South by South West

Since I work all the rest of the nights my experience with tonight will have to be my best impression of SXSW, South by South West. It's a huge event downtown Austin has and words really can't describe everything the beautiful town offers. I feel as if this event can't lead into just another night, this town really glows during this festival. I showed up with my buddy Evan at 12am, his buddy works security at late hours, so we were able to park free(which does more than one would think). Driving through downtown to find Will made me want to jump out of the car to check it out. People everywhere just walking into perpendicular directions makes you want to ask a girl"Hey where you goin?". When we pulled into a private parking lot our buddy pointed out that across the street MTV awards will be going on with a live performance of 50 cent. That made me feel like woah this is a big deal. I didn't know much about SXSW, I just heard it was a cool festival downtown, which it is, but music wise its unbelievable. As I tried to get the night started I found I couldn't get into every event for free even if it was late into the night. It was during standing in a alley way with a bass player I realized the gianormity that goes on. The bass player was a cool guy with no groupies, he had this long hair punk look. He told me how his band has a special bracelet that let him into shows, but not into the one we were watching from the alley way. I then assumed he wasn't big time which he confirmed when his panties got wet over opening for some 80's punk bands. It was cool to see him get excited, but I wasn't about to listen to the story of his life, so I asked where I can find shows. The man told me all over. He said I just need to walk downtown on the streets and there are free shows playing in restraunts, any one and everyone play. I think the bass player mentioned over 2000 bands play over 5 days, doesn't mean every band is a Kanye West, but that's still pretty fuckin' cool. So we walked away from the bass man to experience everything that he said. He told us just to walk to some of the streets and walk down them. The lasers with lights on the corner led us to 6th street which Austin, Texas is known for, 6th street is just a crazy line of bars and venues. Right after we take the turn I hear a sublime type sound which gravitates me to a band playing on the side of the road. The band isn't big shot, but it shows how people take advantage to get their band known. I liked their sound a lot, it got me dancing like I was at a mormon dance. Evan doesn't dance, so I wasn't about to dance the night away without him able to check out some stuff. Our feet moved down the street as if we had somewhere to be, but really the excitement took me. So many different people in one area just having a good time, music is all around and that's what I think you need. Apparently the excitement carried me because Evan needed a break before turning around. We let our legs rest while watching this 2 person punk bank, just a drummer and guitarist. I liked this band too because they just played, all they had was a light and their instruments. At one point a pass byer comments on his performance and from there the singer created a song, now it wasn't a song that would be on the radio, but it was cool and that's the part I can't describe to the reader. From the very beginning of our adventure I said this doesn't feel like reality. Unless you spend your days wandering big papa towns infested with people, art, and foods you can't know what being there is like. Even passing all the restaurants Evan and I still ended up eating at Wendys. I know Wendy's check out the double stacker with cheese and value fries, you will get yourself a nice meal for $3.50, be sure to ask for a water cup. Now I don't regret eating at Wendy's, I encountered my first downtown hustle experience. While standing in line I heard these black guys talkin being hoodlums and it cracked me up because I knew they didn't mean any harm they were just cracking jokes obnoxiously. After placing my order I waited standing next to the hustler, he had the whole right of Wendy's falling for where's the ball game. He had the hustle personality, getting everybody next to him to try his game. The first time I lost, so then I just watched everybody else including the hustler. He was pushing people to guess where the red fluff ball was hiding under the water bottle caps and I saw how sometimes he didn't move the ball he just played a mind trick. When another black guy challenged him 20 dollars the game got more intence. I focused where this ball was going and like the black Biggie guy I was right where the ball was. I was like damn, I'd throw down money, but you don't take debit cards. So then he said he was going to credit me $400 of his own money to see if I can find the ball. I'll admit, if he didn't slip up at points I would've been caught between 2 different caps. But after his small fatal mistake I knew forsure the correct cap. My excitiness for winning woke Wendy up, the hustler was like yo here's $400. Everybody was stunned like who the hell is this white kid winning 400 bucks. The hustler then asked if I had a debit card and if it had 400 dollars on it, which I had no idea I bet my debit card all of a sudden. At first I told him I had millions, but once  I saw his seriousness I changed my answer, "nah man I just got 70 bucks". Right as I say this a Wendys employer walks out and everybody gets quiet but me, she insists we get out, but I say hold up lady we got business happening. No one laughed. The hustler skeets out of Wendy and the black Biggie guy walks up"Yo man he owes you 400 dollars" like you better check a fool. The hustler is waiting outside, with 400 dollars, but I realize 400 dollars is big money and I didn't deserve it if I didn't risk any of my own, so I told him keep it, it was the admission for his show. I was so entertained with that experience I probably will never forget it. The hustler and I exchanged names, If I ever see Cash again, he owes me one. The rest of the night was wandering and dancing to the first band that caught my attention on the road. They are Tree's from Venice Beach, Ca check them out they have a solid groove, they reminded me of Pepper http://www.reverbnation.com/treesvenicebeach. I feel like lady lucked tapped me with her wand the rest of the night, all I felt was good mojo. I had a great time and I need to pass out after writing this experience. Peace!