SXSW Day 5:: Roaming 6th & JT

After spending a week in Austin, Helen and I got into a routine with the local juice spot down the street. Juicing has become one of my favorite past times and the recipes at Juice Land were to die for! Check them out here... MMM. After getting our morning juice and heading over to eat, we got our shit together and headed out to the festivities.  I knew it was going to be a long night because Justin Timberlake was playing the 3rd Secret Myspace Show at The Copper Tank and I didn't want to miss it.  I spent most of the afternoon fashion gazing, chatting with other festival goers and waiting in lines everywhere. What a cluster fuck. But it was worth it...  The thing about SXSW is that when a place hits capacity, there is no ins and no one comes out. It doesn't matter if you have a press pass or you are VIP. It is straight fire code. And bigger shows are harder to get into if you don't have a wristband or pass, so you need to get there at least an hour early. Things are also kind of spread apart within an approximate  3 mile radius so a lot of walking and pedi cabs are $10 per person. So it can be pricey and takes a couple of days to figure out. Glad I got it dialed and had the experience, but as compared to other festivals-  I like guaranteed admittance if you are paying more than $300 / ticket and a smaller area so you can get to every show you want to go to, like Outside Lands and Coachella. Best part of SXSW is the people, food, and the big acts in small venues. I really want to go back for Interactive and get more in touch with all the things that are going on in the middle of the day. Hope to go back to Austin again for SXSW! It was great!! Here are a couple of pics I snapped.

Juice Land

Personality

Bobbles everywhere, giving the place great character

6th Street at Dusk

Street Fashion on 6th

Fans waiting outside for JT

All sorts of people there, this outfit was quite the choice, props for pulling it off

These two were adorable, I can't tell you enough how much I love the bright green contrast with the purple!

Pre Going out selfie

Alysha Nett and I at Viceland

The cutest couple at Viceland!

Getting ready for JT with security, cops, and fences

The fashion at SXSW is amazing!

These girls were just so captivating, I loved how this photo turned out!!!

Reppin that FR3N3MY at SXSW 

Last but not least 

Justin Timberlake on the I Phone snap

Alysha and I again...

More at The Independent 
Thank you for checking out my blog xo

After spending a week in Austin, Helen and I got into a routine with the local juice spot down the street. Juicing has become one of my favorite past times and the recipes at Juice Land were to die for! Check them out here... MMM. After getting our morning juice and heading over to eat, we got our shit together and headed out to the festivities.  I knew it was going to be a long night because Justin Timberlake was playing the 3rd Secret Myspace Show at The Copper Tank and I didn't want to miss it.  I spent most of the afternoon fashion gazing, chatting with other festival goers and waiting in lines everywhere. What a cluster fuck. But it was worth it...  The thing about SXSW is that when a place hits capacity, there is no ins and no one comes out. It doesn't matter if you have a press pass or you are VIP. It is straight fire code. And bigger shows are harder to get into if you don't have a wristband or pass, so you need to get there at least an hour early. Things are also kind of spread apart within an approximate  3 mile radius so a lot of walking and pedi cabs are $10 per person. So it can be pricey and takes a couple of days to figure out. Glad I got it dialed and had the experience, but as compared to other festivals-  I like guaranteed admittance if you are paying more than $300 / ticket and a smaller area so you can get to every show you want to go to, like Outside Lands and Coachella. Best part of SXSW is the people, food, and the big acts in small venues. I really want to go back for Interactive and get more in touch with all the things that are going on in the middle of the day. Hope to go back to Austin again for SXSW! It was great!! Here are a couple of pics I snapped.

Juice Land

Personality

Bobbles everywhere, giving the place great character

6th Street at Dusk

Street Fashion on 6th

Fans waiting outside for JT

All sorts of people there, this outfit was quite the choice, props for pulling it off

These two were adorable, I can't tell you enough how much I love the bright green contrast with the purple!

Pre Going out selfie

Alysha Nett and I at Viceland

The cutest couple at Viceland!

Getting ready for JT with security, cops, and fences

The fashion at SXSW is amazing!

These girls were just so captivating, I loved how this photo turned out!!!

