SXSW 2014: FAULTless guide to our favourite music, shows and food at the Austin festival
Part of enjoying SXSW is getting away from 6th street – and even the east side, for that matter – and delving into the rest of what Austin has to offer. 2014 will be this editor’s sixth year attending the festival and, on top of that, I’m a native Austinite, so let me show you my side of town…
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RÜFÜS DU SOL
Kaytranada
London Grammar
Tove Lo
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In accordance with the United States Constitution and the preservation of life, liberty and freedom, I’ve only included free shows here. So let’s get started, shall we?
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Things get underway on TUESDAY, MARCH 11TH with KARMALOOP x Do Androids Dance x Peligrosa. This five-day show presentation launches at Volstead with bass music progenitors Brenmar and Jacuzzi, so expect there to be lots of hip swinging in the crowd.
Volstead – 1500 e. 6th St. // 7PM – 2AM Full line up: Chingo Bling / Joao Brasil / Brenmar / Jacuzzi / Dirtyfinger / MSCLS – Furoche / Keeper / Royal Highness / Christopher Carr / Sonora / Peligrosa RSVP
On WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH, the number of shows increases exponentially as it’s the first *official* day of the music portion of the festival. Here are four music unofficial showcases to hit up for the day.
B+Q’s BBQ AT LAMBERTS – C3 PRESENTS 2014 SXSW DAY PARTY Full line up: San Fermin / MOON TAXI / Panama Wedding / HOLYCHILD / The Ceremonies / Spanish Gold Lambert’s Downtown Barbeque – 401 W 2nd Street // 12PM – 5PM
SexPop Showcase Full line up: Gemini Club / French Horn Rebellion / Fmlybnd / Cardiknox / Night Drive / Story of the Running Wolf / Thief / Touch Sensitive / 8th Grader / Hot Cops / THE PASS RSVP
Learning Secrets and Soul Clap Records Present: Soul Clap (All Night Long) Full line up: Soul Clap (all night long) RSVP
Binary Records
IHEARTCOMIX @ Empire Control Room
Nintendo x Pennzoil
1704 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702
My friend took me here this past Christmas break but it’s been an Austin establishment for a minute. Located on East 5th St., YJSC is dive-y chic, you know, the kind of place you could maybe go to for a date and also maybe get kicked out of for belligerence at 2AM. I should also mention that their shrimp and grits is absolutely divine.
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Hyde Park Bar & Grill has been a favorite of mine since college.
4206 Duval St, Austin, TX 78751
It’s located in the Hyde Park neighborhood just North of The University of Texas campus, tucked away on a street lined with craftsmen homes and unnecessary speed bumps. I love driving up to the restaurant because they’ve got a giant sign in the shape of a fork always with something different on the end (sometimes it’s a meatball and sometimes it’s the entire world!).
The menu’s a little pricier by Austin standards, but pretty much everything here is good and the portions are *Texas* sized. If you’re adventurous and not too concerned about your waistline I’d suggest the Texas Horseshoe – Texas toast topped with 8oz. of round chuck, spicy cheese sauce, hyde park fries, more spicy cheese sauce, diced tomatoes, fresh scallions.
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Oh hey there! So if you look out the window from Hyde Park Bar & Grill you’ll see another one of my Austin restaurant staples – Mother’s.
4215 Duval St, Austin, TX 78751
This place for the vegetarians and vegetable lovers who don’t want to sacrifice on taste. The restaurant itself is pretty no frills but still feels very homey with lush greenery filling every corner of the room. Again, pretty much everything here is good; my go-to is the spinach salad topped with cashew tamarind dressing mmm mmmm.
Texas Star location: 409 W 30th St, Austin, TX 78705
South Star location: 901 Little Texas Ln, Austin, Texas 78745
Their tagline of “Casual Tex-Mex” is everything you need to know, and with three locations there’s always a Trudy’s near you. Good for large groups and avocado lovers (try their stuffed avocado). Their Mexican martini splashed with tequila instead of gin and vermouth is a highway to the dangerzone, but also great if you’re looking to get down.
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Kerbey Lane has been around for as long as I can remember and has been great since even before then.
South location: 3003 South Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78704
UT location: 2606 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78705
Central location: 3704 Kerbey Lane, Austin, TX 78731
You can’t go wrong with anything off their menu, whether it’s their pancakes of the week or chicken fried chicken. Oh and let’s not forget their signature Kerby queso.
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It’s just pure coincidence that the last recommendation for late night eats happens to be another Tex-Mex place. What I meant to say is, WELCOME TO AUSTIN. I have fond memories from undergrad of hitting up Polvo’s with a group of friends and ordering several pitchers of margaritas.
2004 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
I don’t even like margaritas but the chill hang-out-for-hours atmosphere is enough for Polvo’s to make the list.
WARNING: My friend own’s this food truck. WARNING: It is dangerously delicious. It’s called Patrizi’s and it’s possibly the best Italian food in Austin. Nick has catered some SXSW events in the past, but this year he’s opted to stand alone. Drop by on Wednesday when he creates a special menu of treats not found on the usual list.
Patrizi’s 2307 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78722. You’re listlessly wandering the East Side in search of snack-tisfaction. You smell the sweet aroma of pizza coming from the parking lot of Violet Crown and that’s when you see it –
VIA 313 Pizza 1111 East 6th, Austin, TX 78702 . This place has saved my life on multiple late night occasions with its gourmet Detroit style slices. Try “The Cadillac” here: gorgonzola cheese, fig preserves, shaved prosciutto and parmesan all topped with a balsamic glaze.
Veracruz Tacos 1704 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702. Austin’s not Austin without tacos and there’s no place quite like Veracruz’s. Located on East Cesar Chavez, Veracruz’s Tacos are all natural using only fresh ingredients and homemade tortillas.
That’s it from us before SXSW. Hope to see your bright and shining faces in Austin this week!