ask amishi: sxsw
With SXSW fast approaching, Yancey and I needed help navigating the festival’s hectic schedule. There was only one place to turn: Amishi. Over the course of a spirited 15-minute (or so) conversation, Amishi cuts a straight path through this year’s overcrowded Austin lineup. Click through for the carnage.
Joe: So you’re going to help us decide what to see at SXSW
Amishi: You’re not actually going to do what I tell you, right?
Yancey: Alex is.
Amishi: So what do I…?
Thao, We Brave Bee Stings & All
Yancey: This first song isn’t even SXSW related. This is just a song I want to get your opinion on. First off, what do you think the gender is of the person singing?
Amishi: I dunno. Sounds female?
Yancey: You’re right. I thought it was dude. So let’s go through the eMusic showcase. We already know how you feel about Bon Iver. Let’s try…
Amishi: I listened to one of their songs before. I think I liked it.
Yancey: Does that mean you’re tired of this?
[Amishi is flipping through a magazine]
Joe: I don’t think you’re taking this seriously.
Amishi [testily]: I’ve heard this song before!
Yancey: OK, here’s Peel.
Amishi: You know, I feel really self-conscious when you’re just watching my face. [Grows more agitated]. Do you guys even need me anymore?
Yancey: This is Delorean. They’re from Barcelona.
Amishi: …
Yancey: Is this something you would have danced to in Miami on New Year’s Eve?
Joe: You went to Miami for New Year’s Eve?
Amishi: My friends were going.
Yancey: So you just do whatever your friends do?
Amishi: …
Joe: How do you like the band?
Amishi: This band is fun.
Yancey: OK, this band is playing a jillion times. I’m wondering if we should go see them. They’re called No Age.
Amishi: So you want me to tell you if you should see them or not?
Yancey: Yes.
Amishi: Sure. Why not.
Yancey: Here’s another one
Amishi: Who is this?
Yancey: The Cool Kids.
Amishi: They’re playing at SXSW?
Joe: You didn’t think they’d have rap at SXSW?
Amishi: I didn’t know. [pause] I like this. It doesn’t sound like mainstream hip-hop.
Yancey: OK, this I’m going to see no matter what you say. This is Santogold.
Amishi: So far, I don’t hate anything.
Yancey: OK, let’s try to find something different.
High on Fire, Surrounded By Thieves
Amishi: OK, you can turn this off.
Joe: You don’t like this?
Amishi: I just don’t like intro’s.
Joe: You don’t like intro’s?
[Vocal begins]
Amishi [nonplussed]: Um. Yeah. This reminds me of the kind of music people listen to in India.
Yancey: In India?!
Amishi: Indian guys, all they listen to is death metal. And Iron Maiden.
Yancey: I’m amazed. I guess I don’t know much about India.
Amishi [agreeing]: No.
Think About Life, Think About Life
Amishi: Is this the same band?
Yancey: No.
Amishi: It’s OK.
Amishi [reading screen]: David Banner?
Joe: Is this your kind of thing?
Amishi: No.
Yancey: Is this what the girls in India listen to?
Amishi: [giggles]
White Rainbow, Prism of Eternal Now
Amishi: How long are you guys going for?
Joe: Two months.
Yancey: No. Just a month. Joe & I got a little bungalow together.
Amishi: You should just go and work from there.
Yancey: So any thoughts on this at all?
Amishi: Is there any more to the song?
Yancey: No.
Amishi: …
Yancey: We should play you Alex’s band.
Amishi: What are they called?
Yancey: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.
Amishi: What?!
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Yancey: What do you think of the bass on this?
Amishi: [laughs]
Yancey: Do you think you’d like to go to SXSW?
Amishi: I would. I don’t really get to go to shows.
Yancey: That’s because you always get kicked out.
Joe: What?!
Yancey: I didn’t tell you about this? I went to see Beach House and Amishi was there with her sister. The next thing I know, Amishi is getting kicked out for underage drinking.
Amishi: I’m not underage, my sister is. She was going to be 21 in 7 days. The bouncers at the Bowery Ballroom are too uptight.
Yancey: What do you picture SXSW being like?
Amishi: Crazy. Lots of people, lots of shows, confusion. Because you don’t know what to see.
Joe: That’s why we’re asking you.
Yancey: What do you think of the Eliot Spitzer news?
Amishi: What?
Yancey: Eliot Spitzer, he’s the Governor of New York, he’s been —
Amishi: [reading onscreen] — linked to prostitution. That’s pretty dumb.
5 days at the SXSW music conference: $650. 15 minutes on SXSW with Amishi: priceless.
(My favorite part: death metal in India!)
Is Amishi making a political statement with the raised fist or threatening Yancey?
Amishi is going to start getting recognized on the street. Hope all this fame doesn’t go to her head!
hilarious!
As the only 17 Dotter to have seen The Pains of Being Pure At Heart live, I feel I should say that they are very very good, even when crippled by jet lag and confused by the British practice of not tipping the bar staff.
Amishi sounded a bit testier than usual.
Yancey and Joe: Please don’t piss her off to the point where she is no longer willing to contribute to 17dots. Her posts are some of the best on the site!
Seriously, don’t upset Amishi! I liked the tidbit about death metal and Indian guys. I wouldn’t have guessed that.
I think Amishi and I have the same taste in music.