It’s always great to see old friends, but it’s even better when you get to play live with them after not seeing each other for a few years. A few weeks before SXSW 2016, I received a call from my friend Mattia Medina, vocalist and guitarist for the Latin Grammy-nominated Venezuelan rock band Charliepapa. They had been selected to play an official showcase at SXSW and wanted me to perform live with them. I was honored to accept the invitation, not only because they are long-time friends but also because I truly respect their work as artists and consider them one of the most prominent contemporary rock bands in Venezuela. Unfortunately, Felix Hoffmann, the drummer for Charliepapa, wasn’t able to come down to Austin. However, another fellow talented Venezuelan musician who also happened to live in town, Claudio Ramirez, took his place behind the drums for this performance.

We had a blast during their stay in Austin, TX. Claudio and I showed them around our favorite places in town, indulging in tons of BBQ, breakfast tacos, and more locally brewed beers than we probably should have. We also had the pleasure of meeting Ender Martos, a gifted artist who creates beautiful sculptures and paintings using very unusual repetition of patterns and colors. Spending time with Mattia, Jonathan, and Osh was incredibly enjoyable, and we had so much fun rehearsing for the show. The performance itself was awesome, with the audience showing us a lot of love, and many Venezuelans living all over Texas coming down to Austin to listen to Charliepapa live.

The night before they left, thanks to the initiative of Sergio Carvajal and Romina Olson from Tiburon Transmedia, we rented a few bikes and enjoyed riding all around the city at midnight when everyone had already left after SXSW had finished. They filmed us as we explored the city, and it’s an experience we’ll never forget. Here it is, enjoy riding with us all around Austin.