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Monday, March 23, 2009
O&A SXSW 46: Lineology 8
More Lineology from Statesman intern Geoff West.
Cameron Savage, 20, and Austin Savage, 17, from Austin, at Emo’s Main Room
Forty-five minutes.
Who are you here to see?
Trail of Dead.
Have you missed any shows because of long lines?
Cameron: No Age [at the Radio Room on Thursday]. But I don’t think anyone saw them. They just like opened the doors at eight and they started playing eight. And all the lines were trying to file through.
Did you think you’ll make it into this show?
Cameron: We’re hoping to. They’ll probably have started if we do.
Austin: Yeah, hopefully there’s some people who’ll be about to leave. I don’t know why they would though.
How long do you plan to stay in line?
Cameron: Till the show’s over probably.
Austin: There’s some other people we could see — I don’t know about now.
How many shows have you seen so far?
Cameron: five or six [since Wednesday].
If you get in, will it be worth it?
Cameron: I’ll be highly upset I missed the beginning but I’d still enjoy the show if I got in.
Do you feel a part of SXSW?
Cameron: It’s very elitist. Very about being kinda pretentious. I don’t know. There’s a hierarchy, you have to pay for.
Have you met new friends or seen old ones in line?
Austin: Not really. We talked to some people but not any new relationships.
Cameron: A couple of my friends go to different schools, we meet up here and some friends from school came down here to check it out. They live in the area.
Have you seen anything strange or funny happen in line?
Cameron: It’s Austin man.
Austin: Yeah, not really in line.
Cameron: Just like the crazy Japanese hair things and Leslie. All different fashions in the street. The guys with the spike collars — there’s always people making statements. I love it.
Was buying the wristband worth the price?
Cameron: It’s been useful but I don’t know if I’d spend the money again. It’s more convienant than the cash line but it all depends on how many shows you go to.
Austin: Yeah, it’s questionable.
Cameron: I might go and try to pay cash or just not go at all. I don’t know if it was worth it money-wise, but experience-wise it was worth it.
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Chatting up the immortal RuPaul
The drag artist of her generation, RuPaul, fresh from the reality TV show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” performs for the grand opening of the Kiss & Fly gay club on Wednesday. We chatted by phone.
Glamour is a sense of freedom, a sense of understanding that you are a spiritual being, having a human experience. In knowing that, you are able to give yourself the freedom to take it beyond the limits of what our society or culture dictates.
Besides yourself, who has glamour?
All the girls on (“Drag Race”) understand what glamour is. Victoria Beckham is definitely very glamorous. Michelle Obama has a great sense of glamour, in a classic way that doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable. (Her bare arms make people uncomfortable, but that’s another story.) Sharon Stone is always very glamorous, even in jeans and a T-shirt
You don’t seem to age. Why?
Because I have a great lighting director and a genius little item called Photoshop. (Booms with laughter.) Due to those two things, I’ve stayed as young as I always was. Hey, I’m 48 and I look 48, but thankfully I get to put on lot of makeup and get dolled up.
Best drag artists of the past?
I loved Sylvester (1947-1988). When I was a kid, my sister showed me a picture of Sylvester and I was transfixed. I thought: “Wow. That’s possible.” Then there was Divine (1945-1988). I spent a lot of my youth recapturing what she and John Waters had done on film with a VHS camera back in Atlanta. I love the irreverence of their attitude. It was freeing for me. I learned there was more than one way to skin a cat. As time went on, I really understood that everything you put on after you get out of the shower was drag. So my drag icons became David Bowie, James Brown and Elvis, people who turned up the volume on the images they created. As you’ve heard me say: “You are born naked and all the rest is drag.” I truly believe that.
Best drag artists of the future?
All my girls on the show. (Recording artist) Ari Gold told me that during “The Night of 1,000 Gowns” (the New York fundraiser), the whole event was abuzz because my three finalists were in the buildings. That’s all they talked about. It was fun for me to hear that. It confirmed that all nine of my contestants will be stars from here to eternity.
I hadn’t thought of this before, but could “Drag Race” do for drag what “Project Runway” did for high fashion?
For many years, drag had gone underground because of our culture’s obsession with fear, hysteria and fundamentalism. When things get sketchy like that, men who use femininity as a palette have to go underground. Straight men took the roles: Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence, Eddy Murphy. But now the black cloud has lifted. The nation is hopeful. A new generation of drag queens will be inspired.
