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 2026.
Whoever your favorite band is, their favorite band is Los Lobos. NPR DJ introducing Los Lobos at their Thursday afternoon set
We played three songs, we earned it. Mike Harmeier of Silverada accepting a round of tequila shots for the band
We write a lot of sad songs. They told us we need a love song. Thelma and James introducing their song “Big Shithole”, with the chorus “Without you babe, this world would be one big shithole”
We need to lighten the tone. And at the same time bring it down to a completely miserable, horrible place. Jon Dee Graham introducing “Going Back to Sweden”
We’re gonna play a cheating song. The Patsy Cline kind, not the Waylon Jennings kind. Patton introducing his song “That’ll Be That”
You wanna hear La Bamba already? Jesus! Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos after the band finished their second song
This is an ancient song called “tuning”. Sam Hodgson
This is another song brought to you by the key of A. Beaux Cherry of The Red Eye Gamblers
Y’all mind if I do a slow one? I’m gonna do it anyway. Christopher Seymore
Do you like heavy music? Well, if you don’t that just too bad because that’s what we’re gonna play today. Kenzie from Girl Tones
We don’t know what we’re gonna do. Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos convening a band huddle on stage
Y’all are like “don’t tell me what to do.” Christopher Seymore after no one responded to his request for people to move up into the empty space on the dance floor
Sometimes you fight so hard to get into the room. And once you’re inside, you realize that all the people are a bunch of pricks. Nakia
I realized that someone was supposed to introduce us but we started early. They can outro-duce us when we’re done. Hunter Pinkston of The Pink Stones halfway through the band’s set
There’s a lot of places in Australia that don’t like singing. Tullamarines acknowledging the strong audience participation in their sing-along
Do any of you have friends? Alarmingly few of you. ARXX singer-guitarist Hanni Pidduck about the tepid audience response during the introduction of a song about friends
It’s weird because we’ve been married for a long time but we like to write sad songs. MacKenzie Porter of the group Thelma and James
We’re here for a good time, not a long time. BrosFresh nearing the finish of their SXSW standard 40 minute set
How many people are gonna fit in this fucking room. Mike Harmeier of Silverada playing a tiny sweat box at the East End Ballroom
Give it up for my shit hot band. I was gonna fire ’em, but now I can’t. Christopher Seymore, after audience cheers for the band
It’s so late it’s early. Marco Gutierrez of West Texas Exiles as the group kicked off a 1am set
I haven’t played this late on a Monday since the first time that I played New York. Aaron Perillo of Sheila Divine
Pull out your wallet. Take out a dollar. Put the dollar in your pocket and put your wallet in the tip jar. Continental Club/C-Boys owner Steve Wertheimer encouraging support for artists
You like my new shirt. It’s really warm. I don’t know how you ride a horse in it. UK Artist Tom A Smith on his new western shirt, purchased on his first trip to Texas
What was the most surprising moment in making the film? That we finished it. Co-director of a new documentary on Los Lobos
It’s been a tough year as a Canadian who loves America. So I thought I’d dress like Elvis. Talk
I won’t judge you too hard. Grill master to me after I ordered a burger without cheese
“You can be a pharmacist or a drug dealer. Same shit.” Woes lyric
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.