SXSW
music + FILM + INTERACTIVE
Rewind
South by SouthWest
Natalie Casanova • Editor-in-Chief
MUSIC Official music highlights, clips, more | Pages 2-3
MUSIC ACC professor band plays showcases | Page 5
FOOD Trailers and trucks deliver tasty nomz | Page 6
FASHION Styles and trends spotted in town | Page 7
Page 2 SXSW → Music
MUSIC
www.theAccent.org
March 27, 2012
Official grooves Several bands of manifold genres rocked official SXSW showcases in style Natalie Casanova
Editor-in-Chief
With roughly 2,000 bands playing at this year’s annual South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival, it was exceptionally challenging for most people to pick which acts to see and, of course, how to travel to the numerous venues hosting them. If you’re like most festivalgoers, you didn’t quite get around to catching all the bands you’d hoped to see. But if you did, then bravo to you — you, sir or madam, have mastered one of the most elaborate music fests in the world. But for those of you who weren’t able to be in ten places at once this SXSW, here are some reviews of bands you may have missed.
Fun.
March 16 | Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
This indie pop rock band delightfully lived up to their name. Lead singer Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format, revved up the audience with his over-the-top stage presence and his pitch-perfect vocals. The entire group’s sound was fine-tuned, punchy and never dull. Fun. is currently relishing in a swift rise to fame due to their hit song “We Are Young” being featured in a Chevy TV commercial, but they certainly drew more fans at SXSW with their manifold set full of thrilling anthems and slower ballads. Their upbeat, vocally-driven music definitely has a die-hard cult-following already, but their crowd-participation stunts were entertaining and alluring even to the newest of fans.
The Front Bottoms
March 14 | Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
Exploding with energy,
‘KISSING THE LIPLESS’ — The Shins
lead singer and guitarist James Mercer serenades an eager crowd March 15 at Auditorium Shores. The indie rock band’s mellow tunes resonated throughout the outdoor venue.
Dana Manickavasagam • Web Editor
BREATHTAKING — British singer Neon Hitch wears a stunning head dress as she takes a moment to welcome the crowd in the middle of her set at La Zona Rosa Wednesday night. Neon Hitch finished out her set with one of her popular songs. this northern New Jersey indie dance-punk rock band puts on a super fun and captivating show. Lead singer and guitarist Brian Sella’s sincere and creative lyrics truly arouse interest in lingering on every carefully chosen word. Most of all, The Front Bottoms just look like they have an all-out blast when they perform. Sella said he and drummer Matt Uychich have been playing in a band together for four years and really enjoy the good vibes they create on stage. They released their debut self-titled album in September of 2011, and their track “Maps” has garnered some popularity with its tiptoeing rhythm, fetching lyrics and witty musical phrases. Visit www.theaccent.org for a more in-depth review and an interview with Sella. Miike Snow March 13 | Coppertank Events Center
Natalie Casanova • Editor-in-Chief
Pushy fans crowded the stage just to get a glimpse of the enigmatic trio March 13 at the Hype Hotel showcase, which wasn’t just a bunch of hype. Although this Swedish indie electro-pop band finally graced the stage over two hours late,
their restless fans didn’t seem to mind and danced happily throughout the electrifying performance. Frontman Andrew Wyatt sang his signature fleeting vocals to the groove-inducing beats through a dark and mysterious screen of smoke and blinding lights. The group played all their hit songs, such as “Animal” and “Silvia,” and gave the fans exactly what they wanted — a full-blown dance party. Santigold March 13 | The Warner Sound Showcase Victim of the recent fashion trends of artists like Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, Santigold delivered a solid pop-infused, hip hop show to an overzealous crowd. Her and her dancer’s gaudily-couture costumes were bold and slightly distracting from the overall sound, but that didn’t stop the crowd from bumping to her cultivated beats. She performed some of her best genre-crossing tracks such as “L.E.S Artistes,” all while strutting across stage in unison with the lively dancers.
