Hari Leigh's SXSW Diary – Part II

Yesterday we brought you the first installment of comedian Hari Leigh's SXSW diary. Today, it's time for part-two, wherein Hari's road-trip is but a memory and she finally experiences the festival:

Ah, Comedy Central Blog, my humble beginnings. My private diary when I was sweet and anonymous and full of big ideas about comedy and the world. I return to you after the whirlwind of fame that has turned my life upside down ever since having my picture in the local Austin Chronicle. Reading my last post, it seems like a lifetime ago as I now cannot wander the streets of Austin without hearing the hushed murmurs of, "look, it's Hari Leigh," or being asked to pose for a picture for people's adoring relatives. But that's showbiz. And that's what you get for being a part of SXSW's burgeoning comedy chapter.

Put on by local funnyman and all around great guy, Charlie Sotelo, the show was split between two conjoined venues, Esther's Follies and The Velveeta Room, and was a great success thanks to The Fun Bunch’s Scott Aukerman helping to put together an enviable line-up. Hordes of comedy fans got to enjoy sets from Mr. Shows Brian Posehn, Best Week Ever's Paul F. Thompkins and Janeane "no introduction needed" Garofalo. I kicked the Velveeta room off with a bang and continued to sense the comics' gratitude as they went up even several hours later. I know that when Human Giant's Rob Huebel asked me to wash his sweaty athletic shorts, what he was really saying was, "Thanks, for jumping on the grenade Hari, it's hard going first but you really set the mood." And I was glad to do it, as I was free the rest of the night to enjoy my favorite performers and party like it was SXSW 2008. Which in fact, it was.

I felt lucky the rest of the night to be in such good company. I laughed uncontrollably for hours. Josh Fadem and Jonah  Ray, two of my Los Angeles compatriots, made our town look really good. Tig Notaro and Morgan Murphy, two of my female compatriots made our gender look really great. And Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, and Reggie Watts made NYC look less like an overcrowded refugee camp and more like the breeding ground for great artists who thrive and create by feeding off of it's intensity. Veterans and visionaries, all.

One of the highlights for me was when Street Carnage–a new project by a creator of Vice Magazine, Gavin McInnes–had a slideshow malfunction for their Do‚Äôs-and-Don‚Äôts-reminiscent act, and Gavin had to fill their timeslot with impromptu stand-up the likes of which if written and planned would probably be barred Lenny Bruce-style from any comedy club in the country. Musing on the perils of cocaine use and being given lubrication laced with meth as a wedding present, Gavin shocked the crowd into submission and me into a cackling ball of total amazement. All in all, SXSW made comedy history this year and I have a feeling it‚Äôs only getting better.

Saturday, I attended Mess With Texas, a rogue show in Waterloo Park with comedy and music split between three massive stages. There I saw great sets from bands like Crystal Antlers, Darker My Love, and The Breeders. The best part of my day was relaxing in the hot sun conspiring about politics, comedy and life with my new idol Janeane Garofalo. She kept referring to herself as "Grandma," which, aside from being adorable, made me want to remind her how many millions of nerdy guys all across America would love to sample Grandma's cookies. This is a woman who inspired a generation to smoke weed out of crushed soda cans and willingly apply for jobs at The Gap. A sweltering but really fun day at a jam packed event.

I had a truly great time at SXSW this year. The festival reminded me of an Indie Rock Mardi Gras, its main Sixth Street drag like a tight pants clad Bourbon St. where instead of getting plastic beads for flashing your big tits, you get a pair of plastic neon wayfarers for flashing your small ones. I will definitely be back next year, definitely in my private jet.

-Hari

[Photos by Cassie Wright]