SXSW Aftermath

It was around 9:30 pm on Saturday night, just before Mumford & Sons took the stage that my body gave out on me. During Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (who were on just before) I tried to reason with it. The conversation went something like this:

Body: Soooooo we're done here.

Me: No! Mumford & Sons are on next. I LOVE them! 

Body: I'm sorry, but we're finished here. It's been a long SXSW week. We have walked, danced, and worked on minimal sleep for you. We are throbbing and hurting and can't do this any longer.

Me: Please no! Just one more hour. I am certain that Mumford is going to bring out the Austin High Marching Band again and I will cry just like they did during the Railroad Revival show. 

Body: You cry a lot when it comes that Railroad Revival show.

Me: Because it was so amazing!

Body: Still, we're done here. Time to go home. Do you not realize that every part of us hurts?

Me: NO! Let's make a deal. I'll leave this crowd and go to the back. I'll get some water and rest on a nice soft grassy slope. No more walking. We'll be under the stars and it will be beautiful and I will listen to Mumford & Sons and then I promise to go home and rest and not walk anymore! I'll even get a cab!!!

Body: No dice sister, this is the end of your SXSW line. Say good bye and go home.

Indeed, it was the end of my SXSW line for 2012. Even on a grassy slope looking up at the stars listening to The Magnetic Zeros singing "Home", my body'd had enough and so I hailed a cab and rode home singing "So come out of your cave walking on your hands, and see the world hanging upside down.." in my head. 

Except even missing out on Mumford & Sons, I can't complain. I had the most amazing SXSW this year! I saw over 46 shows in venues ranging from a tiny living room to the always swanky Moody Theater. I made new friends, met amazing artists, took pictures and danced until I could no longer feel the throbbing in my tired feet. I saw legends like Fiona Apple and new artists like The Lumineers. The lead singer of one of the very buzzed about bands even spent the night on my couch (I have yet to actually meet him, but saw him sleeping there when I left one morning)! It was incredible and amazing and every other positive adjective I could ever muster up. 

I will share stories and music throughout the days and weeks ahead! There is no doubt that this is going to be a great year for music!