Wintersleep
March 15 | Trinity Hall
As part of the Nova Scotia BBQ at the Canada House showcase, this five-piece indie rock band produced a seriously adept sound, true to their recordings. Wintersleep lead singer and guitarist Paul Murphy’s somewhat folky rock vocals loomed darkly over some songs while sounding smooth and mellow over others. Murphy said their new album “New Inheritors” will be released in the end of May, and fans can expect it to be a further evolution of their sound, but riddled with elements found in their older tracks as well. The band closed out their powerful set with their transcendental psychedelic-rock fan-favorite “Miasmal Smoke and the Yellow Bellied Freaks.” Visit www.theaccent.org for a more in-depth review and an interview with Murphy.
Walk the Moon
March 15 | Vice Bar Hailing from Cincinnati, this warpaint-clad band riled up the crowd and expressed their love for performing through their faces and frolics on stage. Their indie dance-rock sound is equally matched with their rowdy romping and native-indie
March 27, 2012
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www.theAccent.org the audience with Mandagi’s uniquely-pitched voice and vocal inflections and melodically complemented music. Fans sang along with The Temper Trap’s poignant lyrics and oscillated with the every beat, riff and bridge the band executed with finesse.
We Were Promised Jetpacks March 14 | Red 7
The Force Field PR and Terrorbird Media day party presented a plethora of worthwhile bands during SXSW, Scottish indie alternative rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks being one of them. The four-piece emitted austere and dark sounds paired with lead vocalist and guitarist Adam Thompson’s short range of
Natalie Casanova • Editor-in-Chief
‘WE ARE YOUNG’ — Fun. lead singer Nate Ruess belts out the group’s latest anthem “We Are Young” to an attentive crowd March 16 at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. The song has driven the band to fame after being featured on a Chevorlet TV commercial. dry tones. Their stage presence seemed as if it was lacking much movement until they hit a heavy bridge and broke into all out jamming, mixing breaks and clashes for beautiful combinations of styles and sounds. Thompson’s voice is similar in intonation to the vocal stylings of Interpol, She Wants Revenge and Austin math rock band Daniel Francis Doyle, yet still hits airier notes better balancing the band’s grungier sound.
Natalie Casanova • Editor-in-Chief
TALKIN’ THE MOON — Walk the Moon lead singer and keyboardist Nicholas Petricca, covered in trendy warpaint, slows down an upbeat, dance-rock song and sings sweetly March 15 at the IFC Crossroads showcase at Vice bar. styles. The soothing keys and the clever lyrics of their track “Anna Sun” arced eagerly into an upbeat, youthful dancerock anthem. Walk the Moon lead vocalist and keyboardist Nicholas Petricca said he was losing his voice after playing so many shows at SXSW and was trying to save what was left of it for their final two shows during the festival. Visit www.theaccent. org for a more in-depth review and an interview with the band.
The Shins
March 15 | Auditorium Shores The ever popular indie rock band The Shins headlined the free show lineup at Auditorium Shores March 15, but their lovely halcyon music may have been a little too mellow for the spacious venue and fans’ quiet
Django Django
March 14 | Pine Street Station
conversations could still be heard over the band’s sound. Despite their faintness, faithful fans were pleased with their album-duplicating sound as well as sign language interpreter dancing fluidly on the side stage. Their show was a pleasant and peaceful break from all the hustle and bustle of Sixth Street during SXSW, and despite the low volume, fans still swayed to their melodic tunes.
The Temper Trap
March 1 | Stubb’s Bar-B-Q The sweet, sweet harmonious vocals of frontman Dougy Mandagi could be heard ringing throughout the slice of Red River Street that Stubb’s Bar-B-Q occupies. The group’s breathtaking indie post-punk revival sound really invigorated
Dana Manickavasagam • Web Editor
FIDDLE — Mumford and Sons welcomed a guest fiddler at their perfomance of ‘Roll Away Your Stone’ after the second showing of The Big Easy Express. The free concert was on the LBJ Lawn and 10,000 tickets were given out on the final Saturday of SXSW.
