As the time of the great endeavor approaches, I get more and more fired up. Volunteering this year is taking up more and more time. I am working on the music panels again this year, and can’t wait to meet some more rock stars. Last year I met Ray Davies, and giggled like a kid when he played “Come Dancing” during the keynote speach. I shook hands with Ike Turner, who once shook hands with Elvis. (I don’t want to think about what else he might have done with those hands.) But my favorite SXSW rock star story is about David Byrne, who Sarah keeps insisting is an “AAAAAAAAlien”.

Last year, as part of my volunteer work, I worked on the crew that handles all the speakers for the music panels during the conference. One of those speakers was former Talking Head David Byrne. I’m a big fan, no question about it. He showed up, assistant in tow, and let me tell you the guy is a bit weird, even for a rock star. He was very gray haired, which shocked me a bit. He was very soft spoken and polite, which seemed to make sense after a while. After all, he’s a talking head, not part of The Who. He wore some kind of khaki colored jumpsuit that looked like he bought it at a construction workers clothing store for about 10 bucks. He doggedly promoted his label, but not his record. He went to bat for other people, which was very cool. Unfortunately, I was a pretty busy guy that day, and didn’t get to speak with him at length. However, later in the day, as I was rushing from one panel discussion to the next, I was passing through the back part of the Austin Convention Center through a section of unused booths for the music trade show. I look over, and there are David and his assistant, each enjoying a sandwich. The panelist green room had catered food and was very private, but he had chosen this strange little out of the way corner. If it’s privacy he’s afer, I thought, I should try not to bug him. However, making sure he was all right was a part of my job as a volunteer, so I gave him a little wave as I was passing and casually asked if he needed anything.

He looked right at me, with a mouth full of sandwich, kind of grinned, and said, “Mmmphh.” David Byrne talks with his mouth full.

I assumed that meant he was fine, and went on about my day. For the rest of the conference, and in fact ever since, I always laugh when I think of David Byrne, the Chewing Head.