Friday is Boss’ Day: Will The Boss show up at SXSW?
This is the SXSW version of our Boss’ Day report, and today we will attempt to create some wildly unsubstantiated rumors with our blatant fabrications. In other (shorter) words, April Fool’s a few weeks early.
So anyway … Bruce Springsteen has never shown up at SXSW, the industry’s biggest music conference, but hey, there is a first time for everything. Little Steven is speaking at this year’s conference, Alejandro Escovedo and The Hold Steady are playing, and the Working On A Dream Tour is set to kick off April 1 … so rumors are flying all around that The Boss is going to make the trek to Central Texas and do something. (Not really. Don’t send angry e-mails, OK?) Some scenarios:
1. He is the “special guest” listed on the flier for the Little Steven’s Underground Garage Friday day party at Antone’s, where he performs a rousing version of “Outlaw Pete” with Joe Ely and Little Steven.
2. He shows up Saturday for the Rachael Ray day party at Maggie Mae’s and performs with The Hold Steady. Then he hits the pit out back to grill up hot dogs for everyone.
3. Alejandro Escovedo, playing Friday night in Jo’s Coffee Shop parking lot, says “I’ve always been a big fan of the New Jersey songwriters … Here’s Bruce Springstein!” Ha, ha, an inside joke (if you were one of 18,000 people at the Springsteen concert in Houston last year).
4. As rumored, Metallica takes the outdoor stage at Stubb’s Friday night. However, lead singer James Hetfield is still sidelined with a stomach bug. Stepping in tonight? You know who.
5. You’re at Auditorium Shores on Saturday night, and the air is fragrant with the aroma of ganja as Explosions in the Sky drift through a set of their dreamy space rock. And that guy by the gate, the one with the dreadlock wig, selling roach clips … well, he has a Jersey accent.
6. Wait a minute, I thought there were only three Vivian Girls!
7. Norwegian punk rockers Patrick Swayze’s Ghost are plugging through a sweaty set at their Waterloo Records in-store. Lead guitarist Nigel leaps off the stage and sprains his ankle. The band’s guitar tech takes over and insists on counting off into something called “Outlaw Pete.”
8. The Decemberists preview their new album The Hazards of Love on Wednesday at Stubb’s. Unfortunately, the guest appearance by “Santa Claus” is nixed by band members at the last minute. Santa Claus? Mmm-hmm.
9. Before being dragged away by Austin police, Bruce Springsteen grabs a mic away from Ian McLagan and yells, “Rod Stewart is a pansy!”
10. All right, this is really stupid. But wouldn’t it be cool …
30 Days Out 
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