If, like me, you are not at the South by Southwest confab (conflag?) (whatever), you probably have some good reasons. Can't get off work, lack of funds, the beer is too expensive, too many damn hipsters, it involves putting on shoes --- the list goes on.
For the last four years, there has been a great alternative to SXSW. I hope by now, you are familiar with Couch by Couchwest -where the beer is cheap and the only hipster is you. CXCW is an on-line music festival featuring a staggering number and variety of talented folks who submitted specially made videos specifically for the festival. Often, the videos feature couches. Often they don't. They may be filmed in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, on front or back porches, or in wide-open fields. Jonny Fritz when he still went by
Jonny Corndawg recorded one from the inside of a drainage pipe.
The atmosphere
around Couch by Couchwest is low-key, laid back, and light-hearted. Tacos are a popular food, beer is the drink of choice (often), and most importantly, the music is mind-blowing.
If you are a regular Ear to the Ground reader you probably already know about CXCW and I hope you've been keeping up. The festival is on day four, and if you haven't tuned it yet, you have some catching up to do. Go now to
Couchbycouchwest.com.
Ear to the Ground favorites like:
The Foresters
Sci-Fi Romance
MAKAR
Tim Lee 3
The Imperial Rooster
Tipi Valley
Todd Farrell, Jr.
Jeanette Lynne
(And probably some I'm forgetting (sorry!))
have already made an CXCW'14 appearance. Plus - we've been introduced to some amazingly talented folks who will more than likely grace our pages soon.
We expect to see The End Men, Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray, and much, much more the before the festival wraps up.
Among the most buzz-worthy moments so far has been
Jamie Painter's cover of Jason Isbell's Cover Me Up which has earned a recommendation from Mr. Isbell himself. Oh and
Two Mule Blues set shit on fire.
So, in conclusion, I get why you're not at South by Southwest. I'm not there with you, but why the heck aren't you at Couch by Couchwest? Shoes are optional and probably not encouraged.