Reppin that FR3N3MY at SXSW 

Last but not least 

Justin Timberlake on the I Phone snap

Alysha and I again...

More at The Independent 
Thank you for checking out my blog xo

SXSW Day 2:: Mr Toad's Wild Ride

Dead Prez closes their set with "It's Bigger Than Hip Hop"

The night started on what felt like Disneyland's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Our thick-calved pedi-driver (a former New York bicycle courier) weaved in and out of traffic, driving in circles cutting off cars in the middle of busy intersections. The turning radius on a pedi-cab is impressive. There are hundreds of music venues hosting SXSW events in downtown Austin so the trek from show to show can be a journey. 

We quickly arrived at Antone's, a musky venue blasting hip-hop music. We catch Hopsin, with his albino contacts he's suited for a creepy sideshow or maybe a walk on role in The Walking Dead. He belts out angry tunes slamming Eazy-E's wife's record label, Ruthless Records for not promoting him enough and "almost making him homeless" before he found the independent label Funk Volume.

Sky on a good one in a not so good way

Next up at Antone's was the main event, New York's Dead Prez. Self proclaimed revolutionary hip hop. They had a soulful vibe and their song "The Beauty Within" was pure poetry. The crowd roared and moshed to their song "It's bigger than Hip Hop." The highlight of Dead Prez' show was when band member stic.man brought his young son, Hwela Ibomu, onstage to play guitar riff covers of Marilyn Manson's version of "Sweet Dreams" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

Our next pedi-cab driver was able to exercize a little more restraint on the road, dropping us off safe and sound at Mohawk sponsored by House of Vans. We were disappointed to discover we had just missed Iggy Pop and the Stooges, FAIL. Sky Ferreira was setting up. Sky (a 20 year old pop singer-model-actress who can claim the late Michael Jackson as one of her mentors) was having an off night. She cried into the microphone between songs about her messing up lyrics and her voice being out, and was stumbling around stage. Halfway through her set, she burst into tears and abruptly exited the stage. 

Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang fame picked up the slack and had the place in a riot. He played all of the Wu-Tang favorites including my personal favorite Gravel Pit and loads more. Fans from all over were pleased, his place in hip-hop history was made clear to me that night. Wu-Tang fans really are dedicated. After a classic SXSW night, we headed home around 3:30am, still buzzing from the excitement of one of the largest music festival in The States.

By Helen Weaver & Caterina Caligiuri 

You can also check it out on The Santa Barbara Independent here 

Diana our resident Kitty 

Hopsin, gosh those eyes were creepy!

Hwela Ibomu ripping it on the guitar

Dead Prez

Sky at The House of Vans

Sky Ferreira

Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch from The Lox

Ghostface's fans love him!

xoxo

Dead Prez closes their set with "It's Bigger Than Hip Hop"

The night started on what felt like Disneyland's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Our thick-calved pedi-driver (a former New York bicycle courier) weaved in and out of traffic, driving in circles cutting off cars in the middle of busy intersections. The turning radius on a pedi-cab is impressive. There are hundreds of music venues hosting SXSW events in downtown Austin so the trek from show to show can be a journey. 

We quickly arrived at Antone's, a musky venue blasting hip-hop music. We catch Hopsin, with his albino contacts he's suited for a creepy sideshow or maybe a walk on role in The Walking Dead. He belts out angry tunes slamming Eazy-E's wife's record label, Ruthless Records for not promoting him enough and "almost making him homeless" before he found the independent label Funk Volume.

Sky on a good one in a not so good way

Next up at Antone's was the main event, New York's Dead Prez. Self proclaimed revolutionary hip hop. They had a soulful vibe and their song "The Beauty Within" was pure poetry. The crowd roared and moshed to their song "It's bigger than Hip Hop." The highlight of Dead Prez' show was when band member stic.man brought his young son, Hwela Ibomu, onstage to play guitar riff covers of Marilyn Manson's version of "Sweet Dreams" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

Our next pedi-cab driver was able to exercize a little more restraint on the road, dropping us off safe and sound at Mohawk sponsored by House of Vans. We were disappointed to discover we had just missed Iggy Pop and the Stooges, FAIL. Sky Ferreira was setting up. Sky (a 20 year old pop singer-model-actress who can claim the late Michael Jackson as one of her mentors) was having an off night. She cried into the microphone between songs about her messing up lyrics and her voice being out, and was stumbling around stage. Halfway through her set, she burst into tears and abruptly exited the stage. 

Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang fame picked up the slack and had the place in a riot. He played all of the Wu-Tang favorites including my personal favorite Gravel Pit and loads more. Fans from all over were pleased, his place in hip-hop history was made clear to me that night. Wu-Tang fans really are dedicated. After a classic SXSW night, we headed home around 3:30am, still buzzing from the excitement of one of the largest music festival in The States.

By Helen Weaver & Caterina Caligiuri 

You can also check it out on The Santa Barbara Independent here 

Diana our resident Kitty 

Hopsin, gosh those eyes were creepy!

Hwela Ibomu ripping it on the guitar

Dead Prez

Sky at The House of Vans

Sky Ferreira

Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch from The Lox

Ghostface's fans love him!

xoxo

SXSW Day 1:: Touch Down Austin

SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas was quite an experience considering I had never been to Texas before. I wanted to share my blog posts that made it onto The Santa Barbara Independent last week. I will be re-posting all five days from my trip and I hope that you enjoy the stories and photos. 

6th Street Austin, Texas

SXSW Day 1::  Touch Down Austin

Nervous and excited we sit at our terminal in Phoenix on a connection flight to Austin, TX. A thin scruffy boy with long hair approaches. 

"I like your hat, do you surf?" 

I realize I'm wearing the "Surf Happens" hat recently acquired at the Annual Rincon Classic Surf Competition. Turns out, our long hair surfer friend is from Hawaii and in the band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, a rock group based out of California. They're playing SXSW music festival and invite us to their show. We are quick to find out that they are sponsored by Sanuk, a surf brand recently acquired by Santa Barbara's Decker's Corporation. We're making friends and connections before we even set foot in Austin. This is the magic of SXSW.

It's Tuesday, the first day of the music portion of the festival and the city is all a buzz. We call for a cab, but unfortunately there is a two hour wait; thank goodness we have some friends who are able to pick us up and escort us downtown. Earlier in the day, the festival welcomed an interview with Electronic powerhouse Deadmau5, who put on one of the best shows we've seen recently at the SB Bowl. The streets are warm and filled with hipsters and other characters who fulfill Austin's creed of "Keeping Austin Weird."

We arrived late in the evening with empty bellies. The many food trucks lining the streets of Austin are too tempting to bare. BBQ, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Greek, we have endless options. We're in Texas- we opt for BBQ. After having our fill of savory pulled pork, we hit the streets taking in the sights, sounds, and the best people watching since Summer Solstice.

A quick look at our SXSW mobile app & lines wrapping around the block tells us the buzz is on up and coming New York rapper, Action Bronson. Since we arrived in Austin after the press center had closed for the day, we were unable to obtain our passes and were denied entry to The Belmont where Bronson was playing. We rerouted to 6th street, the epicenter of music in Austin, which has been closed to traffic making a wide path for pedestrians and festival attendees. Street performers litter the streets, and live music wafts from every doorway. There is culture, entertainment, fashion and smiles in all directions. We end up at Karma Lounge and dance the night away to Redsean, a house DJ based out of Dallas. 

Jet-lagged and weary, we drag ourselves back to our downtown rental. Day one of our SXSW adventure has come to a close.

By Helen Weaver and Caterina Caligiuri

Also featured on The Santa Barbara Independent 

Yummy food trucks all around. This one had BBQ! What could be better in Texas?

BRISKET!

Street performers everywhere!

Next level fashion all over the streets...

xoxox

SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas was quite an experience considering I had never been to Texas before. I wanted to share my blog posts that made it onto The Santa Barbara Independent last week. I will be re-posting all five days from my trip and I hope that you enjoy the stories and photos. 

6th Street Austin, Texas

SXSW Day 1::  Touch Down Austin

Nervous and excited we sit at our terminal in Phoenix on a connection flight to Austin, TX. A thin scruffy boy with long hair approaches. 

