Mojo Nixon, Iconic Wildman

Backstage mayhem with Mojo in 2018

Ouch—this one stings.

South By Southwest, with each passing year, seems to lose a bit of its luster, succumbing more and more to a corporate sheen. Yet, as a peripheral member of the Allen Oldies Band, there was always one beacon of joy amidst the SXSW chaos—playing the Mojo’s Mayhem showcase at the iconic Austin Continental Club, curated by the inimitable wild man, Mojo Nixon. But this year, there’s a void in the festival lineup that mirrors the ache in my heart.

For years, on Saturday mornings during SXSW, the scene outside the Continental was nothing short of electric. Fans eagerly lined the sidewalk, awaiting the raucous revelry of Polish Pete & the Polka? I Hardly Know Her Band, whose spirited march served as a wake-up call to none other than Mojo himself. Perched across the street at the Hotel San Jose, Mojo’s buck-ass naked balcony appearance was as much a herald of mayhem as the groundhog's shadow is of impending weather.

Let’s just say mayhem was 100% guaranteed.

And so was Mojo. Until now.

Mojo Nixon has departed this mortal coil, leaving behind a legacy of music that deserves celebration.

Rock on, dear Mojo.