SXSW 2014, By Someone Who Wasn’t There Posted by Lucas G. on 03/19/14 | Filed under Opinion, SXSW

Last weekend was a blast. While 80% of my timeline was all about SXSW, I was in New York with my old college roommates reliving our days of late night drunk FIFA and pizza at 3:30 in the morning (except back then I didn't wake up with heart burn). Between the booze, friends, and college basketball, I couldn't ask for a better weekend. Still, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't bummed I was not at SXSW. When I started this whole writing thing, one of my goals was to get to SXSW in 2014. It didn't happen. Oh well, considering I accomplished one of my other goals, curating a DJBooth hosted album (this one in case you are wondering), I am hardly curled up in the fetal position crying; I know that one day, she will be mine. However, what made me more frustrated than actually not being there was all the tweets, all the posts, all the snarky comments about how SXSW isn't even worth it and is too commercial from the ungrateful people who were there. While you can't refresh your timeline without getting a SXSW recap, I don't think anyone has every written about it from the perspective of the writers/artists/promoters/music fans who don't get to fly down every year for musical prom.

I understand it might be crowded, might be expensive, and is definitely a shit show but has it gotten to the point where we are too cynical to enjoy music taking over a city for almost a week? Are people really that jaded? It started as this super secret musical getaway and now is littered with corporate sponsors but I still don't see how that can ruin the whole week. Who cares if Doritos or Metamucil is sponsoring that Schoolboy show or if that new band sold out because they are playing the Pepsi showcase? The fact that you are in a city you probably don't live in with droves of other music fans and you get to see some of the biggest (or just your favorite) names perform, should outweigh having to look at that Taco Bell truck outside. In the end it should all be about the music; Do you really care that deeply that Mountain Dew is the reason you are close enough to get spit on by your new favorite rapper?

In one way or another we are all jaded, so I get it. I technically live in Maryland but when ever someone asks me where I am from I say D.C. Minus college, I have spent my whole life here, I know this city way too well. Driving by the U.S. Capitol doesn't phase me because I have been inside. I mean shit, I have even been in the White House more than once so don't be surprised if I don't get excited about seeing that Senator or being close to the Washington Monument. It has gotten to the point where I will sit at home bored because I don't want to take a 20 minute Metro ride into the Nations Capital.

So what's my point? Well, whenever I am walking past 1600 Penn (on the way to some bar instead) or a relative comes into town, I am reminded about how fucking crazy it really is that I live in one of the nation's most important cities; seeing people get excited about a monument reminds just how lucky I am to live here and it makes me appreciate it a little more than I would normally. Now I am not saying that I should pretend to be wowed by this stuff or start standing outside Obama's crib every waking moment, but sometimes I need a reminder that living in this place is pretty fucking cool. The same can be said about SXSW.

I have zero experience in what it is actually like but I don't think I really need it to suggest you take a step back and appreciate what it is; a time for all those who love music (and all those who make it) to live together in drunken harmony, bonding over the one thing well all love more than anything. Now, maybe I am making it seem like camp or some magical high school trip, but every once and a while, we all need that friend who is way to excited to be at the Lincoln Memorial or that blogger who dreams about being in Austin to remind us that it is OK to think something is still fun and exciting. So if this was actually your last SXSW (which it isn't), let me know; I will happily take your spot next year and I will get more out of it than you could because you don't want it. A wise man once said "Treat my first like my last and my last like my first"; so treat your last like your first and you never know, you might not want it to be your last.

See you next year Austin.