of a scarf kit….@_@ hey… a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! 🙂
xo’ jen
Wow, give away stuff and people talk. Guess I’ll have to start doing that more–maybe weekly!
Thanks, everyone. I’m glad you like the scarves & videos. 🙂
Alli–Asheville. Just in and out for a quick meeting.
Joanna–Heh. I wear mine almost everyday. They’re like my security blanket. 😉
Andrea- Target for $15. 🙂
Marilyn–Nope, but they sound familiar.
xo,
Vic
Wow, what a party! Sounds like you had an incredible time and thanks bunches for sharing.
Party on.
Living your life and living your dream …Great pics and video. Thanks for the report. I’m especially jealous of your warm – ish weather. The scarves are gorgeous.
Sounds like SXSW was a blast. One of these years hubby and I are planning to venture down there (we live about 30 min north of Austin) but haven’t been brave enough to fight the crowds yet. Maybe next year!
Thanks for writing such an entertaining blog, I’m always thrilled when there’s a new entry!
Thanks for the great “play by play” of SXSW – I was actually supposed to be in Austin for the festivities (and for a class at Craft-o-Rama), but, as it tends to do, life kinda got in the way! There’s always next year!! Knit On!!!
Thanks for the update. Sounded like a blast! Austin is one cool city.
Did you happen to see my cousin, the knitting drummer there?
I was *this* close to going this year, but my man’s band decided to not participate, and I’m all knocked up so no drinking for me…and, well, yeah…maybe in another two years. Thanks for the update, though!
Vickie! I’m lovin’ the hair!! 🙂
That sounds so awesome! I really wish I could have gone. It must have been a really great blast!
Wow, sounds like an amazing time! It must have been really cool craftying and getting to meet Elijah Wood! I love you Vicki!
You lead a much more exciting life than I do, that is for sure! The highlight of my day yesterday was having lunch with a friend. (not that it is bad, just not nearly as exciting as what you do)
Sounds like big fun! I’m jealous!
Sounds like a wonderful time and I would have been like your husband and bringing the whole LOTR set out for Elijah Wood of whom I adored since seeing him in Back to the Future
Have fun in North Carolina! Wonder if I’ll be nearby…
Wish I could have been there! Sounds like I missed a good time.
You are so lucky to have all these awesome events happening so close to your home!
That sounds awesome. I will definitely have to go sometime. Love the scarves!
Whoa, Elijah Wood DJ’s at a Bust “mullet” party. Don’t know where to file that juicy bit of info, but I’m glad to know, just the same. Thanks, Vickie!
Am I remembering correctly that it was Kelley you were going to play a song with on your guitar the next time you saw her?!
SXSW sounds like a lot of fun. Someday I’ll make it there…..
Sounds like an awesome party! Maybe someday I’ll make it down!
Sounds like an awesome time! Thanks for sharing!!!
Dang, you’ve been a busy girl, too! It’s great that you and your handsome hubby can get out and do so much together. Knit on!
wow, you’re such a rock star! SXSW sounds like such a blast. now I’ll have Cannonball stuck in my head all day. haven’t heard that one for a while. i love reading your blog & listening to your podcast. too bad we dont get Knitty Gritty up here in canada, it seems like so much fun.
Can’t wait to hear about your next adventure!
..I don’t know if my first comment posted, since I wasn’t logged on to my accont, so I’m going to do it again, if it’s twice, SORRY!
Sounds like you had a GREAT time Vickie! I wish I could have been there! The closest I got was listening to The Current broadcast from down there while I was sitting in my office up here in Minnesota working. Oh well, maybe next year! 🙂
sounds like an awsome event, must put it on the calendar for next year!
Weren’t you supposed to learn the Cannonball bass line for Kelley by the time they came to town?? Did you rise to the challenge??
Wow, that all sounds like so much fun!
I can’t wait until I can start going to stuff like that…
*snort* so, i can’t believe that no one said anything about you referencing your hubby’s fan obsession to spinal tap! i, however, snorted out loud.
wish i could have made it, SXSW is one of my dream trips. so glad that i “know” you and can live vicariously through your exploits!!
That’s me! That’s my tattoo! YAY! It was so great to meet you, Vikki! Thanks for sharing my ink with the knitting world!
Jen-Shhhhhhhh. She might hear you and remember that we were supposed to do that. 😉
Vickie!! I was waiting to hear how you totally rocked it…have you not been practicing???? 😉
I love that you just referred to the Bust Party as a mullet. It’s kinda true.