Theremin love. Credit: Richard Whittaker

Of course, badge-holders have been hitting the SXSW party scene, so we’ll give a quick shout out to the organisers of last night’s The Futures of the Past steampunk party. Not only did they do the honorable and provide attendees with the one thing every SXSW attendee seems to crave (BBQ, baby!) but they also laid on the entertainment thick and fast. With a genius performance by Austin’s own diva of despair Luna Tart, tumblers, theremin concerts, mad creations from the Austin Robotics Group and a frickin’ Tesla coil (Coolest. Piece. Of. Electrics. EVER), it was the future as HG Wells told us it would be, where men with large moustaches and women with parasols canoed to the moon and met tin Venusians.

This article appears in March 9 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.