A rock and roll roller-coaster, i-D online’s memories from our mecca to Texan music festival SXSW are blurred but here’s what we dug out from the depths of our minds…
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If Keith Richards made Disneyland it would look like Austin, Texas during the SXSW musical marathon. Whilst things are a little hazy, one thing is clear, i-D’s trip was a sensory experience in every way. Visually, boys sported sexy backward caps, while cute girls strutted between stages in tiny daisy dukes. And for both there was a noticeable trend for tie-dye Thrasher T-shirts that were being given out at Red Scoot’s Inn, a demonic little dive bar which served i-D well during our stay.
The main thoroughfare, the Nemesis to SX’s Alton Towers, is 6th Street. By day music blares stridently from the boulevard’s bars, rooftops and parking lots in the downtown area. And afterdark all continues apace but with a slightly more disorderly vibe.
Amongst the clamor and din were some super acts. Relative newcomers Reptar proved to be worthy of their blog hype, along with fellow buzz bands Friends and Big Deal to name only a few and Nashville garage group Turbo Fruits were so stellar i-D caught them thrice. However, with Eminem, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne descending from on high, this year’s festival had a distinct hip-hop flavour (or should that be ‘flava’?) The new class of ASAP Rocky, Machine Gun Kelly and Danny Brown gave their forefathers a run for their hundred dollar bills. Fortunately, when six-day head-spinning got tough and the tinnitus set in, the ever positive Andrew WK was also roaming around Austin delivering the simple but enduring message to keep on partying hard. God bless that man. God bless Texas.
And as the rock and roll rang loud and clear, i-D dispatched snapper Stephanie Sian Smith to snatch a shot of some of Austin’s most style savvy temporary citizens…
From left: Toby, Graphic Designer. Loni Santana, Blogger. Jasmin Charles, Violinist in Charly&Margeaux. Harry Martin, Road Manager. Danni, Retail Worker. Tiger Reid, Musician. Reza Enilto, Model. Jenny Woys, Stylist. LA, Rapper.
Text: Roxy Shah and Philly Malicka
Photography: Stephanie Sian Smith
