One story you might not read about in the SXSW wrap-ups flooding the internet this week is the rash of police bust that took down nearly every afterparty this year. Sure, DJs still had a large presence in the daytime events—both official and unofficial—but the number of DJs booked for proper SXSW evening showcases were abysmally few. No matter, because ambitious promoters had late night plans, chocked full of quality party music and free bars. And unlike the indie blasts of years past, it seemed like these DJs were first on the lips of many attendees as 'the act to see.' Only thing was, the police weren't having it.
The bad news started to come down the pipe Thursday night, when the event at Factory People was called off before it even started, leaving Simian Mobile Disco out in the cold. The fact that several off-duty officers were already hired to provide security for the event seemed to be of little consequence. Rumors have it that the party did happen elsewhere, although details came sketchy and too late. Oddly, the Playboy event, which featured Austin band Ghostland Obsevatory, went off without a hitch (and half a dozen uniformed officers hanging out front). Guess Hef gets a pass.
More bad news came from an unsubstatiated rumor that Simian Mobile Disco arrived at their daytime event the next afternoon, only to discover the venue didn't have turntables for them to apply their craft. Scoring 0-2, things weren't looking good for the duo that took 'Best Video' away from Kanye West at the MTV Europe awards.
But an even bigger disappointment was in the works for Friday night when the hottly tipped IHeartComix party took a sharp blow to the body when DJs Para One and Boyz Noise were snowed in on the East Coast. Just as well since the knockout punch came hours later when the police arrived and cleared the venue as Chromeo cranked the sound in protest. Headliner Diplo found a slot in the small upstairs of Spin, the club that was hosting the Diamonds tour with Digweed and MSTRKRFT, one of the few DJ events that managed to go off without hitch (also – one off the few events that was officially sanctioned by SXSW).
Finally, the weekend ended in a whimper when the Vice party was closed after a last minute venue move to avoid the same fate as IHeartComix. The line-up consisted mainly of rock bands (with URB cover stars Kid Sister and Flosstradamus providing the dance music fix).
So perhaps it's not the DJs that Austin doesn like, but rather events that happen outside of the corporate umbrella of the South by Southwest organization. Which might seem partially reasonable, as SXSW faces the same threat as Winter Music Conference did a decade ago. With more and more folks making the trek to Austin and not all of them laying down several hundred dollars for an official badge. Why bother when the days are filled with corporate brand and magazine sponsored throw downs (including our own URB/Puma event) and the nights are (theoretically) chocked full of awesome parties that require as RSVP rather than a wristband. But stunting such growth seems petty and counter-productive for the city, if not the organization itself. Sold-out hotels and packed resturants seem worth the cost of some late-night shennanigans. And if the SXSW organization can't offer a full week's party experience, then folks will find a way or spend their travel dollars on other destinations. Especially those, it seems, who came to dance.
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