This week, I did something that I don't usually do: I watched a band play. I had no choice really as Austin has been plunged deep into the SXSW Festival and every nook and cranny of the city has gotten in on the act of musical showcasing. The Mexican food joint down the street has a stage set up. The coffee place I frequent has hopped onto the "band"-wagon and converted its parking lot into a venue. Today, I inadvertently attended a concert while buying a slice of pizza.

Now here is a confession: while I love music, I do not care for live music. Having it performed in front of me rarely enhances the listening experience. In fact, many times it detracts. There was one concert I attended two summers ago: David Bowie's Reality Tour with the Polyphonic Spree opening. Great music, no doubt, but when you are standing on your feet for hour three sandwiched between the yuppies who still want to feel vital and the folks who had three too many, it loses its luster. Now add 50,000 more people and balmy weather and set it at Tommy Hilfiger Stadium.

It is ironic to say the least that I have moved here to Austin, the live music capital of the world. And now after only six weeks of residence, I want the city back from these tourists. I have developed that much of a sense of ownership. I want out of this saturation where every other male haircut is architectural, every other surface is flyered, where every other band name sounds like random dictionary pages stuck together. In fact I may have seen Random Dictionary Pages Stuck Together while I was buying socks.