British psychedelic rock band Django Django rocked an afternoon crowd at the Fader Fort Presented by Converse on March 14. The showcase hosted a multitude of bands ranging from up-and-comers to seasoned musical acts. Barely having released their self-titled debut album in January, the band seemed slightly nervous on stage, but it could have just been a response to the nature of day-show audiences at SXSW. Their far-out sound and heavyjamming riffs amassed a sizeable crowd by the end of their set, and lead vocalist and guitarist Vincent Neff’s light folksy-rock voice and lyrics broke through the lengthy, repetitive musical phrases quite charmingly.
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www.theAccent.org March 27, 2012
Showcase shines
SXSW → Music
Meredith Colias Staff Reporter
Janice Veteran • Staff Photographer
PEPE LE MOKO — The Wedding Present bassist Pepe le
Moko adds the low end at the Red Eyed Fly on March 14 at the IODA showcase. The Wedding Present also recently released the fourth in a series of archival live albums.
South by Southwest (SXSW) fans enthusiastically greeted bands at the Red Eyed Fly’s opening afternoon showcase March 14. Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA), a San Francisco-based joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, sponsored the event to promote bands it helps to distribute digitally to online platforms such as iTunes and Amazon.com. Thirteen bands were featured on indoor and outdoor stages. Monterrey indie band Bam Bam was a favorite as they jammed into the early afternoon, pleasing a steadily growing indoor crowd with a fun and catchy popinspired rock sound. Portland band Y La Bamba gained new fans while playing their culturally and instrumentally eclectic set. Mexican-born Luz Elena Mendoza alternated between singing in English
and Spanish. The six member band’s folkish, Latin American inspired sound used a variety of instruments including a ukulele, maracas, an accordion and tambourine. Bassist Ben Meyercord happily took time during the set to say hi to his mom and sister who traveled to Austin for the show. On the outdoor stage, Minneapolis natives Polica rocked a packed audience. Singer Channy Leneagh charismatically bounced around on stage in an adorable yellow sundress. Her vocals soared above the sounds of the band’s guitarists, two drummers and surrounding electronic beats. For many at the show, Pillow Fight was most anticipated part of the set. Gorillaz producer Dan the Automator (Dan Nakamura) created the group and was joined on stage by 5 other musicians including disc jockey (DJ) Kid Koala (wearing his signature koala suit) and singer Emily Wells. Her vocals blended beautifully with Dan the Automator’s background
beats. It was one of the more sophisticated shows. The group’s upcoming album will be released sometime in May. Oddisee, Bright Moments, Tiago Iorc and Daniel Ahean and the Jones rounded out the indoor lineup. Thee Oh Sees, Tycho, Dan Managan and Ruthie Foster also played on the outdoor stage. For outdoor stage headlining British band The Wedding Present, this was their first American show in 4 years. Chuck Medlin, Red Eyed Fly’s house sound engineer said the club had booked around 60 bands in similar smaller sets during the week. After the show, Austinite audience member Nick Snell said he was pleasantly surprised that Maryland rapper Oddisee broke the afternoon’s otherwise homogeneous indie-band vibe. “I didn’t expect to see any hip hop at this show,” Snell said. Dan the Automator said his group merely wanted to reach an appreciative audience and how promotion at the SXSW festival would affect their group’s success remained yet to be seen.
