SXSW - 2004 roundup
By Doug Van Pelt & David Allen
“Doing” the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive | Film | Music & Media Conference is a chore for anyone. With panels and Trade Show browsing by day (not to mention customized “mentoring sessions” available for one-on-one learning) and parties, movies, and music at night, there is always a decision to be made with multiple events vying for your attention. Throw a magazine deadline into that mix, and you’ve got hyper-sensory overload, fueled by massive amounts of caffeine.
My wife and I went to the grandest fun party last night. It was held at a classic and wonderful BBQ joint called The County Line, featuring a huge spread of wonderful BBQ that was all you can eat. There were celebrities in the audience, like former Texas Governor Ann Richards, Cactus Pryor, among others; a silent auction; a live longhorn; and plenty of happy-to-be-there people. After everyone ate their fill, a movie screen was set up for a new documentary (and the reason for the party) called BBQ: A Texas Love Affair Narrated by “Ma” Richards, it was just the perfect setting to enjoy and celebrate this movie. It really did a good job of explaining the "bring the family together" power that BBQ holds in this state. Very fun.
Checked out the gadgets and companies exhibiting in the Interactive & Film Trade Show. Saw a very cool portable tablet/notebook computer [MotionComputing.com]; and lots and lots of high end movie cameras. The best part is learning about various organizations that are popping up to serve the explicit needs of our electronic world.
For example: Two sides have emerged in the debate over an artist’s creative control. One slaps a label on a product (be it music, art, writing, etc.) and notifies the world that it is under complete control: “All Rights Reserved.” And the other side enables artists to enjoy extra freedom but also leaves them exposed to potential abuse – think downloading albums and movies. Enter the Creative Commons. The CC has emerged to revive “balance, compromise, and moderation” within the current copyright system. They push to protect the works “while encouraging certain uses of them,” ultimately declaring “Some Rights Reserved.” The direction is absolutely positive. It’s a viable option for artists to allow distribution, copying and publishing of works – if those doing so follow certain conditions the artist is allowed to create. The website is loaded with clear details. Check out CreativeCommons.org for more information.
Another couple of bright lights included the annual RockRap.com “Health Care for Musicians” panel and the presence of “Safe Harbor Rooms” for daily 12-step meetings. With the free-flowing liquids in and around the convention, it’s great to see sensitive and practical help available. The “Health Care” panel is always inspiring, pinpointing needs and progress made on behalf of the poor and the profession of music, as well as dispensing helpful info.
Killer Diller & Antones: House of the Blues
One night of the fest was particularly perfect. First, there was the first full audience screening of the amazing (I’d give it 4 stars) Killer Diller. It’s not often that a movie brings big grins and laughs like this. A young, down on his luck car-stealin' guitar player named Wesley Benfield (William Lee Scott) gets sent by a judge to a small Baptist school's halfway house, led by a stiff and awkwardly prudish “Church Lady" type house supervisor, Ned Sears (played brilliantly by Fred Willard). A concerned supporter of the school asks him, “Are the criminals all Christians?” He smiles that goofy fake grin and replies, “Yes, they just don’t know it yet.” Wesley discovers a special boy who drives around in an invisible Plymouth and can play the meanest blues piano he's heard. He quickly turns the band playing hymnal dirges (formerly accompanied by Ned on piano) into the Killer Diller Blues Band. Awesome stuff. Niki Crawford's amazing voice drapes the solid tunes perfectly, adding to the hopeful underdog’s story.
With a quick walk a few blocks from the posh Paramount to the Alamo Draft House, it was time for the perfect follow-up – a screening of Antones: House of the Blues. It’s an amazing documentary and a real history lesson about the real founding fathers of rock and roll. Many a rock star struck it rich stealing the riffs of these old blues greats, who rarely got the recognition for their contribution. But one man cared. And this movie really underlined the impact one person that cares can make. Clifford Antone’s club is responsible for so much life and music history. If it wasn't for this club, so many people wouldn't know and respect their musical heritage; and Austin wouldn't be known for its Sixth Street live music setting. It really crystallized the importance of both Austin to music and Antone’s to Austin. Even when the club wasn’t pulling in much, this guy always paid them well and quietly took some of these living legends and got them the medical attention they’d never had. That, and helping local artists survive, clean up, and thrive. Even when Clifford Antone had trouble with the law (and weed), he was helping out blues musicians. Not only did he give them the recognition they deserve for their contribution to society and music, but he gave them that practical medical help, too. Such a Christ-like attitude of just plain ole’ love. Some of this is told in stories, but it’s also revealed that there’s dozens of untold stories like this of people he’s helped that no one ever knows about. But it’s not all just history and talking. Amazing archival footage of these greats abounds (Eddie Taylor, Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and dozens more). Such a rich historical tapestry. Afterwards, it was a trip to sit three rows behind Jimmie Vaughan and hear him ask questions of the producer. Fabulous. It really made me feel ten feet tall and satisfied that Austin is my home.
Great back to back movies about the blues. What a great, great night. It really felt good to be out. To top it all off, I walked by Joe's Generic Bar to see my uncle Alan Haynes play some blues guitar. What a perfect night! The blues is perhaps the most lovable form of music there is. The soul when someone's letting it all hang out (vocally or instrumentally) is just unbeatable.
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