SXSW Kicks Off In Austin With Delightful Tones

AUSTIN, TEXAS —Austin is a town that has as its unofficial motto "Keep Austin Weird." The descriptor of "weird" is meant in the most positive sense, denoting more a sense of uniqueness and individuality than a disturbing careening off the mainstream.

Yet every March in Austin, the descriptor applies more than ever in other parts of the year, for it is the month when SXSW occurs. The sights and sounds take on an otherwordly charm as the city kicks off its annual conglomerate of film, interactive media and music festivals and conferences that began in 1987, and continue to grow in scope and size every intervening year.

This year is no different. Friday was the first day of the 2019 SXSW iteration, although things don't start popping in earnest until March 11. Patch went out there to test the SXSW waters on the first official day, and found the weirdness of which the city prides itself.

This year's version takes on different dimension of weirdness, and it's difficult this early into the festival how its facets might manifest themselves. For the first time in its history, the festival isn't timed to when University of Texas at Austin students take their spring break, for one. So what were congestion-filled streets in past versions of the festival might take on an entirely new meaning. It's also the first SXSW after electric scooters were introduced into the market, now numbering some 14,000 of the contraptions since the first ones crept into the market in May.

The city has banned scooters on the popular 6th Street entertainment corridor to avert potential collisions with SXSW revelers. Patch witnessed a handful of stragglers, people who either didn't get the memo or were defiant of the new municipal decree. But scooter users seen appeared responsible in their riding, and no collision were witnessed. In the scooters' stead, rentable bicycles were seen throughout the downtown sector.

What stood out the most on the first day of SXSW was the ambition of the parties. One normally doesn't expect SXSW parties for badge holders to kick off in earnest until well into the festival. Yet those Austin businesses that did stage early parties quickly disabused attendees of the notion they would be tentative in their entertainment offerings.

Online retailer Spreetail availed itself of the big SXSW crowds by staging a party at its new downtown digs — with a DJ mixing music and an open bar featuring locally brewed beers. The company leased 21,000 square feet in the James H. Robertson building at 416 Congress Ave. Strategically place pamphlets throughout the impressive space alerted the largely young crowd to job openings at the expansion-minded Nebraska-based company. The company is a re-seller of myriad brands it offers on a variety of platforms — Amazon, Google and Walmart among them — on its site.

Online retailer Spreetail availed itself of the big SXSW crowds by staging a party at its new downtown digs.

As Patch continued walking the downtown Austin streets to scope out the scene on the first day of SXSW, the unmistakable sounds of the UT-Austin Longhorn band wafted through the air. The band played "Deep in the Heart of Texas," requiring a requisite four claps as part of the musical expression (watch this reflexive need by viewing the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," and you'll know what we're talking about).

Looking up from where the melody was emanating, Patch saw the backs of band members exuberantly playing their instruments. Naturally, Austin Patch made its way inside the place, the funky, mustache-themed spot offering a rooftop with city views called Handlebar, located at 121 E 5th St. People clad in UT-Austin orange abounded. Two tickets were given for free drinks at the bar upon entry, of which Patch quickly took advantage.

Longhorn band made Austin proud on the first day of SXSW, playing with a palpable exuberance.

UT-Austin President Gregory L. Fenves was there to greet the attendees, accompanied by his wife. Patch had the delight of sitting next to Gayle Hight, senior marketing manager at the McCombs School of Business, who had an instrumental role in organizing the event. Miniature tacos and engrossing conversation were shared, along with stories of the considerable strides being made at the business school.

UT=Austin President Gregory L. Fenves watches the Longhorns band play during a party on the first day of SXSW on March 8.

Reflexively, the Fenveses flashed the Longhorn hand sign upon the playing of "The Eyes of Texas." The weather was delightfully crisp, made more so given the elevation of the rooftop venue. Perhaps it was the ideal climate that helped make the sight of the Fenves and his wife flashing the UT Longorns sign as the song played that much more special. Who knows. It was just a lovely gathering, with the palpable Longhorn pride suffusing the ambiance of the place.

Patch then made its way to Speakeasy, a massive bar/nightclub on Congress Avenue. At that point, Patch was trying to make its way back home, mind you, before receiving an alert via the SXSW app to check out the scene there. So Patch went to check it out. A good-sized crowd was there, many of its members gyrating to the senaual musical offerings of a DJ at the place. There, too, was an open bar, but Patch was there primarily to observe.

Speakeasy was popping on the first day of SXSW Friday, and fun was had by all.

The Jo's coffee shop in the 2nd Street District was transformed into a party hosted by Bumble, a location-based social and dating application that facilitates communication between interested users. Inside, another open bar (danger, Will Robinson!). But to ameliorate over-indulgence, servers offered veggie sliders and "buffalo cauliflower" that were (without hint of irony) quite delicious, among other treats. The event was designed to honor the International Women's Day.That was the vibe, too. Largely young women outnumbered the men at the place, and a DJ helped make the evening fun.

Patch enjoyed the veggie slider, a side of buffalo cauliflower and a drink called "Sweet 'n Stinger" that contained pineapple juice, tequila, coconut Waterloo and a jalapeño-infused kicker at the party staged by Bumble at Jo's coffee shop in downtown Austin. Each item was delicious.

Along the way in Patch's meandering, one came across people clad in skeleton costumes — calaveras for the uninitiated, or for those who haven't seen the Disney movie "Coco" — at Casa México. The splendors of Mexico are on display at the Mexic-Arte museum this year at 419 Congress Ave. during SXSW's run. The costumed people wore big skeleton heads, making for a striking sight.

"¿Es dificil ser tan cabezon?," Patch asked the skeletal figures in the way of an ice-breaker. Is it difficult being so big-headed, you know, when getting in and out of the Uber of Lyft car? To a costumed person, they all laughed from within the cavernous surrounding of their skeletal headgear. A Casa México official offered that this is why the volunteers wearing those big masks only travel in the back of truck beds. You know, because of the oversize heads.

Casa México displayed the celebratory tactics with which the Latino culture reveres its dead during the first day of SXSW.

To learn more about Casa México, click here.

The Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave., has been transformed into Casa México during SXSW, with all its attendant bows to cultural traditions.

In short, the first day of SXSW was rather magical. Everyone seemed happy to be in the downtown streets, and the partying was peaceful and chill. There's no way to predict what awaits in the festival's ten-day run. But if Friday is any indication, this year's festival is sure to be a marvelous gathering of like-minded arts lovers.

Patch will keep you updated during the 10-day run of SXSW 2019.

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>>> Photos and video by Tony Cantú/Patch staff