SXSW → Music
Counting Crows caw Dana Manickavasagam
Web Editor
Auditorium Shores offered a variety of free music and beautiful weather during the South by Southwest music festival this year. The March 16 show started off with the Tender Mercies, followed by Diamond Rugs, and finished off with headlining act the Counting Crows. It was an event for people of all ages, with families gathered on blankets and sharing food while watching the performances. Many of the kids spent the evening playing on the lawn while their parents enjoyed the show. People attending the show not only got to listen to great music but could spin for a chance to enter the Texas Lottery money machine, where each dollar collected was exchanged for a scratch-off lottery ticket. Austinite Jaime Brodeur won 25 scratch off tickets after her stint in the money machine. In addition to the food court and
bar, attendees were able to walk through the art market and browse through hand made items and jewelry. Tender Mercies, a side project of Counting Crows members Jim Bogios and Dan Vickrey, opened up the show. The Tender Mercies had a very interesting set list. The band had an old-school sound that was both blues and rock. Following Tender Mercies was Diamond Rugs, a band made up of members from other bands: Deer Tick, The Black Lips, Dead Confederate, Los Lobos and Six Finger Satellite. The Diamond Rugs were promoting their album, which will be released April 24, 2012 and will feature an eclectic sound that shows the diversity of their group. During the show, to the side of the stage was LotuSIGN, an Austin-based company which provides live music interpreting for the deaf. LotuSIGN’s mission is “to ensure access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community by providing the best possible
Dana Manickavasagam • Web Editor
DRAMATIC — One of the many gestures Adam Duritz used to emphasize a part of the song ‘Hospital.’ Counting Crows pleased the crowd with old and new songs March 16 at Auditorium Shores visual representation of an artist’s work.” They were as much a part of the show as the bands with their energetic and lively signing motions. Rounding out the evening was the early 90s band Counting Crows. Opening the show with
their popular song “Round Here,” lead singer Adam Duritz had the crowd singing with him through much of the show. Duritz, who had made appearances on stage throughout the night as the other bands took the stage, was in his element
while he was front and center. As well as playing well known songs like “A Long December” and “Rain King,” the Counting Crows played a few new songs that will appear on their upcoming album which will be released later this year.
March 27, 2012
www.theAccent.org
SXSW → Music
SXSW → Music
ACC professor plays SXSW Abra Gist Staff Writer
Kristie Bocanegra • Staff Photographer
THAT SWEET SOUND — Vocalists Sonya Benjamin, Kara
Knorpp and Sharon Grant of The LaRues perform March 13 at Maggie Mae’s. The septet is known for their soulful sound.
The LaRues rock Raymond Weyandt
Staff Writer
Austin Community College students Chris Hadley and John Fichter played several shows all over town during the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival with their funky soul band The LaRues. Their group can’t stop moving, and neither can anyone within earshot of this local sensation that delivers a classic funk sound flooded with rich vocal harmonies. Called “the best new local act” by KUT radio host Jay Trachtenberg , the group is comprised of four male musicians and three female vocalists who incite a dance riot at every performance. Shaking their hips throughout each number, they invite comparisons to such legendary artists as Aretha Franklin and Sharon Jones. “Everyone is equally passionate about what we’re doing,” Sonya Benjamin said, one of the group’s vocalists who is joined at center stage by Kara Knorpp and Sharon Grant. Their music is true to form, solid and reverent. Their tunes implore the audience to race quickly down to the front and surrender to the spirit of the moment. “[The feeling] is a universal thing,” guitarist Fichter said before the band’s March 13 performance
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at Maggie Mae’s. “It makes people want to dance.” Drummer Gabe Yukon said, “It’s like a party every single time.” The LaRues’ songs hearken back to musical stylings such as The J.B.’s “Pass the Peas” and could easily be mistaken for something out of the Stax Records’ catalog or a lost Daptone treasure. The stories are of losing love and finding power in independence. During the March 13 show at Maggie Mae’s, The LaRues tried something new: a two-part performance. The four-piece band warmed up the audience with a few instrumental numbers before welcoming the ladies to the stage for a traditional LaRues performance. “That’s how the band got started,” Hadley said. “It was just the guys, performing under the name ‘Bigfoot.’” The band spoke with unanimous anticipation about their upcoming five-song EP, to be released later this spring. “We’ve really progressed since the last record,” Knorpp said. “We’ve worked out all the kinks. We’re all having a lot of fun together and it just sounds so good.” In addition to the exposure, Fichter said, “The best thing about [SXSW] is getting to see so many bands we never have a chance to see, and sometimes even getting to play with them!”
