Houston does Austin

Rita Houston reports back from SXSW in Austin

Peter Buck’s body language was screaming ‘don’t approach me’ as he sat in a first class aisle seat on the flight to Austin. Such is SXSW. U get Peter Buck on your plane. I did not say hi. Funny thing is I had my big headphones on sending out my own message I guess.

SXSW is spring break for the music business. At a time when the entertainment industry is in total flux and the music ‘business’ is shrinking fast, SXSW continues to grow. This is the place where the indie is the mainstream. Bands you, and I, have never heard of and may never hear again, get their shot. With thousands of bands playing from all over the world.

I’m listening to The Supremes on my way down wondering If I’ll catch a band that's all that---with that ‘star potential’. The next Supremes? Yeah, where are they? That’s what I’m going to look for. Baby Love, Come See About Me---you only need to hear those songs once to remember them. And the vocals, wow, those girls could sing. I caught Diana Ross on American Idol just 2 nights ago. It’s a sign. This is my mission---I must find the next Supremes.

I’m only half joking as SXSW features SO MANY bands with buzz both real and imagined it can make a girl cynical about what really matters. We’re all running around checking out these random bands but it’s all so indie and so niche based it won’t really have an impact. Or will it? Isn’t this where Norah Jones first attracted national attention or Franz Ferdnand or??? So, is that BIG STAR here—the one with old fashioned star power who can save the business??? I’ll let you know….