Most of the techies have left Austin by SXSW Thursday. Film screenings continue, and the Music options ramp up. Bill and I saw an excellent documentary about Roberto Clemente and also the first of four episodes about the rock band Bon Jovi. The Black Keys keynote was interesting to me, especially since we watched This is a Movie about The Black Keys on Monday. In the evening, I listened to a few musicians at the sanctuary and the chapel inside St. David’s church.

Clemente

As the star of our beloved Pittsburgh Pirates, Roberto Clemente was a hometown hero throughout Western Pennsylvania when I was growing up. I don’t remember seeing him play in person, but I definitely watched him on TV. I do remember hearing the shocking news about his death in 1972. This excellent documentary fills in the details of his life: his humble upbringing in Puerto Rico, his early baseball career, his 18 seasons with the Pirates, his death in a plane crash as he was returning from charity work in Puerto Rico, and his ongoing legacy. Interviews with family, friends, sports figures, and even Pirates fans enhance the story of Clemente’s life.

Keynote: The Black Keys

After watching This is a Movie about The Black Keys, I wanted to hear more from band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney (interviewed by Angie Martoccio from Rolling Stone). As demonstrated at the movie’s Q&A, Pat is definitely more talkative than Dan. According to Pat, their hometown of Akron, Ohio, is “a town where there’s not much to do, and the weather’s horrible.” They started playing together in 2001 and first performed at SXSW in 2003. A new studio album, Ohio Players, will be released soon.

Notable quotes, mostly from Pat:

• Pat: “I’d never been to an arena show until we played one. I wish I could go back and take a chill pill.”  Dan: “…or drink less Red Bull!”
• Pat: “There are definitely icky moments in the documentary.”
• Pat: “Drums are punishment for being the worst musician in the room. I didn’t really understand that drums were to keep time until much later.”

Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story

This documentary about the rock band Bon Jovi will be released as a four-part series on Hulu. The first episode premiered at SXSW. Deepak Chopra led the Q&A with his son Gotham (director), and band members David Bryan (keyboards), Tico Torres (drummer), and Jon Bon Jovi (singer). The band formed in 1983, so these guys are in their 60s now. Runaway, You Give Love a Bad Name, and Livin’ on a Prayer are perhaps their most famous songs. Per Tico: “Music is the closest thing to God. The world is a better place because of music.”

Steel Pedal Noah

Emily Barker

Folk Bitch Trio