I decided to post some of the SXSW surprises. The thing about a music festival that takes over the city and shuts down large portions of downtown is that in your strolling from venue to venue or when you're waiting for the next show you find bands you hadn't heard of prior that really make the day for you. Here are some of those bands:
- Bajofondo - This group introduced me to "electronic tango" (like techno tango really). This music makes it almost impossible NOT to dance.
- Carolina Chocolate Drops - Remember the song Hit 'em Up Style? Well this bluegrass band found exactly what that song was missing: a fiddle.
- Fanfarlo - They have a pleasant Arcade Fire quality.
This is a picture from the south location of the Austin Rock Gym. I started taking weekly lessons here on March 1st. I heart rock climbing. It's the perfect kind of exercising for me. I tend to enjoy things that involve problem solving. Working out has always been hard for me to get into because mentally I can't get over the repetition. After 15 minutes of running I want to be doing anything but running. Climbing is a constant test of what logically seems possible and what is actually possible. Plus you actually get to accomplish something, as small as it may be, every single time you do it. After the two hours of class I want to do more. I'm not sure what's going to happen when the lessons are over since I took all of this on as a solo venture. I imagine I'll pay the monthly membership fee to practice more and then who knows? I really like the learning aspect and I'm concerned that when I stop being taught I'll stop knowing how to challenge myself. I guess this dilemma is similar to the one everyone faces when they stop taking any kind of class. Huh.
