STEPH DEROSA: I’M OFF THE FLOOR! >>>

Guess what?  The floor was just as hard to sleep on night three as it was night one and night two.  I finally confessed to my husband that I was sleeping on a floor while I was at SXSW and he immediately booked me a room at a very nice hotel.  Tonight I will sleep like the 36-year-old warn-down, sun-kissed, ear-ringing mama that I am.  A special thank you goes out to the men (or women) who invented air conditioning, red wine, spas, and feather beds. 

All week I had been eyeing this especially authentic Spanish restaurant located across the street from Stubbs.  It’s called Jaime’s Spanish Village, and it’s the first place I hit up when my tired bones finally reached SXSW this morning.

Take it from me, connoisseur of all things hot and spicy, this place had the best chips and salsa my Texas palate has every experienced. You could taste the texture and flavor of the real corn masa used in the chips, and you could crunch down on the jalapeño seeds in the salsa.  Amen to my cold mug of Negra Modelo.

Full and happy I strutted down 6th Street for the third day in a row to try and find something new and exciting.  First stop was Emo’s where I caught Blitzen Trapper, a kick ass rock band represented by Van’s Warped Tour.

Blitzen Trapper took the stage at the Dell Lounge where sponsors Paste and Stereogum presented them with a free, brand new drum set.  This warmed my heart.  Seeing independent musicians try to make it out there, and having them be rewarded with kindness.  I get all warm and fuzzy with shit like that.  Don’t tell anybody.

Nyles Lannon from San Francisco graced us at Bourbon Rocks with a rock/folk trio.  It was nice to relax and take a step away from all the hard stuff out there.  My ears were thanking me.  So were my sweat glands, for there was abundant air conditioning in Bourbon Rocks.

Luke, who has a single on iTunes right now titled “Fresh” spelled it out for us at Treasure Island.  I’m usually not a fan of the hip-hop genre of music, but as I passed by Treasure Island, I had to step in for a listen. He’s very passionate, very poetic, and very rhythmic.

By the time I saw Von Guard at Touche on 6th Street, I was hungry again, tired, and ready for a break.  But I couldn’t â€" I had to stay for these guys.  They rocked the house, and set things straight for my weekend at SXSW.  These guys were what it was all about. 

So, as the daylight falls to darkness, my plans are to relax with a massage from Megan at Milk & Honey, then head over to the best wine bar I’ve ever plopped my ass into: Taste.  It’s barely been open a week, but owners Ryan and Reagan Macys (and their wives) have perfected the art.  These Texans serve the best ahi tuna with preserved lemons, and have the widest wine tasting menu around.  I really, REALLY wish they were in the 253.  Really, I do.

Well, my stay here in Austin has been wild and crazy and every bit of music-orgasmic for me, but I am ready to head home and see my friends and family.  Thank you Pappi Swarner and the Weekly Volcano for giving me a chance to storm the live music mecca with a vengeance.  And thank you dear, sweet eardrums for giving me the strength to not go deaf while doing so.