The Ides of March, +1

Well, the political news has been making my head spin lately. I limit my obsessions with it to avoid a brain blowout, and try really hard to ask things like “What next?” You almost don't want to know. I did finally cave in and become a member of our local NPR affiliate during the pledge break that’s going on now. When they say they are fighting for survival, they really mean it this time.

I’ve been hitting the NPR music site a lot lately, trying to prep for the big shindig (SXSW) and make some decisions on what parties to hit. We are daycrawlers, we start early and end early if possible, gotta come home and take care of our furbaby, who needs meds and pettins. Welcome to our staycation. Taking off 3 whole days in a row this month from the day J-O-B even though it's a busy time there.

The biggest majority of side parties are free, and lots have free food and booze also, but I'm a little more interested in the music. This is the best source for party info, showlistaustin.com, and even that site doesn't have everything. What a hoot it is looking through that list. I love band names, as you know.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Gay For Johnny Depp
Trampled by Turtles
Jerri Seinfeldt's Atrophied Sac
Meow Meow Meow --[I think I've heard them. ;-)
Then there are the irresistible shit themes, such as:
Expensive Shit and Shine
Coldcock Jones & the Shithawks
The Shitty Beach Boys

They have parties in music venues, parking lots, art galleries, churches, coffee shops, restaurants (Home Slice Pizza will have a great lineup), a barber shop, but this year there is a topper in that a dental office is throwing a series of parties and calling them Mouth by Mouthwest (MXMW)! They've got great lineups too!

Really though, I do hope to see Trampled by Turtles, Okkervil River, The Civil Wars, Old 97s, Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3, Band of Heathens, and The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (this is a couple-band which includes Sean Lennon).

What I like to do, if possible, is skip most of my local favorites in favor of hearing bands from Sweden, Scotland, Spain or somewhere far away, the ones who can't do a World tour but can't miss SXSW.

Hope this fantastic weather holds out, and my feet too.