Austin Community College professor Jessie Torrisi and her band performed at the preSouth by Southwest (SXSW) “Gabrieldoes…South by South East” party March 7 at CTC Garden. The band, Jessie Torrisi & The Please, Please Me, also played several official and unofficial shows throughout the duration of the festival. Among a crowd of party-goers receiving free drinks, food, swag and massages, Torrisi and her bandmates, drummer Agustin Frederic and cellist Alissa Schram, played in a stage set up in a free standing metallic warehouse of the property. Green glass lanterns hung from the ceiling on the dimly-lit stage as Torrisi teased the crowd from behind her candy-apple-red guitar. Her song “You put the X in Texas” was about margaritas, Stetson Boots and chasing love from Houston to the Rio Grande. They also played “Hungry Like Me,” a lust-filled, downtempo, pop-rock love song that got the crowd’s hips swaying. At one point in their lively
and upbeat set Torrisi brought out kazoos and hung promotional band undies off her microphone. This local indie-pop rock band is like a shamefully sweet treat. Torrisi’s voice is like honey and while she can get rough and rowdy, she mostly keeps it smooth like a jazz singer while churning out licks on her electric guitar. The drums were steady yet dynamic and set the pace for Torrisi’s songs about heartbreak and desire, and the cello added bass and uniquely fills out the sound. “We’ve actually only been playing together for about 4 months, however, we are all so developed as musicians it feels like longer,” Torrisi said. “It was amazing how we all met and they just fit with my music and songs.” Formerly a drummer, Torrisi’s lyrics are genuine and her quirky spirit permeates her performances. Songs varied in sound from indie rock to jazz to folksy. Although the band is Austinbased, she says other geographical locales influence the band’s style. She and her bandmates have also lived in other parts of the country and have been heavily involved in the music business. Frederic has had extensive experience as a sound engineer
and Schram performed and toured with a symphony orchestra. “So much has changed about the music business, with technology and the capacity to use social media… the good thing is, anyone one can do this and get some recognition and the bad thing is, anyone can do this and get some recognition,” Torrisi said. When asked where Frederic could have been during the March 7 show, he said, “I was supposed to do the sound for the Radiohead concert, but honestly, I wanted to do this. This is my band. I should be here.” Before I could respond, Torrisi chimed in, “Do I have the best [f@#%ing] drummer in the world or what!?” The dedication the band has to one and other and their craft is obvious, and it will surely take their careers far. “Hard work and dedication pays off,” Torrisi said. “I really believe you can do anything in this world, but you have to want it. I try to get that through to my students every chance I get.” Visit www.facebook.com/ thePleasePleaseMe for more information about the band and their music.
Kristie Bocanegra • Staff Photographer
LOVE, HEARTBREAK, DESIRE — Austin Community College Mass Communications
professor Jessie Torrisi performs as part of Jessie Torrisi & The Please, Please Me on March 7 at CTC Garden.
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www.theAccent.org March 27, 2012
SXSW → Food
Food carts phenomenal Joan Brook
Staff Writer
South by Southwest (SXSW) was the perfect time to experience Austin street food. Unlike in the past, convenience is not always why people are choosing street fare. Diversity and food quality are what makes Austin’s food trailers so popular. “It’s not the speed,” Kristen Dye, a senior public relations manager from San Francisco, said. “As a matter of fact, the service takes a really long time. It’s just really good food.” Dye said she and her media group, icrossing.com, were in Austin to promote and sponsor Yume Burger having read how popular it was. She also created her own term for the evolving food service phenomenon of food trucks. “I call them “Eat-Ups,” she said. Rapidly approaching midnight on Friday, March 16, I couldn’t resist the allure of a peanut butter and banana crepe from “Crepes Mille” on South Congress Avenue. A fellow Austinite was not so lucky, rushing to the order
window before closing. “But I drove so far,” he said. The Vietnamese owners, tired after a long SXSW day, filled his order for a strawberry and Nutella crepe just after closing. “I love this crepe, but their hours are crazy, and my girlfriend and I can never get here when they’re open,” the resident of the new Mueller development said. Most of the food trailers parked in downtown Austin were relocated to SXSW hotspots for greater visibility and business. I caught up with Anthony Alaniz at his “Colibri Cuisine” trailer in front of RunTex on Riverside Drive. “We were asked by RunTex to be here during the free shows at Auditorium Shores, so we came.” Alaniz said. “I’m a graduate of culinary school and really care about food and how it tastes.” Alaniz has been serving food out of a truck since 2009, and his love of food shows in his recipes. Quesadillas are considered their specialty, but the ‘Barbacoa Megadilla’ taco did not disappoint with it’s mix of fresh herbs and spices.
