Hold on to yer butts guys, SXSW is nigh. We’ve got mere days before Austin turns into the creative/partiers playground it does every March, and if you didn’t know, The Deli has a lot goin’ on. We’re handing out 10,000 free print editions of The Deli to people with cool haircuts just like you, for one, and we’re also adding to the creative dreamland mix a bit with a Stompbox Exhibit at the Convention Center and a Synth Space at the same spot. If you’re into the idea of playing around and making weird noises with cool music tech, this shit is not only free and right downtown, it’s also open to anyone whether you sold a kidney to get a badge or you remained poor and multi-kidneyed.
All this thinkin’ on SXSW was on my mind when I saw somethin’ that had me remembering South Bys gone this week, in the form of a new Austin-tacular music video by hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm. My awareness and subsequent jamming of this group came about first because of SXSW, SX 2013 to be specific, when I stopped the husband side of Riders Against the Storm, Chaka Mandla Mhambi Mpeanaji, on the street to shoot his bitchin’ feather includin’ outfit for my friend ATX Streetstyle‘s blog (click through here, if you wanna see one damn well-dressed local musician). Chaka told me he was a teacher and a musician, which I typed into my phone and let him hurry on his SX way. I found RAS later when I looked him up at home, and their high-energy, big-thoughts music got me hooked real quick. But, y’know, I’m a bit of a sucker for soul, skill and some goddamn good rappin’.
And that, plus ass shakin’, is what you’ll get in the boombastic, butt-focused "Booty Sweat" music video that RAS released on YouTube on Feb. 26. That this video is pure Austin love is no surprise to me, as the people I’ve known around town that have had the love for RAS the hardest have always been the most Austin folks I know, and with the optimistic thing it seems that RAS has got goin’ on, that they love the ATX back makes sense. This vid is good, good Austin stuff, and if someone else in this town puts out another video even half this fun this year, well we’ll have one hell of a year on our hands. Get that booty sweatin’ good y’all, and come on by The Deli’s shit this SX if you got a free, mildly sober moment (perhaps too much to ask, just come on by whatever your BAC).