Austinist Interviews SXSW: Best Fwends

Among the background of puke piles that wallpaper your MySpace page, we noticed you offer "creative consulting." Has anyone taken you up on this, and of what would it consist?

Anthony: You know, we still haven't found the right client to work with. We would put together a package deal depending on the needs at hand.

Best Fwends fans can find some pretty great footage of you dudes playing SXSW in '06 at the Moshi Moshi party. Can we expect things to get wilder in '08, as in wilder than underwear and broken microphones?

Anthony: Our new show is going to be unlike any we've ever done before. Since I lost my laptop and iPod and we've had to write new songs, we're going to go out on a limb and make our show amazing. And we're playing super early so that we can go see our friends' bands play! (edit!: I just found out we're playing super late on another showcase!)

Dustin: We may or may not be playing a few (12 or 13) a capella country songs.

Some would say the music of Best Fwends is difficult to categorize. How do you perceive your music?

Anthony: I would say that it is difficult to categorize! I don't know how to describe the joy that we get from making fun music. We’ve never had a particular orientation for our band... fast and fun... but also slow and fun...or slow and frightening! Or senssssual...not! Bands can be so much more than the equipment they buy and the clothes that they wear. At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I think that most "musicians" don't really know that you can make music in any way with any instrument...a lot of what they sell at Guitar Center is consumer crap. Not that that is necessarily wrong! Anyway, I like resisting categorization.

Since you two are Austin guys and have played SXSW in the past, what's your take on the changes the festival has undergone in the past couple of years?

Anthony: I think its crazy! I mean, it’s fun and amazing and really good for the local economy. But doesn't it sort of scare you a bit? I am living in Fort Worth right now and people STILL ask me if I know a place they can stay! It’s almost just BARELY too intense. Usually by Friday or Saturday I’m skipping shows that I had looked forward to for months. By then, it’s just too much of a good thing. I swear I am not complaining though. I can't wait to get in on all those free shows and see Daryl fucking Hall!

What would be the ultimate double bill for Best Fwends? Best Fwends and Hall and Oates? Cher?

Anthony: Daryl fucking Hall!! In my dreams!

After all of your equipment was stolen at the end of last year, and given your promise to buy a drum set, is Best Fwends moving in the non-prerecorded backing track direction these days?

Anthony: Yes! I got a drum set through craigslist, and it's doin' me right! Of course, I live in Fort Worth and Dustin lives in Austin, and neither of us have a car, so we're in a funny position right now. And Moshi Moshi decided not to release our last 7"! But the future is looking wild as hell. Now it’s my turn to ask you a question: would it be too insane of us to change our band name?

Nah, change is always good. Hey readers - have any good suggestions for the duo?

- Best Fwends: [myspace]
- Best Fwends play the Austin Children's Museum with Mika Miko, Mae Shi and more on March 13th at 12:00 a.m., and the Panache party at Beerland with the above, An Albatross, Finally Punk, Apes, and more on March 16th at 8:00pm.