“I use three different types of salsas ... maybe it’s the blending you taste,” he said after I was done “oohing and aahing.” The lines in front of the Sixth Street and Nueces Street locations highlight that positive satisfaction. Austin Community College students Helena Sutherland and Nikki San Miguel shouted out orders to patient, hungry customers after a night of music. Both work in a food trailer while going to school. “I’m really loud,” Sutherland said, “Cover your ears.” To be heard on west Sixth Street during SXSW, Sutherland said she needs to shout, but Colibri Cuisine’s food is well worth it. Good food knows no boundaries. Needing a rest Saturday afternoon, I found Bouldin Creek Eateries on 1209 South 1st St. Owned and run solo by Chef Lawrence Eguakun, Wasota African Cusine offers an amazing vegan blend of homemade spices and vegetables, as well as non-vegetarian chicken dishes. Originally from Nigeria, Eguakun brings his food talent to Austin,
Joan Brook • Staff Writer
MIDNIGHT SNACK? — The Today Show Munchmobile
offered a trio of free bite size treats on March 16. Many food trailers relocated to better spots during the SXSW festival. with delicious dishes like his tasty fried plantains seasoned with ginger and garlic. “I was an African band promoter out of Liberty Lunch back in the day,” Eguakun said. “The Americans liked my food so much, I left my high-tech position and started cooking full time.” Originally at World Beat Café on the drag from 1998-2006, Eguakun had to close due to health reasons. November 2011
marked his return as a cancer survivor with the opening of Wasota African Cuisine. If food quality is your passion, and waiting in lines doesn’t tax your patience, try Moses Felafel located in North Austin, serving 100 percent vegetarian and vegan falafel. “Come experience a taste of Tel Aviv right here in the live music capital,” owner and former Tel Aviv resident Samuel Haviv said.
Layla Elayyadi
Staff Writer
Best chill spot
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant 506 West Ave • lucysretiredsurfers.com Step away from the ordinary SXSW locations and relax near the warehouse district to enjoy some paradise. Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant takes your mind and eyes to California where the surfer’s world lives on. They have great drink specials along with live bands bringing you closer to that beach-y atmosphere. They also have an outside patio where you can enjoy the cool weather and a ‘Shark Attack’ signature cocktail. Bring your dogs, kids and parents to have fun and eat good food, and don’t forget to sit near the pool.
Best cool-down spot
Sno-Beach 34th Street & Guadalupe Street • Facebook.com/snobeachatx Everyone should enjoy the refreshing taste of flavored ice on a warm to hot day. Sno-Beach offers a variety of flavors and sizes. Do not worry that this is too sweet for you, they also have sugar-free flavors. Why not indulge yourself and add cream to your shaved ice or add more than one flavor! You can custom make your shaved ice to your liking. Sno-Beach has been keeping Austin cool since 1993 and they plan to keep it that way. So come on over and let Sno-Beach cool you and your friends down.
Best fast food cart
Tiff’s Treats 6th Street & Trinity Street • bigtexsausages.com The SXSW crowd wanted some of the best hot dogs and sausages around and were willing to wait in the long yet fast-moving line for a taste. Big Tex Sausages currently is located on Sixth street near Trinity Street and they operate Wednesday-Saturday from 8 p.m.-3 a.m. They have an array of meat, condiments and drinks that are sure to satisfy those late night taste buds. So if you are ever in the area, be sure to stop by and experience real Texas hot dogs.
