Music

SXSW Diary: Juan in a Million

by Colin Medley

I woke up Wednesday morning in a bit of a haze. You know those mornings where you wake up and you can’t remember where you are or why you’re there? That happened to me, though I quickly remembered that I was in Austin for SXSW and that the man next to me in bed was my travel partner Kyle and not someone else… Anyway, our host Dave decided to take us to his favourite Mexican breakfast restaurant, called “Juan in a Million.” I ordered something called the Don Juan, which was a giant mound of potato, egg, bacon, and cheese, all mushed together, with some tortillas on the side so that you can make your very own breakfast soft tacos. Boy, it was filling, and at only $3.50, economical too!

We got dropped off at the Austin Convention Center to pick up our wristbands and festival guides, the convenient pocket-sized books that lists who is playing where. Kat, Kyle and Christian got artist wristbands so they were allowed in to the special “Artists Lounge,” while I had to wait outside like a fool. Luckily, they brought me out some free beer, which I proceeded to spill all over Kat. Oopsie!!!

The annual Canadian Blast BBQ was happening across the street at Brush Square, so of course we had to check it out. There were obviously a lot of Canadians there, and I even ran in to my old friends Grant Lawrence and Chris Kelly of CBC Radio 3, who were there broadcasting the show live. Speaking of the show, I saw a few bands play, most notably the Born Ruffians, who played all new songs I believe. People were into it for sure.