Music & Film Thu Mar 15 2007

SXSW Tour Diary - Office

A couple of the higher-ups at Gapers Block have been down in Austin, Texas at SXSW all week chillin' and minglin'. Unfortunately for me, the grunts don't get to tag along. You're not going either, bummer. Well, we can still experience the festival almost firsthand through the wonders of the internet.

One of Chicago's finest (and most buzzed about) bands has agreed to record their thoughts, misadventures, and musical accomplishments for Transmission. Office will be our unofficial roving correspondents over the next couple of days. They get things started with these thoughts on the start of a crazy week.

"Our trip began Monday night after a beautiful day in Chicago. I was picked up around 9 o'clock after sitting on my lanai, and we loaded in to our big, red rental van. After some serious van tetris, our gear, beer, clothes, cooler and selves were able to fit inside. Erica took the first driving shift while I navigated, as Scott and Jeremy (our tech-extraordinaire) sat behind Jessica and Alissa in the second row.

Many songs were magically transmitted from electronic device to fm radio over the course of the 1,100-some-miles. Rest stops filled with American Indian knick-knacks, jerky and claw games punctuated our naps, some of us only waking to eat from the cooler of snacks.

My shift was a good chunk of Texas in the morning. Winding roads and big rigs. Jessica was my DJ/Navigatrix taking me from ambient electronic undulations to power pop. She was the lynchpin driver, pulling into a Motel 6 that was decided upon primarily for it's proximity to Denny's. We ate profusely from the well of French Slams and grey Tilapia and retreated to our adjoining boy/girl rooms in the back of the motel.

The free case of 312 from the Hideout show became crucial around 6pm, where we indulged in the original YouTube, America's Funniest Home Videos, and yes — a large cheese pizza rimmed with cheesy pustules.

Guitar strings were changed and Sarah Jessica Parker decided to leave NYC for Paris. The dudes woke up first at around 6:30am, having fallen asleep early and anxious and ready for Austin. There was a Saved by the Bell morning-preparation-simulcast and - gasp - an ontime departure to headdowntown to get our wristbands. We ate delicious Mexican food at Las Manitas, an Austin favorite and loaded into Metro's 25th Anniversary Party at Emo's, a rock multiplex of an indoor and outdoor stage.

Sybris brought the rock outdoors as Cameron McGill and a string quartet left a full room rapt. McGill and his army came offstage and we set up quickly, did a line check and played our set to a well-mannered crowd. A couple of interviews and a goose-chase music store run later, we ran into some of our buddies from the 1900s and went to the Fader party for a late afternoon drink. Realizing we hadn't eaten after a day full of activity, we went to a late dinner at a Cuban restaurant/lounge for a healthy meal and "Austin's best" Mojito (replete with sugar cane).

Now we're in the hotel, partying like geriatrics, getting ready for tomorrow's two shows. Goodnight!"

[mp3]: The Big Bang Jump - Office

[mp3] Bring The Good Boys Home - The 1900s

[mp3] Depression Glass - Cameron Mcgill

Here's the Office's scheduled events at SXSW:

— Craig Bonnell