March 27, 2012
www.theAccent.org
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SXSW → Fashion
South by Southwest revelers wore a variety of styles including retro, hipster, glamour and pre-spring looks Caitlin McDermott Staff Writer
The South by Southwest festival (SXSW) was a hotbed of fashion forward style this year, and The Driskill Hotel proved to be the perfect place to observe emerging trends. Retro, hipster and “I’m with the band” trends flooded the lobby and seemed to clash
with the elegant decor. The predominant trends worn by men included button down flannels, graphic band T-shirts, old-school Nike’s and fitted vintage trucker hats. However some strayed from the pack and wore fitted black blazers, crew neck shirts, dark-wash denim
Kristie Bocanegra • Staff Photographer
FASHION FORWARD —
THROWBACKS WITH A TWIST — Two stylin’ street walkers exhibit a recent fashion comeback — high waisted shorts. Their vintage grunge T-shirts and bold kicks are sweetly paired with oversized sunglasses and sleek, rocker hairstyles.
jeans and hid behind Ray Ban sunglasses. Surprisingly, women’s fashions did not beat out the men’s. In terms of accessories, tasseled, rugged leather, and metal-studded hand bags were a favorite among the ladies this year. Common trends included the“Austin baby doll.” This look consisted of a cotton floral print baby doll dress, a mini cardigan or scarf worn with sandals or cowboy boots, a small shoulder bag and metallic jewelry. The “SXSW almost famous glamour groupies” were also out in full force. These girls travelled in groups wearing white, grey or black skinny jeans matched with fitted earth-tone tanks and Va Va sunglasses. Tall wedges and leather boots finished off the
look complimenting the suede and leather tasseled handbags — a subtle, but luscious trend. A few blocks away from the hotel in an area that many people call “Dirty Sixth,” styles began to transform as less SXSW badges were spotted and more rural and genuine looks were worn by locals. Punk rock couples demanded attention with extreme hair styles, leather articles, black skinny jeans and swinging chains. In the same area, skater boy gangs hung around street corners wearing snap back Volcom hats, oversized band T-shirts, saggy pants and fresh kicks. A few women walked by with a confident strut in wedges and high heels — no stumbles or
Austin native Christopher Hubbert sports a tank top, light jeans and brown loafers during SXSW. Hubbert enjoyed showing off his tattoos, and he also expressed his penchant for designer jeans.
Kristie Bocanegra • Staff Photographer
SUN SPOT — A festival-goer wears a twist on the current
babydoll sundress fashion, with this solid black number, polka-dot tights and leather boots. Her comfortable outfit is contrasted by her bright green sunglasses with light-toned lenses.
Kristie Bocanegra • Staff Photographer
trip-ups for these poised females. Thousands of festival-goers spent all day outside travelling the streets of Austin displaying pre-spring fashions. Taking advantage of the ability to play up tan skin or long legs, the ladies had fun in the sun. Jean shorts, silk and chiffon tank tops and sun dresses seemed to be the epitome of the 2012 SXSW season. Although these trends might seem dull, each article of clothing is usually tweaked. Jean shorts are being cut off from an old pair of jeans and possibly dyed or acid washed for the retro look that is favored by the younger crowd. And sundresses from floor to mid thigh length brighten the streets of downtown and remind us that summer is just around the corner.
Page 8 SXSW → Film
FILM
www.theAccent.org March 27, 2012
Film festival lively, amusing Features, shorts, documentaries, panels flourish comedically, aesthetically, expressively Natalie Casanova
Editor-in-Chief
As part of the South by Southwest festival since 1994, the film portion has been a host to numerous premieres, screenings and panels of some of the best movies, actors, industry professionals and more. Every year the lineup expands and delivers over 250 worthwhile films, panels and events to festivalgoers. Here are reviews of some of this year’s screenings and panels.
A Conversation with Seth MacFarlane Seth MacFarlane let moderator Eric Moro and other festival-goers pick his brain during a panel at the Austin Convention Center March 11. He talked and joked about the evolution of his animated TV sitcom “Family Guy,” explaining how the characters developed as well as the content, humor and
offensive nature. MacFarlane brought out actor Mark Wahlberg to discuss “Ted,” and even aired the first exclusive clips released to the public of the hilarious film, which will be MacFarlane’s first full-length feature. He also spoke of his first classic big band style album “Music Is Better Than Words” which was released in September of 2011. Visit www. theaccent.org for a more in-depth view of the entire conversation with MacFarlane.
