One of my favorite parts of SXSW is the crazy things you see and hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections.
You laugh, but finding a good band name is still the hardest fucking part, I hope you know that. I mean, Foo Fighters is the stupidest fucking name in the world. Dave Grohl during his SXSW keynote speech.
Rick Springfield’s Manager: I wanna be Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl: Dude, you gotta get some shittier clothes.
As recounted by Rick Springfield
My name is Alejandro. I’m the Jermaine Jackson of the band. Alejandro Escovedo on his role with the True Believers.
We are the Beards. And we like beards. And we have beards. Australian band The Beards
Your favorite band sucks. Hipster t-shirt
“‘We want to be the biggest band in the world’ I laughed. I thought he was fucking kidding.” Dave Grohl, recalling what Kurt told a record exec when he was asked what he wanted.
I walk by it on the way to the gym. (pause) Oh, you think that’s funny? Steve Earle, to someone in the crowd who laughed.
Just in case you’re looking around and thinking folk music is getting too classy. Patty Griffin, referring to a lyric about rabbits in a song about her grandparents. You can guess the reference.
Here’s another one that I haven’t played in public. We’re gonna put it out whether you like it or not, so I hope you like it. Jason Isbell introducing a new song
You may think it’s humorous but my partner doesn’t. Billy Bragg, referring to his new song “Handyman Blues” Sample lyric: “’cause I’m a writer, not a decorator; I’m not your handyman…”
Many of the lyrics were about flowers but it sounded so aggressive. Overheard.
People spend too much time on the protest and not enough time on the song. Billy Bragg on writing protest songs.
This next song is the worst one that I ever wrote. But I keep playing it. Billie Joe Shaver introducing a song called “That’s What She Said Last Night”
This song is gonna piss a lot of people off and I can’t wait. Steve Earle.
Who’s to say what’s a good voice and what’s not a good voice. The Voice? Imagine Bob Dylan standing there singing “Blowing in the Wind” in front of Christina Aguilera. ‘I think you sound a little nasely and sharp.’ Dave Grohl
There’s your free bird. Steve Earle, making a hand gesture to someone who requested said song.
This song is called “Lord, Keep Me in Mind” but I wish it was called “Lord, Keep My Guitar in Tune.” Colin MacDonald of the Trews
Let’s just play. None of this is gonna help. Buddy Miller getting a bit testy with the sound guy.
You look dumbfounded, please don’t be. Alejandro Escovedo, to the audience in the midst of playing a set of punk rock covers.
I have no trouble singing this song. Bobby Bare, Sr. introducing his cover of Alejandro Escovedo’s “I Was Drunk”
One good Bowie deserves another. David Garza, introducing his take on “Golden Years” after Charlie Sexton finished playing “Rebel Rebel.”
In the spirit of SXSW we’ve never played this before. Except maybe at 5am in a hotel room. Ian Moore, with guests Scott McCaughey and Ken Stringfellow, before playing a Doug Sahm cover.
That song was short but you get the same amount of notes. We just play ’em faster. Punk rocker Lee Ving, playing with Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players.
I’d like to thank the good people of scotch and soda. Patrick Sweany
We even played the Rolling Stones’ “Time is on My Side” at a fucking nursing home. Dave Grohl, recalling one of his first rock and roll bands
Y’all are a barrel of fun. Can we do this every night? And God says, “we’ll see about that.” Butch Walker, playing in the Central Presbyterian Church
You may not recognize your favorite hits, but we play some of the notes. Barfield
Now let’s bring up someone who can really sing. Peter Buck, introducing Mike Mills, who joined Peter and his band to sing “Don’t Go Back to Rockville”
I can see the fucking finish line from here. Jon Dee Graham, nearing the end of his 15 gigs during SXSW.
We’re really enjoying the 52nd of our 59 shows this week. Bruce Robison.
We’ve got one more show tonight. I don’t know where it is. I don’t care really, it’s all too much. Andy Clockwise
I’m a tourist. We don’t have this kind of food in Sweden. A guy taking pictures of the fajita bar at the New West party
Me: Do you know who is playing upstairs?
Door guy: Whoever is playing up there.
Me: Thanks. Helpful.
Enjoy your South By. It’s gonna be awesome. Don’t get arrested. Singer Rob Baird
Bowie. He’s the only person not here. David Garza, reflecting on the number of major artists who converged on Austin
Me: It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a deer head on the wall.
Woman next to me: You’re not from Texas, are you? We got ’em in the dentist offices.
On the tip line, they just wrote “math.” A bartender complaining about how a patron completed his credit card slip. The patron gave a tip but left it for the bartender to figure out the delta between the tab amount and the total amount the person wrote.
I’d rather you leave here with one that without one. But if you’re one of those flush mother-fuckers, you better pay. Jon Dee Graham describing his “pay what you want” policy for selling his cds.
Someday it will be worth twice what you paid for it. Yeah, 4 dollars. Jon Dee Graham
That’s where I first learned how the music industry worked. Otis Gibbs, recalling his early childhood years singing for tips while his uncle accompanied him on piano.
All these people are tech savvy. They can just Google “Kickstarter” and “the True Believers” Jon Dee Graham cutting to the chase as Alejandro began to pitch the band’s Kickstarter campaign.
How many people are actually from Texas? (many hands go up) Thank god. Billie Joe Armstrong demonstrating his love for the music industry
I don’t know what he does but I’m proud of him. Bobby Bare Sr., referring to his son, singer Bobby Bare, Jr., a singer-songwriter who was singing back-up vocals for him
If you see Peter Buck walking around with a bucket, please donate. Alejandro Escovedo as Buck worked his way through the crowd with a bucket collecting funds for charity Palapa Society
It’s a 14 hour drive unless you miss the left turn at Little Rock. Then it’s a 21 hour drive. Patty Griffin, on driving from Nashville to Austin
You too could have a beard like this, and all you have to do is nothing. The Beards
I’m fat and I’m ugly but at least I’m not on Facebook. Otis Gibbs, recounting something a truck driver said to him once at a truck stop.
Click HERE for more Twangville coverage of SXSW.
Photo credit: Erica Bruce/Between Love and Like (Billie Joe Armstrong).
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.