St Deluxe at SXSW: Part II - Hangovers, Über-burgers and a Mexican Brekkie

Day 2 at SXSW. We wake up about ten in our communal room, hung-over and jetlagged but excited about the day ahead. The sad news about Alex Chilton passing away casts a bit of a shadow. Our show with Big Star was to be the highlight of the trip and we know a lot of our friends in Glasgow will be upset, having met and worked with him before. Looks like the gig on Saturday will now be a tribute to Alex.

Breakfast at the local Mexican cafe bolsters the morale and kicks the last of the hangovers. The food happiness descends. No gigs today, so we set off for the convention centre for a couple of meetings. We have productive chats, bump into some old pals from Spain and Korea, and blag as much free stuff as we can on the way. We feel this is our duty.

We have a load of flyers so head down 6th street which is the main location for gigs at the festival. People are generally friendly and receptive but the nodding and smiling might be down to our indecipherable accents. Whatever.

We decide we deserve a beer and head over to a Spanish outdoor party which promises free paella. True to form, Martin manages to blag a double portion. Me and Stuart get an outdoor massage from a nice woman called Catherine. The sun is shining and all is right with the world

Psych legend Roky Erickson is playing tonight with Okkervil River, on the same bill as Ray Davies, but for once the sensible decision is taken. It's a late show and we have two gigs tomorrow; the first is at lunchtime, so we reckon an early night is in order. Grabbing a few beers and an über-burger from Wendy’s, we head back to the student house where we're staying.

Roky is playing again on Saturday and I've got to see him then. To see the great man in his home town is too good a chance to miss. For now, though, I have Big Star tunes running through my head, Jamie and Stuart are sleeping like babies and I'm contemplating a last beer then a decent sleep. Funny old day.