“VICE Kills Texas” featuring A$AP Rocky and Trash Talk ~ SXSW 3.17.12 (Video)
On Saturday while heading to the NFOP showcase (which was amazing and the exact opposite of what I’m about to talk about), I passed a wall of official posters for the VICE party: VICE Kills Texas. Given my lack of seeing larger shows during south-by, I made a point to go out with a bang. It doesn’t hurt when A$AP Rocky and Trash Talk are together on the same bill. For some reason I felt I really shouldn’t miss this show.
I arrived an hour early just to make sure I got in, and it took about another hour for me to get in once the doors opened (words of wisdom for promoters: please don’t use iPads for guest-lists, paper works just fine). Upon entering, I was one of the first inside, so I grabbed a few drinks and then found some space on the rail. Lee Spielman’s (Trash Talk) first few words were, “Hey guys… throw your beers around, fucking shits free!” Watch the first segment of the video below and you’ll understand why I lasted a good ten seconds before retreating to the back. Trash Talk’s twenty-five minute booze fueled set was raw and insane! There came a time when I needed to go further back because folding chairs and trashcans began to fly through the air. After watching the guitarist climb one of hanging stacks in effort to leave the stage in true punk (or death) style, it became apparent to me that there was nobody running or securing this party. It was just rabid fans, crazy artists, and enough free alcohol to last till St. Patrick’s Day 2013.
It took at least another 30-45 minutes for A$AP and his mob to appear. Once again I decided to secure rail space, in hopes to get extra-trill. Again, I lasted about ten seconds (shoutout A$AP’s tie-dye Thrasher hoody) before I bailed and went stage right. This is where the first instance of beer throwing occurred. The guy was right next to me and he was definitely w-a-s-t-e-d. If he wasn’t black-out after his first ‘Wassup’ whooping, I’m sure he was by about 2:53 (watch the white and red hat come from right to left and throw a cheap shot) and 3:10 when wasted boy comes back for more.
At this point I really didn’t know what to think, but it was very clear that A$AP Rocky wasn’t fronting when he said “my nigga’s are everywhere around you”. As for the final throw-down, it wasn’t about Squadda B’s bandana; it was about the crowd being relentless, testing threats, and ultimately not giving a fuck. When I saw A$AP and his brother (plus about 4 others) leap from the stage into the crowd, I straight ran to the bar. What’s so amazing is that amongst all the chaos, the bartenders were still serving drinks (at this point it’s about 3:30 AM). Exactly what we all needed, more booze. In that case: I’ll take two tallboy’s – please pour those on my head, and one vodka soda (w/three limes) for my cab ride to the airport.
The walk down 6th was interesting, as I was trying to process the night/morning’s events. In the end, I decided each entity involved was at fault – from the fans, to A$AP Mob, to VICE. Fans: If I continually throw beer at a family member even they would decide enough is enough (let alone some dudes on-stage rapping about “coke and white bitches”). A$AP Rocky and his mob: you’re high profile artists now, you can’t just jump in the crowd and start pounding people’s faces. VICE: you guys are into viral shit, are you sure you didn’t purposely book two artists together that are bound to almost kill part of Texas?
I don’t really know what trill means, but I’m pretty sure if you were at the VICE party on St. Paddy’s… you in fact got trill. This was by far one of the wildest shows I’ve ever been to! Enjoy the footage.
