Idolator Takes On SXSW 2015 — Our Recap Of Day Two
We have survived another day at SXSW 2015! For the second wave of events yesterday (March 18), we realized that things can get pretty wild in the city of Austin. It was the most hectic day for us at Idolator, as we crammed in some awesome interviews in the midst of attending various showcases.
Kicking off the day was a chat with Years & Years, who announced their debut LP Communion the morning of! They discussed various topics, from winning BBC Sound of 2015 poll to their love for TLC and Timberland. We also spoke with another Idolator favorite (The Knocks) and a newcomer on our radar (George Maple). Look out for these interviews in the coming days!
When it comes to performances, House of Vans at The Mohawk is quickly becoming the place to be at SXSW. The sponsors have been bringing in the major artists to watch to the indoor and outdoor stages. We caught Rae Sremmurd’s showcase, which was no doubt the biggest highlight of the day! The Atlanta-based rap duo whizzed through their insanely energetic set that included songs like “Throw Sum Mo,” “No Type” and “No Flex Zone.” Mike WiLL Made It also made an appearance on stage while a handful of hype men threw his mixtape into the audience. We also stopped by Neiman Marcus’ “Make Some Noise” event on 78 Rainey, where we grooved to the electronic vibes of The Knocks’ live set!
But aside from enjoying performances from different artists, we also learned what it takes to handle a festival like SXSW. First off, one must realize that Texas is its own entity! When asked about the state’s official geographic location, city local Keith Richardson made it very clear to us: “We’re not the South nor the Southwest. We’re just Texas!” He continued, “New Yorkers may have a lot of pride, but I think we have more!”
Speaking of pride, don’t think your precious press badge will give you any leeway! It doesn’t matter if you’re BFFs with an artist or are Snapchat buddies with their publicist, you’re still probably not going to get into the showcase you were scheduled to see — no matter which publication you come from. Having a set plan at SXSW is a bit unnecessary, as you’ll find yourself waiting in line for an incessant amount of time. Eventually you will give up on seeing that performer and look for another showcase of up-and-coming acts that you may not have heard about. So my advice for the day would be this — just go with the flow!
So how did we end our second night? With yet another taco (this time it was Baja fish) and an iced latte. Cheers to Austin!
View some highlight videos from yesterday below!
@rae Sremmurd performing “Throw Sum Mo” // #raesremmurd #HouseOfVans #SXSW #SXSW2015 #instavid
A video posted by Bianca Gracie (@biancag16) on
@raesremmurd closing their set with “No Type” // #raesremmurd #HouseOfVans #SXSW #SXSW2015 #instavid
A video posted by Bianca Gracie (@biancag16) on
Be sure to check in throughout the week, as we will be reviewing shows and providing a daily recap! Also follow us on Twitter and Instagram to see what’s happening at SXSW through our eyes.
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