SXSW Survival Guide: Tips, Tricks and Advice From Artists Who've Been There

Posted by Spinner
Comments

Festivals bring out the survivalist in all of us -- especially at SXSW, where one must endure five nights of beer, BBQ and, well, ridiculous amounts of fun. As festival-goers, we know to stay hydrated and try (right) to fit in some sleep. But we wondered what performers themselves have to say about braving the heat and those long Austin nights. From cashews and Combos to sleeping pills and "very dark sunglasses," learn what bands do to get by.

The Flaming Lips

"If you haven't booked a hotel a year in advance then you're going to be sleeping in a tent in a park in the outskirts of town -- that's not the worst thing, it's pretty warm this time of year."
--Singer Wayne Coyne

WireImage

Javelin

"Bee pollen from Tom's mom's hive."
--Multi-instrumentalist George Langford

Roger Kisby, Getty Images

Delorean

"If I'm on tour, I always have sleeping pills. Perfect for flights, also!"
--Vocalist/Bassist Ekhi Lopetegi

Getty Images

The Temper Trap

"Get lots of sleep and take lots of vitamins before you even get to Austin. Get enough sleep before and be prepared to not sleep much."
--Guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto

Getty Images

Turbo Fruits

"Lots of water and lots of drugs. And some crawfish on the side."
--Vocalist/Guitarist Jonas Stein

Flickr

Girl in a Coma

"Gallon of water, peanut butter and bread, ear plugs, and hand sanitizer."
--Vocalist/guitarist Nina Diaz

WireImage

Nathaniel Rateliffe

"A flask, a neckerchief and ... I think that's it"

Nathaniel Rateliffe

Bear in Heaven

"Bottle of Herradura Silver.... Three gallons of water. Shades.... Taco Bell bucks. Pocket knife. One Speedo.... Essential oils.... Binoculars. Ear plugs. A BB gun and a miracle."
--Frontman Jon Philpot

Getty Images

Japandroids

"Water and a seat."
--Singer/guitarist Brian King

Getty Images

Watson Twins

"Earplugs, very dark sunglasses, Emergen-C and maybe a bottle of Aleve, too."
--Chandra and Leigh Watson

Getty Images

Pattern Is Movement

"Combos."
--Drummer Chris Ward

Flickr

The Black Angels

"Fake ID, water, a map, a flask ... and sometimes a ride home. At night I want glow-in-the-dark rave stuff, anxiety medicine and a walkie-talkie to find each other."
--Singer Alex Maas

Getty Images

Band of Skulls

"A copious amount of mind-altering drugs."
--Bassist Emma Richardson

Getty Images

The Sandwitches

"I'll have my pantyhose, Papermate pens, reefer, Australian gold and aspirin."
--Guitarist/vocalist Heidi Alexander

Flickr

Tyvek

"Hot water -- to drink and use in miso soup and oatmeal. The best thing about water is that it's a liquid, solid and gas, and there is water in beer. Maybe some cashews, too."
-- Singer/guitarist Kevin Boyer

Flickr

Surfer Blood

"I grew up in South Florida, so I would always bring a pair of scissors. I'd wear jeans, it'd get really hot the next day and I'd just cut them off."
--Frontman John Paul Pitts

Redferns / Getty Images

White Denim

"Toilet paper and water, I guess. With a festival like SXSW, everything you need is already there. Except maybe earplugs. That could help sometimes."
--Bassist Steve Terebecki

Redferns / Getty Images

These United States

"One of our label guys said, 'I think we can get you guys some free shoes. Do you want free shoes?' So we were like, 'F--- yeah, we want some free shoes,' because we're all getting pretty thin in the sole."
--Singer Jesse Elliot

Getty Images

Creed Bratton

"An AK-47, SAM missile, lots of water, a good shotgun, 'Rubber Soul' by the Beatles, some survivalist things. I also love to read Cormac McCarthy books, so maybe I will bring 'Blood Meridian' along. I may not have time to read."

NBC

Shwayze

"Baby wipes. Also, toothbrush, toothpaste, bottle of water, a cell phone charger. Oh, and socks."

WireImage

Deer Tick

"A good pair of shoes because of all the mud. A few of us would like some marijuana.... We're pretty simple: We just like to drink a beer and see a few incredible people play."
--Guitarist Ian O'Neil

WireImage

Nappy Roots

"I hope someone else brings weed so I don't have to, but other than that, a lot of water ... a bunch of college students' phone numbers and a lot of liquor. And knowing Big V, we'll have a bunch of strippers and swingers."
--Skinny

Getty Images

Acrylics

"Toilet paper, toothbrush, Afro pick, nail clippers, tampons, spare tire, sleeping bags, almonds ... water. Then when you're done with the water bottle, you could pee in it."
--Guitarist Jason Klauber

Flickr

Suzanne Vega

"I would say most of it's in my iPhone. I mean, all the applications I have in my iPhone.... The only thing they don't seem to have an app for is any sort of religious [thing], like praying."

Getty Images

The Rural Alberta Cross Advantage

"Sunscreen -- I'm very fair, I'm a Northern Alberta boy."
--Singer Nils Edenloff

Flickr

Sleigh Bells

"Mostly stuff that will not increase my changes of survival, like beef jerky and beer."
-- Guitarist Derek E. Miller

WireImage

Local Natives

"In the US it's just cash. It seems like in the US every time you go to a festival it's 'You can wear shoes and your shirt and that's all you can bring in.'"
--Bassist Andy Hamm

Redferns

Zola Jesus

"Patience! And nauseating amounts of perfume."
--Singer Nika Roza Danilova

Redferns / Getty Images

Male Bonding

"Pajamas and acid."
--Drummer Robin Silas Christian

Redferns / Getty Images

Suckers

"Lots of bananas to prevent cramping, a few pairs of socks and sunglasses you don't mind losing."
--Vocalist/multi-Instrumentalist Austin Fisher

Flickr

Circa Survive

"We got matches, trip wire, laser wire, candles and lighters. We have beta flashlights, AM/FM radios, safety flairs, life jackets.... We have several knives and an expensive compass."
--Singer Anthony Green