“Dreams of a Life” This narrative-style documentary tells the true story of Joyce Carol Vincent, a woman whose skeletal remains were discovered in her London flat in 2003 and it was determined that she died about three years earlier. The film not only includes interviews from Vincent’s friends and past lovers, but an imagined reenactment of her private life as a means to try and explain the story
of how this could have happened to a person in the 21st century. Director Carol Morley said she was riding the train one day, saw Vincent’s story in a tabloid newspaper and was intrigued by it. “She was anonymous ... this was one of the biggest cases of isolation I’d ever seen,” Morley said. She turned the report into a full-length feature film because she felt any human life deserves at least 90 minutes of focus, especially one so socially elusive. Visit www.theaccent.org for a more in-depth review of the film and an interview with Morley.
“21 Jump Street” This comedic bromance is a reimagining of the old TV series of the same title. Writer, executive director and actor Jonah Hill helped birth the idea for the film at a previous SXSW festival, and said he and the other main actors waited until it came full-circle to view it with a live audience. Typically cast in heartthrob roles, Channing Tatum plays opposite of Hill in this film about undercover cops trying to bust a local high school drug ring. The jokes were spot on and the characters were flawless. Visit www.theaccent. org for a more in-depth review of the film and a recap of the postscreening Q-and-A with some of the directors, writers and actors.
“Casa de mi Padre”
Natalie Casanova • Editor-in-Chief
EVOLUTION? — When asked about the evolution of his TV show “Family Guy,” Seth MacFarlane jokes, “I don’t think you can say that word in Texas.” He discussed all of his current projects March 11 in a panel the Austin Convention Center.
This film is a colorful and joyous ride through a somewhat stereotypical Mexican, western love story complete with ranchero garb, Spanish music and countryside made for roaming. Surprisingly the vast majority of the movie is in Spanish - a very bold move indeed. The story follows Armando (Will Ferrel), a romantic cowboy who spends most of his days rounding up cattle with his friends, through
Natalie Casanova • Editor-in-Chief
PEACE — Actor Channing Tatum flashes a peace sign to fans
on the red carpet of the film “21 Jump Street” during an interview March 12 at the Paramount Theatre. Tatum plays plays half of an undercover police duo trying to bring down a high school drug ring. a struggle with his forbidden love for his drug dealer brother Raul’s new fiance. To make matters more interesting, the local cartel king Onza (Gael García Bernal) starts a turf war with Raul, making for an even more ridiculous plot. Visit www. theaccent.org for a more in-depth review of the film.
“Keyhole” This surreal black-and-white absurdist film instantly confuses the viewer as soon as the opening credits roll. It follows gangster, father and husband Ulysses Pick (Jason Patric) on his journey through his labyrinth-like house, meddling in affairs with death, insanity and the supernatural. Odd forms of nudity and sexuality are sure to shock, and the existential subject matter is sure to linger in the minds of the viewers long after the film is over.
“Would You” Directors Brian McGinn and Rod Blackhurst created a wildly amusing world that explores what would happen if our random musings became reality. Actors Dave Franco and Talia Tabin bounce silly “would you rather”
scenarios off each other until they realize their choices are coming true. This film shows how easy it is for a simple word game to be turned into comedic gold.
“Foxes” The unique and paranormal world this short film by director Lorcan Finnegan takes place in is hauntingly beautiful. The imagery is gorgeous and the camera angles are creative. The story follows a married couple through a series of peculiar encounters with curious foxes that nose around their backyard, which may not sound like much until you witness the events on screen.
“Bear” This short film was a hilarious and adorable followup to writer, director and actor Nash Edgerton’s previous title “Spider” about an ill-fated relationship. The main character, Jack (Edgerton), lights up the screen with comical attempts to show his girlfriend affection through a few outlandish pranks. The next film in this series should be quite an interesting sketch, and most likely just as audacious as its predecessors if not more so.