SXSW 2008: Lives Saved by Rock 'n' Roll

THE STARBUCKS AT the Lambert-St. Louis Airport, where I have a fantastic three-hour layover, is playing some Lou Reed. Great lyricist, composer and gold lame jacket-wearer that he is, it's always a pleasure to hear him.

But considering I'm on my way to South by Southwest — SXSW for those in the know — where Reed is scheduled to be the keynote speaker, it's like a taste of things to come. I admit I'm curious to know if he can give a speech as well as he can write a line. (I hope he can incorporate "She started shaking to that fine, fine music / Her life was saved by rock 'n' roll" into his address).

SXSW, by the way, is a music-themed amusement park in Austin, Texas.

More or less.

It's really one part of the SXSW festivals, which also include a film and interactive component. The music component is the largest and most popular, with more than 1,000 bands from across the world converging with record label execs, public relations firms, business venturists of all sorts and, of course, music journalists.

Us journos are tasked with covering the concurrent showcases of bands while mingling with artists who are observing the spectacle, interviewing the hottest new band and networking like whoa.

Problem is, all these companies host parties where the booze and food flows freely here so while I'm trying to cozy up with Del Tha Funky Homosapien to become his new best friend so I can write a definitive article on him (truly, this is a goal of mine), I've got to remember to stay sober, coherent and professional enough not to make a fool of myself or this lovely newspaper I represent.

I'm up to the task.

After all, you only get one first impression — which may or may not begin at the airport. I'm eyeing all my fellow Austin-bound passengers for signs of camaraderie. Maybe Del will be on my flight. Now that would be fortuitous.

I've got a vague schedule mapped out of bands I want to see — Bowerbirds, Mark Kozelek, Kevin Shields, MSTRKRFT and The Whigs among them — but word on the street is that schedules are for chumps, to be discarded at a moment's notice when you hear of a super-secret Jay-Z show that trumps all.

And since our street cred will skyrocket the cooler we seem, Jay-Z it will be. Sorry, Elf Power.

(Please note that is a completely fictitious event I made up in my mind to illustrate a point. I sincerely doubt Jay-Z will be there. Then again, Ice Cube will, so maybe I shouldn't rule it out.)

To share my adventures, discoveries, thrills and chance encounters with musical genius and smoky barbecue alike, I'll be blogging from SXSW each day this week , with Saturday and Sunday's recap on Monday.

Let all tomorrow's parties start now.

Written by Express contributor Katherine Silkaitis