One of my favorite things about SXSW (well, after the music) are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from SXSW 2024.
Concert, hit play. Matthew Caws kicking off his set a few minutes early
That’s how I do the requests. I just wait for someone to call out the one that I was planning to play anyway. Ben Nichols of Lucero
This one is called “Long Way to Go”. It’s about how much we have left in our set. Patrick Carrie of Limbeck
How long are we supposed to play? We were told an hour and a half, very clearly. Jon Dee Graham before his 45 minute set
I don’t usually play a lot of solo songs by myself, I usually play with the band. And yeah, you’re like, “I know”. Ben Nichols
This is interesting because they’ve asked the oldest guy in the room to sing a song about youth. Alejandro Escovedo before covering “Bastards of Young” at a The Replacements tribute show
Yeah I fucked it up. So what. Tommy Stinson after playing “Love on the Rocks”
If there are any kids here, ear muffs for this one. Graham Weber of Restos introducing “Faded Love”, their song with a prominent 4 letter word
You just take this fuck you and, tomorrow, give it to whoever needs it. Ben Nichols introducing the Lucero song “One Last F.U.”
I’m pretty quiet. Quiet as fuck really. Emily Barker
If the camera is pointing at you, act like you’re having a really fucking good time. If the camera isn’t pointing at you, I don’t give a shit. Thom Rylance of The Lottery Winners taking a video of the audience
I’m gonna try this and then I’m gonna play a couple of hits. We don’t have hits. That’s just funny. Ben Nichols of Lucero
I’m just gonna play some random shit from albums I’ve made in the past. Tommy Stinson
We have 13 shows this week. If you don’t know, that’s a lot. Marco Gutierrez of the West Texas Exiles
Thanks for coming out tonight. I mean today. I forgot which it is. Dylan LeBlanc at the start of his 2pm set
We all went to bed at 7:30 this morning so we’re feeling like our best selves. Joey Siara of Near Beer
It’s ridiculous that anyone is awake right now. Ben Nichols at 12:10 am on Sunday night, the final night of my six day SXSW marathon
If you thought my songs are gonna get lighter, they ain’t. Jon Dee Graham
I write a lot of songs about relationships that could have gone better. Kam Franklin
This song is about being miserable. It’s called “Happy People”. Sam Harris of X Ambassadors
I dont believe in politics but I do believe in John Prine. That was smooth. I got myself out of that hole. Kathleen Edwards after her between song comments started to get political
You approached this as you were a fan of Alejandro Escovedo Interviewer asking Escovedo about his new album, which features re-worked songs from throughout his career
I try to be. Escovedo’s response
They’re like cockroaches. They’ll last until the end of days. KP Hawthorn talking about CDs
The only t-shirts I have are small and extra small. Apparently I only have large fans. Mando Saenz
Always drink upstream from the herd. Sage advice from Gabe Lee
You should call it “Moody Little Bastards”. Alejandro Escovedo recalling Stephen Bruton’s title suggestion for Escovedo’s album Gravity
We’d like to remind you that being house broken is highly encouraged. Marshall Hood after watching a group break 3 glasses in a matter of minutes and get promptly escorted out of the club
Have you ever had a hidden talent? Mine’s watching the world burn. Waitress, to me, after she successfully ruffled a colleague’s feathers
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.