(photo: Gaming site Destructoid's mascot hams it up at SXSWi Dorkbot)
Odd horror movie calamities aside, a giant sci-fi creature did not show up and devour this lovely city. Most citizens of music nation, who have been assembled here in Austin for the past 10 days, are looking rather frazzled as they generally make their way to the airport.
No one great, big trend or band has emerged here, leaping to the front of the stage to demand our undivided attention. This state of affairs has prompted more than one critic to tag the 21st edition of SXSW rather average by it's own standards. Still, it was a heck of a lot of fun.
If somebody could invent technology that allows you to be in more than one place at the same time, please do so. It would be much appreciated here at SXSW. There’s no possible way for any one person to experience even 5 percent of the offerings at the three combined festivals. And that doesn't count the unofficial events, which spread well into Austin’s cool neighborhoods, with venues, dive bars and even taquerias all over town hosting some kind of party with live music.
Just the week before SXSW unleashed itself, Austin hosted Staple!, a media expo featuring comic book greats like Dean Haspiel. And during SXSW, there was an unheralded Austin Electronica Festival featuring bold-letter names like Digweed and Goldie. The SXSW crowd hardly noticed that four-day gem, but when I dropped by, there was a throbbing local crowd hungry for rave up.
All I can say is that I’m tired and in need of R n' R after 10 days of nonstop action. And thank god Austin’s Horror and Fantasy fest wasn't taking place at the same time as SXSW -- it’s not until September.
