10 Cardinal rules

First time at SXSW? Follow this survivor's guide — you may find a cool concert or meet your mate

It’s the time of year that serious music fans look forward to: SXSW Music starts Tuesday and runs through Sunday. The festival is in its 27th year and I’ve been attending for at least seven of them.

I love the festival because it utilizes so many venues all over Austin and caters to diverse musical tastes. You can see bands from all over the world with styles ranging from folk, to indie, to hip hop, rap, punk, pop or rock. It’s a phenomenal chance to enjoy a lot of music and discover new bands.

I once stumbled upon an unannounced Snoop Dogg show at a warehouse. I can’t remember who I was on the way to see, but I sure remember that Snoop show.

But since the festival continues to grow every year, it can be overwhelming for the first-time visitor. With that in mind, I've compiled some useful tips I’ve picked up along the way to help maximize the time spent seeing bands and get the most out of the experience.

1. Sit whenever possible

I can’t stress this enough. You will be on your feet for hours, so if you have the opportunity to sit you should rest your legs. If you are standing in a line that is going absolutely nowhere then take a seat. Your legs will thank you later.

2. Get there early

If there is a band you really want to see it’s worth it to get there early. If there is a buzz about a band, the long line to get in will reflect it. I have gone to some amazing shows and walked right in because I got there before the line became impossible.

3. Don’t worry about seeing big name bands

Unless it’s your favorite band or a show you just can’t miss, don’t worry about seeing the big name bands that come in because you are going to miss the opportunity to see a band at a small venue that will be a big name in the future. A friend of mine saw The Black Keys at a small venue while operating under this theory. How awesome would that have been?

One of my best friends and partner in SXSW crime met her significant other at the festival one year. They are getting married in July.

4. Drink lots of water and pace yourself

Dehydrated people are tired people. It is entirely possible to see 14 hours of bands in one day. There is free alcohol everywhere. If you don’t pace yourself and hydrate frequently you will miss some great music. Do you really want to be the person who missed an epic show because you overindulged?

5. Wear comfortable shoes

You will be walking and standing a lot. I normally am a fan of impractical footwear but not at SXSW. I break out the Toms and don’t worry about my 5-inch heels.

6. Ride your bike

It’s impossible to park or drive in Austin during SXSW. The best way to get around is by bicycle. There are several places available to rent bikes during the festival and Austin is a bicycle friendly city.

7. Be flexible about your schedule

This is super important. I spend a good deal of time researching bands and preparing a schedule of bands I want to see, but if you are inflexible about your schedule you will miss some amazing experiences. I was once heading from one show to another and stumbled upon an unannounced Snoop Dogg show at a warehouse. I can’t remember who I was on the way to see, but I sure remember that Snoop show.

I have gone to some amazing shows and walked right in because I got there before the line became impossible.

8. Use social media and carry your charger with you

People at SXSW love to tweet their whereabouts and to check in on Foursquare. There are also a lot of places that offer cool stuff if you check in. This is a must-do because a lot of the good parties and shows are word-of-mouth. Also, it’s a good idea to carry your phone charger with you. A lot of places will have charging stations but you don’t want to be disconnected from the people on social media who are dying to tell you where the party is at!

9. Make friends

This is a good rule for life in general, but especially true at SXSW. You never know who is standing next to you or what inside info they have on who is playing where. Also, one of my best friends and partner in SXSW crime met her significant other at the festival one year. They are getting married in July.

10. Be patient

You will be dealing with a lot of lines and a lot of people trying to see the same shows as you. This requires a good deal of patience. It’s worth it, trust me.

Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand in line as the crowds are large at SXSW Music.

SXSW, crowd, band, stage, Austin skyline

ExtremeAirShots SXSW.com

Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand in line as the crowds are large at SXSW Music.

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Movie Review

Over-the-top acting and incoherent plot drag down Her Private Hell

Photo courtesy of Neon

Sophie Thatcher in Her Private Hell.

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn is not someone who plays nice with the general film world. His 2011 film Drive introduced him to American audiences in a big way, but that pulsating thriller was followed up with artier films like Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon that eschewed coherent plots in favor of moody, atmospheric pieces.

Winding Refn, who hasn’t made a feature film in 10 years, has gone fully down the rabbit hole with Her Private Hell. Taking place in a liminal space that kind of resembles Earth but also feels like someone’s dreams/nightmares, the film focuses on Elle (Sophie Thatcher), an actor currently starring in a sci-fi film. Staying at a hotel with newcomer Hunter (Kristine Froseth), the two bond over their shared passion and the legend of Elle’s father, Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s friend Dominique (Havana Rose Liu).

After spending a good amount of (mostly incomprehensible) time with that group, Refn introduces Private K (Charles Melton), who seems to be living in post-World War II Japan. He is looking for his daughter, who might have been taken by a mysterious figure known as “Leatherman,” and he will stop at nothing to find her, fighting whoever stands in his way.

It becomes clear almost right away that Winding Refn has no desire to engage in traditional storytelling in this film. The main characters wander through neon-drenched streets and buildings, which are often surrounded by a mist that is referred to on multiple occasions but never explained. Everyone speaks as if in a constant state of wonderment, and there are many moments where it’s unclear if events are actually happening, part of a movie-within-a-movie, or something else entirely.

Unlike his previous films, Winding Refn has taken the characters in this film completely out of the real world, with every scene taking place in a sparsely decorated room or street that is obviously a movie set. While there are moments where this decision really works, especially the striking first shot of a human-like figure mixed in with a cityscape and clouds, most of the time it only adds to the stilted nature of the film as a whole.

In fact, the entire movie has the feel of an avant-garde theater exercise. Every actor seems to be trying to outdo the others with awkward performances and out-sized reactions. Two very specific characters make appearances in both sides of the story for seemingly no reason other than to inject their weirdness into both spaces. The shocking violence that crops up on occasion would have more of an impact if it was related to anything intelligible.

Thatcher (Companion) and Liu (Tuner) are among the young stars who have had breakout moments in recent years, but neither of them is served well by this hot mess of a movie. They, along with Melton, still demonstrate the talent they possess, but the oddity of the film weighs them down. Scott makes an impression for all the wrong reasons, while Froseth is called upon to play a character who might as well not be there at all.

If there’s any kind of message that Winding Refn was trying to convey with Her Private Hell, it’s lost among the flashing lights, overload of pink, and jewel-like structures. Filmmakers who try to make art for art’s sake have a place in the world, but this film too often feels like people are making things up as they go, with no real goal in mind.

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Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.

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