My SXSW 2013: Almost a Bust, But Saved by Zombies

I don't think many people who've "done" SXSW Music would argue with the idea that it is a little bit too much of a good thing.  There's always a lot of high expectations.  Tons of shows sound great:  Cool lineup, free entry, even free beer and a taco or brownie or something.  Still, as good as you might expect or just hope the overall experience will be, you have to put up with a lot on the flip side:  Long lines, thick crowds, short sets, smelly sweaty guys with beards.

Still, just about every year, there's a cool moment or two or three that convince us to give SXSW a try the next year, like the Mess With Texas Party, luckily happening upon Seun Kuti's band, catching Eleanor Friedberger with about 50 people behind an Urban Outfitters, or just enjoying the free official shows at Auditorium Shores, where we got to see some great music over the years.  So this year, even though we had twins not long ago, and our lives have been turned upside-down, inside-out and round-and-round, I hoped (with the help of grandma and grandpa here from out of town) to get to some part of SouthBy.  Just one little event.  Anything.

As the week went on and my energy waned though, it started to seem less and less likely that we'd catch even one show.  But on Saturday, the final day of the festival, we got saved by Zombies.  Not the kind that eat brains, but the kind that sing groovy rock songs like "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season."  I heard that the Zombies -- with original core members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent -- were kicking off the free show that day at the parking lot outside Waterloo Records.  The weather was perfect, and the twins were in a good mood and enjoying their time with grandma.  So grandpa and I sneaked out and zoomed down to the show.

We got there just in time too.  The band was just kicking off "Time of the Season" as we were approaching.  For guys who first starting playing together 50 years ago (literally), they sounded and looked energized.  And I got to see Argent tear up his organ solo.  Think the keyboard player from Vampire Weekend could play like this?

So yeah, maybe I didn't make it to Prince or Depeche Mode or any number of other bands I'd love to go see.  But I got to see one thing, and it was pretty cool.  That's good enough for me.