Tomorrow, I’m headed down to Austin, TX for four days to attend SXSW – the music industry orgy of booze, BBQ, Tex-Mex and list of bands that rivals the thickness of the phone book of Rhode Island. Since this is my first time headed to the fest and looking at the list of official and unofficial parties is giving me a headache, I’ll leave it up to the other guys out there to tell you who to see.

Aside from a brief layover in Dallas, this will be my first visit to the Lone Star state. As a way of getting in the right frame of mind for my visit, I’ve decided to turn to the Red Head Stranger himself – and Austin-resident – Willie Nelson for some sage advice. After abandoning Nashville’s buttoned up country music scene for Austin’s more laid back hippie vibe, Nelson became the face of the Outlaw Country movement of the early ’70s. Let’s check out this version of what may be my theme for the trip – Bloody Mary Morning…

Nelson’s seemingly never ending tour rolls on through June and includes a stop at the Summer Camp festival and several dates opening for DMB.

More Bloody Mary Mornings:

• Yonder Mountain String Band
• Dixie Chicks & Willie Nelson

Jeffrey Greenblatt

Jeff joined the Hidden Track team full-time in 2008 and helps guide the site in his role as Managing Editor and Social Media Coordinator. Each week Jeff pens Pullin' 'Tubes, Tour Dates and Bloggy Goodness in addition to features, video posts and more. Jeff is a graduate of The George Washington University ('98), with a degree in Journalism, and has worked in the media and technology industry for the likes of MTV, VH1, A&E and Joost.

Website - Twitter - More Posts