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 2025.
I’m from the Brian Eno school of music. What is out of tune? It’s just choices. St. Vincent
If you can’t tell, I have my wife slash manager in the audience saying “remember to do your job asshole”. Pug Johnson promoting his merch
We’re more used to playing in dive bars than places like this. Joe Williams, lead singer of rock band Himalayas as the band played the Grill Room at the upscale Driskill Hotel
The carpet makes me feel like I’m in my gran’s living room so if you could come closer. Williams, a few minutes later
This is clearly a very fancy hotel that deserves to be trashed. Himalayas guitarist Mike Griffiths a few minutes later
Come on, this is my last show of the week and that sounded like shit. Casey Lowery trying to get the crowd to sing along
It’s a sing along. I’m gonna teach it to you. “I could be drinkin'”. That’s it. Paisley Fields.
One more and then I’ll bring out some friends if I still have any left. Tommy Stinson
They said if you play South By right before your album comes out, you’re either gonna become famous or eat a lot of tacos. Palmyra bass player Manoa Bell; the band’s debut album was released last Friday
We’ve eaten a lot of tacos. Palmyra guitarist Teddy Chipouras‘ response
Normally I have to tell people to cheer so thank you very much. Himalayas lead singer Joe Williams announcing that the band’s new album will be released in April
How much are they paying you to cheer? More than they’re paying us. Guitar player Mike Griffiths’ response
If you came to hear an old song, go fuck yourself. I didn’t really mean that. In a house of God. Twin Shadow playing a church on the day his new album was released
I promise you’re gonna like it. Unless. You don’t. And then I’m sorry. Jessica Pal of Baby Said
No one on the stage knows it so it’s gonna be awesome. Jon Dee Graham asking his band to play a song that they’d never heard before
We have a set list but 90% of the time… West Texas Exiles bass player Eric Harrison as the band began calling audibles, too
Sorry to do a hymn on a Saturday when everybody’s drinking. Willi Carlisle
This one is sad, too. It’s just upbeat. Melanie MacLaren introducing “Get It Back”
It’s just like the last one. Just different words. Johnny Fritz introducing his next song
This song is about social anxiety, depression, and all of that good pop punk shit. Bakers Eddy lead singer Ciarann Babbington
Tell me I’m wrong, I wrote the damn thing. Tommy Stinson to the Freedom Rockets, the band backing him
I thought we were having a Coldplay moment. Now I know why. Casey Lowery realizing that the crowd were waving their phones in the air because his bass player was standing behind him leading them on
Who was at that show ten years ago? You’re lying, there was no one there. Sam Ryder on the last time that he played SXSW
You know you’re at the right venue when you pull up and you’re already logged into the wifi. Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses playing Stubbs
Can y’all hear my back up singers back there? They kinda have a low B minor. Tommy Stinson referring to the generator running behind the stage
That was me doing my impression of Eddie Vedder covering REM. Bob Schneider at an REM tribute show
This is a really uncomfortable day for me. I don’t think I ever played without a guitar. I don’t know what to do with my hands. Singer-guitarist Ian Moore at the REM tribute, sans guitar
There’s a really great solo here. You just gotta use your imagination. Tommy Stinson during the solo acoustic portion of his set
We didn’t practice that one. And I’ve been fucking up the ones we did practice. Ben Nichols of Lucero responding to an audience request
These Bud Lights are pretty good. It’s probably a shit beer. Jimmy Vann from Australia’s The Vanns
You’re not the first person to ask that. I don’t even watch baseball. Australia’s Cap Carter when I asked why he was wearing a Yankees cap
I can tell there’ve been a lot of gigs here because this mic stinks. Sam Ryder
If you think you’re having an intimate conversation, you’re not. Bonnie Whitmore at the intimate Continental Gallery
Sometimes when you stare into the void there is something staring back. And if you make eye contact you’ve got a friend for life. Jon Dee Graham
Don’t Google it because it’s a shit hole. But it’s my shit hole. Cap Carter on his home town of Mount Druid in Australia
I’ve never been to Texas. I guess you can tell because I just said you all, not y’all. Melanie MacLaren
I just got my songs back and I’m gonna play every one of them. John Fogerty at the start of his show about recently re-acquiring the rights to his songs
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.