SXSW 2012: THE METALSUCKS METAL RECAP, DAY 4 (“THE MEDICINE MEN OF BBQ”)
Saturday is always the tamest day of SXSW for the industry. Since it’s a weekend, Austin is flooded with yahoos from neighboring burgs more concerned with getting sloshed and wandering the streets than actually seeking out good music, shows are more crowded, and the big ones always seem to veer towards huge-ticket indie rock and hip-hop acts anyway. The yahoo effect was double-whammied this year by thousands of St. Patrick’s Day revelers in ridiculous looking green hats.
Saturday has historically been all about BBQ adventures and stand-up comedy for the MetalSucks crew and friends, and this year was no different! Recap:
Number of rounds of meat ordered at the Salt Lick BBQ: 3
Favorite Salt Lick item (this year): the ribs, and the fatty burnt brisket ends
Minutes taken between rounds two and three of meat: 20
Number of bowls smoked in that time period: 2
Number of times listened to Pantera’s “Medicine Man”: 10, at least!
Stand-up comedians watched: 6
Number of bands seen: 2 (Nachtmystium, Alcest)
Locals swear there are better BBQ joints than the Salt Lick, and I do believe them. In fact, I had an opportunity to try the brisket from Franklin’s on Day 3, and I agree; it bested The Salt Lick’s. But there’s something magical about taking that ride out into the gorgeous spring-time Hill Country, drinking and smoking in the parking lot whilst waiting to be seated, sitting down at those picnic-style tables and finally ordering endless rounds of meat. The whole experience is magical! It’s a tradition, and it never gets old.
This year’s motley Salt Lick crew, en route:
Food porn:
More food porn:
After our second round of meat, our full bellies forced us to take a break. We stepped outside for about 20 minutes to smoke a bowl and catch our breath; I still can’t believe our waitress allowed this to happen, but she was just so sweet. Don’t worry, we tipped her healthily at meal’s end! The break n’ smoke was just what we needed to tear through plate 3 and leave room for dessert:
Cherry pie, pecan pie, peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream. Nom nom nom!
On the way back to Austin we somehow got to listening to Pantera’s “Medicine Man,” and I can’t for the life of me remember why. I’d like to posit that this is perhaps the greatest Pantera song ever written, surely a subject for a future editorial. But for now, just dig those siqq riffs, Anselmo falsetto screams and scorching Dimebag solo:
The ensuing BBQ coma limited my activities for the rest of the day, but the definitive highlight of Saturday evening was seeing comedian Louis Katz deliver a stand-up routine at Austin comedy mecca Esther’s Follies that had me quite literally falling out of my seat laughing. This was my second time seeing Katz perform, and the guy’s clever humor just keeps getting even funnier:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgYzmD5AgwU
Welp, that’s it, folks. ‘Til next year…
-VN
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