"I like your hat, do you surf?" 

I realize I'm wearing the "Surf Happens" hat recently acquired at the Annual Rincon Classic Surf Competition. Turns out, our long hair surfer friend is from Hawaii and in the band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, a rock group based out of California. They're playing SXSW music festival and invite us to their show. We are quick to find out that they are sponsored by Sanuk, a surf brand recently acquired by Santa Barbara's Decker's Corporation. We're making friends and connections before we even set foot in Austin. This is the magic of SXSW.

It's Tuesday, the first day of the music portion of the festival and the city is all a buzz. We call for a cab, but unfortunately there is a two hour wait; thank goodness we have some friends who are able to pick us up and escort us downtown. Earlier in the day, the festival welcomed an interview with Electronic powerhouse Deadmau5, who put on one of the best shows we've seen recently at the SB Bowl. The streets are warm and filled with hipsters and other characters who fulfill Austin's creed of "Keeping Austin Weird."

We arrived late in the evening with empty bellies. The many food trucks lining the streets of Austin are too tempting to bare. BBQ, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Greek, we have endless options. We're in Texas- we opt for BBQ. After having our fill of savory pulled pork, we hit the streets taking in the sights, sounds, and the best people watching since Summer Solstice.

A quick look at our SXSW mobile app & lines wrapping around the block tells us the buzz is on up and coming New York rapper, Action Bronson. Since we arrived in Austin after the press center had closed for the day, we were unable to obtain our passes and were denied entry to The Belmont where Bronson was playing. We rerouted to 6th street, the epicenter of music in Austin, which has been closed to traffic making a wide path for pedestrians and festival attendees. Street performers litter the streets, and live music wafts from every doorway. There is culture, entertainment, fashion and smiles in all directions. We end up at Karma Lounge and dance the night away to Redsean, a house DJ based out of Dallas. 

Jet-lagged and weary, we drag ourselves back to our downtown rental. Day one of our SXSW adventure has come to a close.

By Helen Weaver and Caterina Caligiuri

Also featured on The Santa Barbara Independent 

Yummy food trucks all around. This one had BBQ! What could be better in Texas?

BRISKET!

Street performers everywhere!

Next level fashion all over the streets...

xoxox

The Line Up

Stoked to see that the Coachella line up is out. Looks like we all got fooled by The Stone Roses and The Rolling Stones rumor. LOL. I have been wanting to see Red Hot Chili Peppers my whole life... I am still debating on weather or not I am going to sell my tickets or keep them and go. I have been to this festival 3 times already and I am so down for the scene, but I also really want to go to Bali this year and I will have the opportunity to see RHCP again. Pondering this. Tickets go on sale Tuesday so I will just have to wait to see if they sell out and what the demand is lookin like... 

Stoked on Blur, Jurassic 5, Bassnectar, Metric, The XX, La Roux, Decendents, Wu-Tang, Social D to name a few. 

Stoked to see that the Coachella line up is out. Looks like we all got fooled by The Stone Roses and The Rolling Stones rumor. LOL. I have been wanting to see Red Hot Chili Peppers my whole life... I am still debating on weather or not I am going to sell my tickets or keep them and go. I have been to this festival 3 times already and I am so down for the scene, but I also really want to go to Bali this year and I will have the opportunity to see RHCP again. Pondering this. Tickets go on sale Tuesday so I will just have to wait to see if they sell out and what the demand is lookin like... 

Stoked on Blur, Jurassic 5, Bassnectar, Metric, The XX, La Roux, Decendents, Wu-Tang, Social D to name a few. 

