Skinny, skinnier, skinniest. Not the roll call for the models on Project Catwalk, but the type of jeans you will need to pack for Austin, a town that worships at the temple of rock, where the look du jour is whippet thin.
During South by Southwest, spotting the difference between the wannabe rock stars and the real deal is pretty easy – the latter tend to be lugging their gear around with them.
That’s the less than glamorous reality of being in a little known rock band. But if getting up close and personal with the stars of tomorrow is your thing, this is the perfect place to do it.
Most of Austin’s clubs are relatively small; turn up a few minutes early for a gig and you’ll easily be able to work your way to the front, inches from the action.
My debut to the world of schmoozing with the stars had inauspicious beginnings. New British folkstress Laura Marling had just finished a cracking set at 90 Proof Lounge on Second Street, so I sidled up to pop a few questions.
“How’s it going Laura? I’m from Travel Weekly in London”
“Where?”
I hadn’t really thought that opening through.
“I saw your performance with Johnny Flynn last night. “Really good I thought.” This was starting to sound a bit like Parkinson.
“Oh, thanks…”
“What’s it like performing with Johnny? He seems very earnest.”
“It’s terrifying.”
With that my conversational gambits dried up and Marling smiled, probably relieved to escape another rambling hack, and went back to packing up the band’s gear.
So yes, Austin. A great place to see music, and maybe shoot the breeze with a few rock stars. Just remember what you want to talk about.
