SXSW Pre-Game

Yawn Mower released What's All This New Piss? at The Saint

I Feel Like I've Already Started

I leave bright and early tomorrow morning for Austin and my second year at South By Southwest. I've heard grumbling over the years from people -- including me -- about how corporate the festival has become; but my experience last year was one of the best times I've ever had doing anything. For someone who enjoys live music, South By Southwest is like a trip to a musical theme park. Just about every minute of every day, there is a band playing somewhere; and you do not have to step foot into a single official showcase to experience it.

I feel like I got myself into festival mode a little early this weekend after heading out to three different shows over the course of about 24 hours and spending most of the time in between editing shots. Personally, I was at The Stone Pony, the Danny Clinch Transparent exhibit at The Asbury Hotel, and The Saint; but this was a busy weekend in Asbury with all of the usual spots hopping.

On Friday for me, it was Sammy Kay, Vanessa Silberman, Hot Blood, and Ruby The Hatchet at The Stone Pony. It had been a while since I'd seen Hot Blood, and it was nice to see that they're still the same rowdy and ramshackle crew. Ruby The Hatchet had lots of friends, family, and fans in the audience. They're destined for even bigger things, I think, as they prepare for their first European tour.

Sammy Kay and The 4th St. Singers

Vanessa Silberman from Los Angeles

Hot Blood

Ruby The Hatchet

Saturday, I edited pictures for a while, drove CoolDaughter 2 home from her cooking class, and headed back to Asbury Park for an afternoon of music at rock photographer Danny Clinch's Transparent exhibit. The spot has become, as Clinch called it, "A regular weekend hang" curated by Rachel Ana Dobken on Sunday afternoons. This past week's edition was on Saturday and featured Joe P of Deal Casino, a short performance from Dobken with some help from Clinch, Joe Michelini of American Trappist, and Michael Maffei of Hunter & Wolfe. It was relaxing and -- for me -- inspiring to sit and listen surrounded by Danny Clinch's work.

Rachel Ana Dobken with Danny Clinch

Joe Michelini

Michael Maffei

Then, it was back home for a bit to edit a few more pictures, have dinner with the coolfamily, and pick up CoolMom for the Burger Revolution / Little Dickman Records / Yawn Mower release show / Planned Parenthood Benefit at The Saint. Throughout the course of the evening, The Saint packed out (sold out?) as Pamela Flores, Stained Glass, Lyons, Yawn Mower, and gods took the stage. Yawn Mower celebrated the release of What's All This New Piss? by, along with all the other bands, raising over $1200 for Planned Parenthood.

Pamela Flores

Stained Glass

Lyons

Yawn Mower

Things got late; and CoolMom and I had to miss the set from gods in order to relieve our babysitter, CoolDaughter 1. I was a little down about this because gods have absolutely blown the lid off of the room the last few times I've seen them, but parenthood...

I've said this before, but we're pretty lucky here when you think about it. It may not be 24/7; but there are lots of weeks when Asbury Park can feel like its own little music festival.

More editing this morning, and then I turned my attention toward packing for South By Southwest. I'm not sure how frequently I'll be posting here, but I'll try to keep you posted on things that should be on your radar throughout my time there. You can follow the CooldDad Music Instagram for regular updates from Austin.

All of the pictures from this weekend will be up in the CoolDad Flickr galleries as soon as they finish uploading.