just spent the last week doing SXSW for the first time. i should clarify that i did not showcase but was just attending for the panels and to scout out the showcases to get ideas in case i apply to play there in the next couple years. i worried it wouldn't be worth the cost of the badge and the travel but it turned out to be well worth it. the panels were outstanding and i learned a lot from them. one of the most valuable things was just seeing and meeting people that make up the music industry...it's always been such an abstract thing to me before but i have a much better feel for who's who and what they do now. i get back to london on thursday and i'm looking forward to taking the momentum i have coming out of sxsw and putting it into finishing this cd. highlights of the week include:

* arc attack - i'm so proud of parsec and his team. i saw their show twice downtown and was just blown away.

* metallica - got to see them in a barbeque joint! incredible show. and they played mostly OLD OLD songs which is all the stuff that i learned to play guitar on (master of puppets, sanitarium, one, seek and destroy, etc). it was amazing to be there as a musician and get to see the guys that got me started playing guitar 18 years ago.



* tori amos - hot



* amanda palmer (from Dresden Dolls) - even hotter than tori amos!



* MY FIANCE - even hotter than amanda palmer!  she had a really really tough week but was incredibly supportive of me traveling for the conference.  i can't wait to get back and do what i can to support her. 

* monotonix - i got 1) hit by a trash can by the singer, 2) hit by a drumstick by the drummer (who was drumming on TOP of the crowd while they held up his kit) and 3) got trampled as i was leaving by the crowd as the show spilt out into the street (red river). these guys were out of control. the last thing i saw before i took off was the singer scaling an apartment building across from the venue and jumping off into the crowd below.

* le castle vania - this dude can't be more than 15 but he throws down some of the best breaks i've ever heard.



port o'brien - i caught them play the song I Woke Up Today three times because i'm just addicted to it. when i saw them on the top floor of buffalo billiards they handed pots and pans out to everyone in the crowd to play along and i swear i thought the floor would cave in from people jumping up and down and going apesh!t. so awesome.



BUT THE BEST MOMENT OF ALL WAS:

* jarvis cocker (from Pulp) - he lead one of the panels and played an accoustic version of Babies which was my favorite song when i moved to austin in 1996. i was just obsessed with Pulp back then and it was so surreal to see jarvis there playing that song for us. i had one of those smiles on that was so wide it hurt. oh man that made me so happy.



now i'm just looking forward to getting home to be with amy. i get back there on thursday morning.