I’m going to go ahead and blame my lack of commitment to writing about the kid on the fact that we have been gearing up for a very exciting weekend here in ATX.

But, mom and dad, I did want to say hi… in case you check the blog from so very far away. We are all still doing great. H caught a grasshopper today – he so very gently held it between his first finger and thumb, placed it in his hand and then put it on a tree. I have a video which I will put up after we’ve had out fill of music. Too excited to sit still for that long today.

Love you!

Listening: Datarock

On Friday we all got babysitters and went out for dinner and then a late night (10pm is apparently late night for old-married-with-childrens like me) set by:

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Woke up, went to breakfast and to play at the lake

then hustled back to Squaw for:

Rogue Wave

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Jenny Lewis

Then we went to Moody’s for dinner (Marc’s parents still had H so, we were off the hook, but, we couldn’t find anyone to watch Owen & Dylan, so they came along and did great – as always). We had an excellent meal – me, Marc, The Chow Clan and Tari. Trying to get in eating-shape for the few weeks we will spend in SF in late August.

The next morning we cooked breakfast at the Chow’s condo in Squaw and headed out with smuggled beer and snacks galore for the littles – again, H was with the grandparents so Marc and I were free to dance and spin unencumbered. We saw:

Vince play with The Honeybrothers

Amanda Palmer – a scary Tori Amos - sang “Lua” by Bright Eyes on her eukelele – excellent! Then sang this song (without The Boston Pops) and I became a fan.

Mates Of State

Broken Social Scene

Andrew Bird

Spoon

Not much more to say about any bands really, although Jenny Lewis was very good. But, it was a great day to be outside cooking in the mountain sun. And while John & Kara embody what I set out to do with our kid – bring him everywhere – make him adapt to our life – take him to shows – teach him to sleep anywhere…

I just don’t have it in me. And besides – how would I possibly do all of the firedancing and laser swinging I did had he been there?

Listening: Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band

Little Joy came on to play a really short set. Or did it just feel like it because I spent a HALF HOUR in line for drinks only to find out that they had run out of beer… and soda…!? LAME LAME LAME! But, it was OK because we were out – with adults – well sort of…

Halfway through the show I realized that we were surrounded by black-X-marked hands. I mean… Surrounded! By kids who are at the very least 13 years younger than us! Doing that math kind of freaked me out. 13 years! Seriously? When did we become so freaking old?

I was still feeling all indie and cool (even though it was a 20-year-old kind of cool) until the next day, when I found out that a few guys from Cold Play were there and claiming Little Joy is their new favorite band. BUMMER.

Listening: Anathalo

I am so terribly sorry to disappoint you. I know that with a URL including the word hellraiser you were certain you would find posts about obscure experimental psych rock bands. Unfortunately this site is more dirty diapers than Dirty Projectors.

We used to just be the 10-years-older-than-everyone couple seeing music at Emo’s, now we’re the stay-home-and-listen-quietly-while-the-baby-sleeps couple. But, he’s 1 now – so, all that’s going to change – I’m pretty sure that this is the age you can leave them home alone – right?

We do partake in a few festivals now and then and try to see shows that start before midnight so that we can get enough sleep for our 6am wake up calls. Thankfully Austin has passed some anti-noise-laws that shut a lot venues down at 10pm. Are you kidding me? When the hell did I become this lame? …oh yeah – it was a year ago.

Listening: Gentlemen Auction House

The next morning we left a house full (4 kids and two babysitters) without a second thought (it is SOOOO good to have a nanny whom we trust) and headed downtown.

The day started at the Paste/Brooklyn Vegan Party with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart canceling. Which is a bummer because I imagine the sound would have been better than outside at Red 7 where we saw them the previous day. The Wheel filled in – and unsigned band from Denver – which I really enjoyed though you wouldn’t know it ’cause Kara and I pretty much talked the entire time – GEEZ… SORRY! It had been a while since we’d seen each other! Marc says we saw New Villager next, but, I don’t remember that. I might have been outside waiting for Bishop Allen

and discussing plans for John & Kara’s 11th Anniversary Party – 11 years married – 17 years together… that’s, like, a long time and stuff…

Then it was the pretty, pretty, pretty Au Revoir Simone. Did I mentioned that it was pretty?

Standing behind the sound board for Daniel Johnston the sound guy asked me “who is this?” in a why-on-God’s-green-earth-are-all-of-these-people-here, for THIS? I answered him with a “are you serious?” Because I thought sound guys generally knew the music their were setting up for – I obviously know nothing about the music industry. The girl next to me very helpfully explained to the sound guy that “he is the guy that painted the frog… on that building… near campus”. I chimed in with what little knowledge I had gleaned from the documentary (it’s a riveting film) about the insane, genius. It was good to see him live – much better than I had anticipated.