What will you perform at Kiss & Fly on Wednesday?
I will be performing songs from “Champion,” which is my finest album and I’ve been making them since 1983. Inspired by the show, it’s about not playing small and owning your power. For many years, people wouldn’t speak out for fear of being Dixie Chicked. Now there will be no more belittling yourself so someone else can feel good about themselves. One song, “Never Go Home Again,” was inspired by contestant Akashia. She was kicked out of her house as teenager because her mother’s boyfriend felt uncomfortable about Akashia being gay. Of course I’ll be doing songs from my earlier albums, too, “Supermodel” and “Red Hot.” … I haven’t been to Austin in like 15 years, but I think I played this club before, when it was called Area.
RuPaul: Wednesday; Kiss & Fly, 404 Colorado St. www.kissandflyaustin.com. rsvp@kissandflyaustin.com
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” airs on Logo Monday nights and on VH1 on Tuesday nights. Shows can also be watched on rupaulsdragrace.com.
Music from the CD “Champion” is featured on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Here’s the video link for her single “Cover Girl”:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=52480206
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O&A SXSW 45: Lineology 7
More SXSW Lineology from Statesman intern Geoff West.
Tyson Simmons, 29, from Austin, at Mohawk Patio (with Laura Rifkin,
29)
Who are you here to see?
Monotonix
How long have you been in line?
About 20 minutes.
Do you think you’ll get in?
We should.
Have you missed any bands or had problems with long lines?
No, I haven’t missed anything. I’ve seen everything. This is my first year with a wristband and Thursday, I mean, I walked right up and right in to the three different shows I wanted to see. It’s been good. Oh and the Big Boi show — that was amazing. I walked right into that one. Had a great spot. It was wonderful.
How many shows have you been to?
Eight to 10 (since Wednesday).
Have you gotten your money’s worth?
Yes, definitely. I’m a little tired now so I just wanted to go to one place and stay there, but Wednesday and Thursday — got my money’s worth.
Have you met any new friends or seen old ones in line?
Yeah, actually. I was standing in line — not at a show — but at J Kelly’s Barbecue, and I [was having] a conversation with these two older guys. They’re like “Oh, are you here for music? Are you in a band?” “No. Are you guys in a band? (We had been talking for like 15 minutes). And they’re like “Yeah. We’re in band called Devo.” I’m like “Oh…” [laughs].
The conversation just got awkward all of sudden. So yeah, that was pretty awesome. After that, I said “Oh man, can I please take a picture with you?” (We were sitting next to them — they were so cool). They were like “Yeah!” I even got called out. The guy goes “Hey, weren’t you in line with Devo?” [Laura laughs]. I said “Yeah, that’s me!” So yeah, that was my highlight standing in line.
Do you feel a part of the festival?
Yes, definitely.
Do you think you’ll buy a wristband again?
I think I will. [Even if not], I’ll definitely be here every year. If I can — as long as I live in Austin.
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O&A SXSW 44: Lineology 6
More SXSW Lineology from Statesman intern Goeff West.
João Nogueira, 27, from Austin (originally Portugal), at The Parish
How long have you been in line?
Twenty minutes.
Who are you here to see?
The Wooden Birds
Do you think you’ll get in ?
Hopefully. It’s the first time this has happened to me. All the other times, I just walked right in — actually, it happened with Tori Amos too.
The last two years you came to SXSW without a wristband, why did you
decide to buy one this year?
Well, several reasons. The price, the time and at least once I wanted to buy one. It’s a great festival. One of the best. There was no name that attracted me — I just wanted to be a part of the festival. It’s great because you get to learn about new music.
Do you feel closer to SXSW with a wristband?
Yes, much more. You can walk around without any problems. You can just walk right in [to shows]. Even though it’s more for the music industry, it’s still good for people not in the business.
Is SXSW what you expected?
Oh yes. This festival is amazing. It’s a lot more organized than these big festivals with big names. And then there’s the possibility of getting to know new music and seeing, in one or two days, the bands we’ve just discovered. It’s really, really nice.
How many shows have you seen?
Probably 14 [since Wednesday].
Will you buy a wristband next year?
Well, if I was here probably but I’m not sure I will be here. I might be back in my country [of Portugal]. But yes, if I had the opportunity to buy a wristband at the same price, I probably would.
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