The Line Up is Coming

Coachella fans across the world are waiting. We are waiting for the line-up. Who is it going to be this year? They just released this little video and it made me get so excited! Every year, prior to the release of the line-up, fake wish lists get released and fool thousands of newbee concert goers. It is always fun to see what is on the posters because some of the time, our wishes are granted. I have been wanting to cross off my Rolling Stones concert from The Bucket List and I am hoping this year that will happen. Here's to Mick Jagger's tongue- and hopefully WUTANG 

Coachella fans across the world are waiting. We are waiting for the line-up. Who is it going to be this year? They just released this little video and it made me get so excited! Every year, prior to the release of the line-up, fake wish lists get released and fool thousands of newbee concert goers. It is always fun to see what is on the posters because some of the time, our wishes are granted. I have been wanting to cross off my Rolling Stones concert from The Bucket List and I am hoping this year that will happen. Here's to Mick Jagger's tongue- and hopefully WUTANG 

Outside Lands is better than Coachella

This year I have been so blessed to attend so many amazing concerts and live music festivals. I FINALLY made it up to the Outside Lands festival in Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA and let me tell you, I think it's better than Coachella. 

Let me tell you why:

No hassle lines when you arrive.

It's in the city. Meaning you don't have to wait for over an hour to get home after the concert ends bc of the traffic, shuttles, etc.

You can walk around with amazing beer and wine! They have "Winelands" and "Beerlands" tasting areas!

The food is SO much better.

Not so many younger kids.

It's nice to bundle up and be kinda cold for once. I love the weather at Coachella but its refreshing in They Bay.

I do have to say, the Outside Lands line up is getting better and better every year, but isn't as "well rounded" as Coachella. Meaning:: They need to make sure they have some big names from every category lined up. Stevie Wonder was the big finale at Outside Lands and I was over at Skrillex. Does that make sense? I know I will never see Steve Wonder again probably and see Skrillex ten times more in my life, but I think they could have had a better finale. Metallica was by far the best show as well as Die Antwoord.

LA crowd VS San Francisco crowd, winner winner chicken dinner.

the crowd at Die Antword

Ninja, DJ HI- Tek, and Yolandi Visser

jamming out

Kilian and The Ninja

my free spirt girlies Katie Mclean and Cat Clark <3 p="p">

loved it

interesting things going on all around

Z-Man and Kat

Neil Young live with my favorite friends! 

SF Cruzing

My crew! Love these peeps!

party in this pic at Metallica

Rock God James Hetfield ... man is looking GOOD! Never seen a rock god before, and I don't think Perry Ferrel counts.

this pic is epic

PYROTECHNICS !

PYROTECHNICS !

Kelly crowd surfing during Metallica 

watch the clip here

That was a fun weekend!

Don't get me wrong, I will be at Coachella this year! But will be hitting this thing up every year!!!
xoxoxo

This year I have been so blessed to attend so many amazing concerts and live music festivals. I FINALLY made it up to the Outside Lands festival in Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA and let me tell you, I think it's better than Coachella. 

Let me tell you why:

No hassle lines when you arrive.

It's in the city. Meaning you don't have to wait for over an hour to get home after the concert ends bc of the traffic, shuttles, etc.

You can walk around with amazing beer and wine! They have "Winelands" and "Beerlands" tasting areas!

The food is SO much better.

Not so many younger kids.

It's nice to bundle up and be kinda cold for once. I love the weather at Coachella but its refreshing in They Bay.

I do have to say, the Outside Lands line up is getting better and better every year, but isn't as "well rounded" as Coachella. Meaning:: They need to make sure they have some big names from every category lined up. Stevie Wonder was the big finale at Outside Lands and I was over at Skrillex. Does that make sense? I know I will never see Steve Wonder again probably and see Skrillex ten times more in my life, but I think they could have had a better finale. Metallica was by far the best show as well as Die Antwoord.

LA crowd VS San Francisco crowd, winner winner chicken dinner.

the crowd at Die Antword

Ninja, DJ HI- Tek, and Yolandi Visser

jamming out

Kilian and The Ninja

my free spirt girlies Katie Mclean and Cat Clark <3 p="p">

loved it

interesting things going on all around

Z-Man and Kat

Neil Young live with my favorite friends! 

SF Cruzing

My crew! Love these peeps!

party in this pic at Metallica

Rock God James Hetfield ... man is looking GOOD! Never seen a rock god before, and I don't think Perry Ferrel counts.

this pic is epic

PYROTECHNICS !

PYROTECHNICS !

Kelly crowd surfing during Metallica 

watch the clip here

That was a fun weekend!

Don't get me wrong, I will be at Coachella this year! But will be hitting this thing up every year!!!
xoxoxo