Then it was time for some good ol’ fashioned rock with These Arms Are Snakes, Cursive and The Wrens.

Our buddy Tim recommended that we see The Avett Brothers. A fun show, for sure.

Again, it was just awesome to get out in the sun and walk around our town. It occurred to me, after reading a post by the lovely and oh-so-knowledgeable OCMD that I have a tendency to be under-critical when it comes to shows these days. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that I leave the house once-a-week if I’m lucky and when I do it’s to pick up Pho. Last week, the week of SXSW, I brushed my hair EVERYDAY! And… wait for it… put on make up. I even wore clothes that were not slept-in the night before! It is clear that the number of EXCELLENT’s and AWESOME’s that appear in my posts for SXSW are not necessarily indicative of a band’s quality but, more a reflection of my overindulgence of beer and vitamin D.

Listening: The Mad Cow String Band (TIM! I miss you!!!)

The first day of SXSW (last Wednesday) was just Marc and me – the rest of our posse didn’t arrive until Wednesday night, giving us a chance to take a day off, together, without the babe – the first… ever? We headed to the Mohawk to see Telekinesis!, Kevin Devine, Here We Go Magic and Garotas Suecas (all extremely excellent with, I’m sorry to say, the exception of little Kevie-D – I liked his earlier pseudo-angst stuff better). While looking around at the ultra-hip-masses, trying to reconcile my age and relative un-coolness, I mentioned to Marc how proud I was at the fact that we “have had careers, lived in a few different cities, traveled, created our own business, bought a few houses and are still rockin’ it at a show like this”…”we may be old and have no idea how to dress, but, hey – we’re here right?”… the only response he could muster was “I can’t even look around – I’ll just feel WAY TOO OLD to be here.”

I was in a good mood due mainly to the beautiful sun and ice-cold Lonestar, so I looked around attempting to find something to cheer him up.

It took less than a minute to find it…”You could have stayed in Bakersfield and been those guys!” I said as I pointed to a couple of jock-looking-frat-boys wearing backwards ball caps and loose fitting jeans. This made Marc smile. As I took another look at the boys I had pointed to, I caught a glimpse of “SFIELD” on the back of one of their caps. “You don’t think…?” Marc got a better look and confirmed – yep – “BAKERSFIELD Fire Department”. Uh… yeah.

Turns out they are really nice guys and aware that they stick out like sore thumbs at the uber-hipster-mecca better known as SXSW – which they didn’t care about – which totally earned my respect. We ran into them a few times throughout the week and enjoyed hanging out with our newfound friends from Bako.

After Mohawk we were on to the Paste Magazine party for Port O’Brien, Heartless Bastards, Lonely Dear. EXCELLENT!

Then back to Mohawk for Gringo Star, Vetiver and Elvis Perkins before walking to Red 7 for The Pains of Being Pure At Heart.

We rode our bikes home a little buzzed on beer and the taste of freedom and arrived home to a gorgeous, smiling kid. It was a great day.

Listening: Harlem Shakes

And that’s all you’re going to get today, because it’s 2 days ’til sxsw…you’re lucky I’m even talking to you, internet.

Listening: The Airborne Toxic Event (and as many other bands as we can from our sxsw list)

John, Kara and the boys will be joining us this year as well as Chuck – it just wouldn’t be SXSW without him. Marc just sort of assumes that I will be staying home every evening to tend to the child. Which I am actually OK with. Last year I was just too round to attend any nightshows – I didn’t want to lower the level of coolness for any of my favorite bands by waddling my way in and drinking NA beer. I would love to go out; see 5+ bands a night; drink too much; stumble my way into a Playboy party; ride bikes with pockets full of sodapop; sleep it off; dust myself off and go right back at it again the next day. But, this is SOOOO much more important to Marc, so, i will make the sacrifice. In return for as many nights out with the girls… who’s with me? Champagne and popcorn anyone?

Listening: Phosphorescent

They are one of my all-time favorite bands. Partly because they are totally awesome and partly because “Perfect From Now On” was one of the four albums that made up the soundtrack to Marc and my first year together.

The official Marc and Aimee courtship soundtrack:

Built To Spill (Perfect From Now On)
Jets To Brazil (Orange Rhyming Dictionary) – first dance at our wedding
Modest Mouse (The Moon And Antarctica)
Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs)

Listening: Magnetic Fields

How can something so bad as TV make the kid so damn happy? Or am I mistaking the pacified-coma of an over-tired baby staring at the flashing lights as happiness? Either way, we are going to try to not give the kid a daily dose of TV, but, will do what’s neccessary to keep the peace – especially when other people are in the car.

Listening:  Neko Case