Larkin Grimm vs SXSW

O South by Southwest (SXSW) é um dos festivais mais badalados do momento, embora tenha já uma longa vida de 22 anos.

Serve ao público em geral, aos músicos, a editoras, a jornalistas e a todos aqueles que de algum modo vivem da/para/com a música.

Este ano aconteceu em Março, em Austin, Texas.

Uma vez que não é uma fresca e nem o próximo fest estará para breve, porquê falar dele agora?

Porque simplesmente dei de caras com a descrição da primeira experiência de Larkin Grimm no dito festival e não resiti em fazer copy/paste.

Já agora, e para situar os menos atentos, Larkin Grimm é uma cantora e compositora Americana, que como diz o blog MAFAMA (em repouso), possui o seu lugar na música Folk psicadélica contemporânea.

Acerca do percurso e vida de Larkin Grimm sugiro acederem ao mesmo blog, pois eu não conseguiria elucidar-vos melhor. Além disso, o MAFAMA dá-nos um bónus: permite o download de uma entrevista e performance ao vivo da cantora no estúdio da Rádio Zero, em 2007.

Voltando ao SXSW, aqui fica então a opinião de Larkin Grimm acerca do mesmo:

I hadn't given much thought to SXSW before arriving, and didn't have many expectations.

My first experience of the place was waiting in line for "registration" with hundreds, maybe thousands of other musicians.

It was the most bedraggled, poverty stricken, drugged out, greasy bunch of insecure losers I have ever stood in a line with, and they were all arrogant to boot. Now this is a sad situation. We were all standing in line, waiting to be tagged, cows at the feed lot waiting for the slaughter, each one fighting to be first in line. Soon as we got our indestructible and unremovable non-transferrable space age bracelets fitted to our skinny wrists, the competition began! Oh my lordy me oh my.

These are the categories in the competition, as I see it:

1. Greasiest beard competition

2. Peeliest scalp competition

3. Hottest chick singer in a mostly male group competition

4. Most number of shows played in shortest period of time competition

5. Most blow-jobs given to badge holding nefarious persons in power competition

6. ugliest haircut

7. sparkliest outfit

8. largest entourage

9. drunkest lead singer

10. Most press members photographing you at your show competition

11. Longest you can go without washing your clothes competition

12. Most colorful vomit

13. Closest resemblance to Farmer Joe

14. Closest resemblance to Nico

15. Closest resemblance to Gilligan

16. Best Mick Jagger impression (the prize definitely went to Juliette Lewis)

17. Most recently committed to a mental institution

18. Most recently jailed for idiotic suicidal behavior

19.Saddest, most jaded lead guitarist

20. Best failed rehabilitation

21. Least Talkative

22. Briefest eye contact

23. Limpest Handshake

24. Most Autistic

25. Most uncontrollable Bipolar Disorder

And of course the music didn't matter. At all. We were all wearing earplugs and stumbling around blindly in search of comfort and relief from the 90 degree heat. Targets and sitting ducks. Water was scarce, so we drank a lot of beer. And somebody is making money here, I can see it and feel it. But none of it is going into the hands of musicians. This is indie rock in 2009. I see.