Thank you!

#1 BIRTHDAY PARTY LAST NIGHT!

To everybody who threw my birthday party, DJ'd my birthday party, or came to my birthday party THANK YOU! (except that one asshole who shoved me then asked if I was turning 19)

The turn out was great, the music was great, and I at least thought there was an abundance of drinks and love to go around. Overall, a great success!

Highlights included: Fernando getting a COP to tell me happy birthday, Blake and company going and getting a second keg just in time before closing, all the birthday hugs and kisses

Special thanks to CATATAK (namely Blake, Taylor and Ernie - who got a fine for the ruckus), Brion aka B-the-Beat, TheFamousish/Doneski, Luke aka Simian Gibbons, Kristine, Mike, Michael, Kathleen, Chris C, anybody who pitched in for kegs...


#2 A LOOK BACK: Cave Party


[more images by Eugene Hsu]
The Longhorn Cavern has, throughout time, been occupied by extinct animals during the Ice Age, Comanche Indians centuries ago, Confederates during the Civil War and allegedly Sam Bass, an infamous Texas train robber. Last Thursday night, it housed Fantastic Fest’s closing party in dedication to the film, City of Ember, as well as hundreds of partygoers, notable Austin DJs and an open bar. A star of the movie, Bill Murray, also stopped by to join the festivities.

Fantastic Fest joined forces with Austin party host The Famousish to put on this rare event – a full blown party in a real, historical cave. According to their webpage, Longhorn Cavern State Park puts on many different events and rents the cave out for private events, but this was the first time for many to go to a dance party in a cave. “I loved the cave party. I mean, dancing to good music with good people is fun enough – but in a cave? It blew my mind,” said Bethany Burke.

City of Ember is a film adaptation of the 2003 novel The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau. The plot of the movie follows two children who live in an underground city only meant to be inhabited for 200 years. As the lights in Ember begin to go out, the children go on a journey to find a way to save their city.

Thursday night, the setting of the film was emulated through the aesthetic of the cave, which had several flights of stone stairs leading down to a massive underground lair of stalagmites and stalactites. The music boomed from the DJ booth and echoed off the many walls of the cavern. Sixty-three miles away from the city, Austin partiers danced and socialized with big names such as Tim League, the founder of Alamo Drafthouse, Gil Kenan, director of City of Ember, Harry Knowles, distinguished film critic, and, of course, Bill Murray.

Despite the extraordinary location, Bill Murray was the main attraction of the night. As soon as he entered the mouth of the cave, masses of photographers, videographers and fans rushed toward him. During his stroll through the cave, he greeted guests who swarmed around him, shook hands, solicited hugs, smiled for photographs and signed autographs. Murray was allegedly spotted at other locations in Austin this weekend, such as the Arkansas v. Texas football game and music venue Emo’s.

The festive night was a closer to this year’s Fantastic Fest, a weeklong film festival dedicated to specific genres of film such as science-fiction, horror, crime and Asian. Most party guests finally boarded buses at 4 a.m. to arrive in Austin by dawn. However, this does not daunt James Morua. “I’m ready for round two,” he said.

#3 SAUL WILLIAMS REVIEW
was amazing. He was so insightful and the show was like a dance party meets poetry slam meets rap concert. Amazing. He was dressed really cool too, with teal feathers in his hair. I've been a huge fan for a long time and he solidified this this Thursday. He is definitely an inspiration for my writing and a great poet/lyricist/performer. What a guy, if you missed - you missed out.

Opening for him was Ringo Deathstarr, a popular local Austin band, that I'm a sure you all know about. It was actually a first time for me to see them and I really liked their sound. On their site it says they are "Ambient/Shoegaze/Pop" but I likened their noise/grunge with Sonic Youth and the guitar and vocals with an indie Yo La Tengo-esque sound. Two bands I love, so I give them five stars.

Phew, long post.
-TD