We Luv Video
Zeke Barbaro (J'cuuzi photo by Manuel Gonzales / additional photos via Getty Images)
Volume 44, Number 28
Issue Supplement
SXSW 2025 Festival Guide, Part II
ON THE COVER:
news
SXSW 2025 Festival Guide
SXSW Offers Brain Chips for Depression
Depression isn’t just sadness, and brain implants aren’t just for Parkinson’s, panelists say
BY MATTEA GALLAWAY
Scholars Visiting Austin Discuss the Building Blocks of a “Just Economy”
Authors sit down at SXSW and UT to dissect moral economics
BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
At SXSW Reducing Carbon Comes in Many Flavors
Panelists share glimmers of hope for the climate
BY BRANT BINGAMON
Building Housing in a Hurry
Mayor Kirk Watson touts Austin housing success at SXSW panel
BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Emoting Through AI
Panelists say humanlike voices and AI visuals carry emotion
BY MATTEA GALLAWAY
Headlines / Quote of the Week
The Transformation of Dirty Sixth Has Begun
Cars at night and customers during the day
BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Printing Costs Will Spike for Austin-Area Newspapers With New Tariffs
Local papers expect as much as 25% increase in printing costs
BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
Mexican American Cultural Center Finalizes Phase 2 of Renovations
Fall 2025 reopening is still on track
BY MATTEA GALLAWAY
Taking Stock of Texas Bills Aimed at Cracking Down on Immigration
They include a proposed Texas Homeland Security
BY MARYAM AHMED
Bills Reignite Debates Over Church-State Separation
Texas lawmakers revive Ten Commandments and prayer in public schools legislation
BY LUCCIANA CHOUEIRY
food
Strip Mall Spotlight: Crossroads Shopping Center
Selling my soul down at the Chili’s
BY TAYLOR HOLLAND
music
SXSW 2025 Festival Guide
J’cuuzi Takes a Guerrilla Approach to Music and Performance
Local dance punks aren’t thinking too far ahead
BY CARYS ANDERSON
La Sécurité Comes Prepped for SX Round Three
Montreal art-punks boast newfound cohesion
BY CAROLINE DREW
Ken Pomeroy Has Paid Her Dues
22-year-old Oklahoman talks Cherokee heritage and 11-year career
BY DOUG FREEMAN
Six Local Acts to Discover at SXSW
Alongside out-of-town performers, these Austin-based showcasing acts make first-time – or rare – SXSW appearances
BY CARYS ANDERSON, CATALINA PEREZ AND MICHAEL TOLAND
The Big Names Leading SXSW Music’s 2025 Roster
Big Freedia, Immersion, and other established acts return to Austin
BY ANGELINA LIU AND CARYS ANDERSON
Unofficial Parties & Free Shows
Rounding Up a Good Time at Rodeo Austin
This year’s rodeo features fun for kids, music lovers, and enjoyers of carnival rides
BY KIMBERLEY JONES
Adapting “Weirdness” at SXSW 2025
Amid changes and challenges, the Festival attempts to preserve Austin’s spirit
BY CAROLINE DREW
Crucial Concerts to Enjoy as SXSW Wanes
Embrace the anarchy or wait for the masses to depart
BY CARYS ANDERSON, DEREK UDENSI, KAHRON SPEARMAN, MICHAEL TOLAND, KYRA BRUCE, JOE GROSS, KAT MCNEVINS, RAOUL HERNANDEZ, CATALINA PEREZ AND AMBER WILLIAMS
Live Music in Austin
BY DEREK UDENSI
screens
SXSW 2025 Festival Guide
SXSW 2025 Film Reviews
Scenes From the SXSW Red Carpet
It's full of stars
BY JOHN ANDERSON
Taking the John Waters Route to Female Sexuality in Fucktoys
SXSW narrative competition film embraces the “kinky and smutty and a little slutty”
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Braving the Wintry Mix of The Baltimorons
Jay Duplass gets back to directing with an unlikely Christmas movie
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
In SXSW Documentary Other Side, an Activist Fights to the End for Access to Medical Aid in Dying
Lynda Bluestein’s battle to die on her own terms
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Film Reviews
The Actor
A surreal-seeming noir about an amnesiac actor trying to piece together his identity
Black Bag
Steven Soderbergh's latest is a zippy, London-set spy yarn
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
Full-length cartoon features Porky Pig and Daffy Duck resisting new alien overlords
The Last Supper
Dramatization of Jesus' last days
Novocaine
Jack Quaid’s everyman action hero has a secret weapon – he can’t feel pain
October 8
Doc tracks the rise in antisemitism in America following the Hamas attack on Israel
Opus
Maybe don't accept the invite to the remote compound teeming with cultlike vibes?
arts & culture
SXSW 2025 Festival Guide
More LGBTQ+ Fun to Be Had in Austin on the Unofficial Side of SXSW
Catching the South By second-weekend wind
BY JAMES SCOTT
The Best of “Best of Austin”
Chronicle readers on the best places to see and be seen in Austin
Visual Arts Review: “Together in Dreams: A Tribute to David Lynch”
Outpost 512’s filmmaker salute is worth the journey
BY CAT MCCARREY
St. Paddy’s Day, SXSnacks, Sailor Moon, and More Weekend Events
Our recommendations for the waning days of the Fest
BY JAMES SCOTT, KAT MCNEVINS, LINA FISHER, KIMBERLEY JONES, MATTEA GALLAWAY, DEREK UDENSI AND CAT MCCARREY
Arts and Culture Events to Get You Off the Couch
It's spring break (for some of you), get out and have some fun
BY JAMES SCOTT, KAT MCNEVINS, LINA FISHER, MATTEA GALLAWAY, CAT MCCARREY, KIMBERLEY JONES, JAMES RENOVITCH AND JASMINE LANE
columns
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
BY MR. SMARTY PANTS
Day Trips: Renovations at the Alamo, San Antonio
The 300-year-old Alamo is on its way to being new again
BY GERALD E. MCLEOD
Opinion: The Moral Argument to Opt Out of X, Instagram, and Facebook
Given their owners’ immoral behavior and growing influence on the White House, it’s time to delete their apps
BY ERICH RIESEN
The Luv Doc: Crushing on Your Bro’s Bestie
Is gender the only thing keeping this dude from trying to get with me?!?
BY THE LUV DOC
Qmmunity: We’re All in This Together
There’s lots to do in queer Austin even after the circus is out of town – and non-queer people can come, too!
BY JAMES SCOTT
Free Will Astrology
Your weekly horoscope, March 14-20
BY ROB BREZSNY
Feedback
Letters to the editor, published daily
sports
The Verde Report: Austin FC Players Find Confidence Amid Frustrating Start to Season
Win-loss tally aside, there’s reason for optimism
BY ERIC GOODMAN
comics
