SXSW Blog - Day 5

"BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS..."

The chant echoes through the streets of East Austin. Rivmixx is on "the wrong side of the tracks". On our first day at SXSW Rivmixx was told to be careful if venturing to East Austin. "... there are homeless Mexicans wandering around down there" (warning duly noted). So when Rivmixx passes the Levies/ Fader party, walks across the rusty old train tracks and heads a dozen blocks into what is essentially Austin's ghetto (think Moss Side but with Mexicans instead of Mancs and you're getting there).

"BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS..."

Laurel Collective have just finished a truly unique acoustic set in what can only be described as a manger in the garden of this East Austin shacks. With only a tiny PA, their guitars, casiotone and members of the audience on "bones". Yes, you heard that right... the audience have found a bag of bones (they look like human thigh bones but Rivmixx hopes they are animal bones) and are rhythmically running them along the corrugated iron barn structure. This is something truly strange, scary and yet we know that something special is happening.

"BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS..."

From nowhere comes a gimp dressed in a pink lycra zebra print jumpsuit... finished off with a full-face gas mask. Now things are getting stranger. Rivmixx really should be leaving when the Five O arrive at the party "y'aaaal, y'aaaal really must turn that music down" the office notices the gimp and turns on his heel (the locals are letting rip, best let them get on with it).

This gimp is dancing, some dude is rapping, they are called Treasure Mammal.

The crowd are chanting "BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS..." The 'rapper' launches into what is essentially an ode to drugs... Crystal Meth, Crystal Coke, Crystal Marijuana, Crystal Gravy... WHAT!!!

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE??? There are people hanging off the rafters, others are burning their beards.

"BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, BALLS..." this is the cult of Treasure Mammal.

As their myspace instructs: "On Your mark. Get set. Gay!"
http://www.myspace.com/treasuremammal

(As a PS, Rivmixx spent most of the day at the Domino Publishing showcase in the old French Museum which is the most beautiful location. Laurel Collective open the event, Villagers are amazing and we witness a Yacht photoshoot in the roof of the old French Legation museum).