Before heading to Mexico for chillaxin’ times, Uncle Weed wraps up SXSW trip by chatting with Austin local Pugz - and various random characters - while rolling out a vast variety of great music including: Liam Finn (New Zealand), Black Angels (Austin), Los Campesinos (Wales), The Constantines (Canada), Tiger Tiger, Sons and Daughters (Glasgow), Wedding Present (Dublin), The Pasties (Olympia, WA) and various mysterious artists, while wandering the bustling streets of Austin USA, listening to the commotion, meeting curious folks, and commenting on food and recycling.
Note: Please add band links in comments to save me the time ;-).
Wandering the streets of Austin with old pal Yaki Niku, Uncle Weed recounts a strange international steel ball tossing tournament in a remote Japanese village known for radioactive hot springs.
The multi-national, dignitaries, dubbed the Genki Monkeys, represented eagerly through much drunkeness at the hands of mayor and his cohorts, followed by Born to be Wild karaoke and outdoor hot spring soaking riverside. Followed by an early morning breakfast of raw eggs, a hungover beat down by of old folks with tape measures, and a long afternoon of waiting around in the valley in discomfort due to a queasy formal dinner and an endless tour of world liquors.
In a couple joint sessions on the balcony at SXSW, Uncle Weed recaps seeing (and meeting) folk-hero Billy Bragg at Cedar Street Courtyard documentary film about Dr. Hunter S. Thompson called Gonzo, plus seeing Athens rockers The Whigs at Stubbs, New Zealand experiential phenom Liam Finn at the Alehouse, and Canadian legends Blue Rodeo and friends (including Tom Cochran) at the Smokehouse - before fading from party exhaustion and happiness. Plus expresses concerns about expensive water, cigarette marketing, “unofficial” festivals and extreme douche bags.
At SxSW Music in Austin, Texas - Uncle Weed recaps the previous day’s activities and thoughts while enjoying a joint on the porch of the “Hillary Clinton Suite” at the Omni Hotel. Bands include the Jacob Jefferies Band, Sons and Daughters (Glasgow), Henry and Invisibles, Lemonheads, Tiger! Tiger! and more.
Rolling along at SXSW, Uncle Weed rambles on from the lofty porch about the festival details, aesthetics, bands, parties, free beer, politics and logistics after a long night of partying with the proletariat at locations around Austin, TX and meets a few characters.
Starting at the Seabus terminal, a busy Uncle Weed mentions some forthcoming trips and thoughts and then ends up in Austin, TX for a music, film and interactive fest complete with drinking, carousing and tokes on the Presidential suite porch.
Also, Uncle Weed pitches a speaking gig at Vancouver’s personal expression conference (and good time) Northern Voice, plus other podcasts series and upcoming shows, and finally an update on the Clayoquot art contest, and oh yeah, rumours about another Herby show.
Travel advice to Olympia:
As for Olympia … 4th Ave is laden with interesting shops and establishments i used to frequent. Some faves are Last Word Books (ask to see the Uncle Weed collection with my old collection of weedy books - not too shabby unless the guy doesn’t know where it is in the back), the Eastside Club Tavern - a divey bar where i met my sweetie, first hooked up wi-fi and made their website also took High Times there when they visited (look for the Matt Groening original sketch on the wall) - if you love microbews and don’t mind a bunch of goofballs and dirtbags, this is the place. Like the Mos Eisley cantina of Oly.
Next door is the Clubside Cafe where i got my podcasting start on Clubsidebreakfasttime.com, had the pre-Vancouver going away party and many a tasty meal. They are omnivoires and can make most of their specialties a veggie way. Tell Kenny and Kathryn i sent ya and you may see my buddy Cosmo there or at Olympia Coffee Roasting’s Cherry street cafe (try the Big Truck).
Next to that is Le Voyeur - more of a scenesters eatery/drinkery/music venue, farther along is the 4th ave tav and even further the Brotherhood tavern - both decent. Also New Moon Cafe, Santosh Indian food and Quality Burrito serve decent grub (IIRC).
If you are feeling fancy, then Water St. Cafe or Gardner’s are the choices for the rich hippies. Geez, i just about forgot Billy and Lisa’s incredible new restaurant Cicada. Go there or any meal and be pleased - really.
Oh yeah, if you have a car, drive out to Evergreen (a bit of a roll), follow the signs to “F Lot”, follow the edge of the lot to the back until you see a sign to the beach (there will prob be a few cars parked there), hike down, enjoy the stroll, soak in the legends and toke a doob on the beach. Many other noteworthy folks have.
Yup, it's a podcast - featuring Uncle Weed on random sound-seeing adventures around Vancouver and international exploits spieling on with anecdotes and observations about communities, public policy, transportation, economics, architecture, entrepreneurship and enjoying herb, ya know ganja.
Get yer mitts on some tasty, hemp-fortified podcast hi-jinks!
