FEET at SXSW 2026: “Waymo’s, they’re surreal. It went into the wrong lane cutting up other drivers.”

The first band Hot Press saw a South By Southwest 2026, is the indie act FEET. Their sterling show set a benchmark on day one in Texas.

“Austin is fantastic,” grins vocalist George. “The bars, having some Lone Star beer - which is like the Carling of Texas. We set up a little casino last night at one of the bars playing blackjack with the locals. We used rubbish from a drawer as money. Batteries were 10, chopsticks, etc… We started hustling people. People were buying in with rings & jewellery. Everyone was great.”

A last minute motel booking left FEET way in the North of the city, leaving them relying on public ride-hailing services. How does the group feel about driverless cars?

“Waymo’s, they’re surreal. They still have a driver’s car seat, but the steering wheel is spinning around.

“Yesterday, it went into the wrong lane and it was cutting up other drivers. It definitely drives like a human.”

Their set at, Cheer Up Charlie’s, was coincidentally the same cursed stage Fontaines DC graced in 2019, when Deego’s amp blew and their gig was cut short after two tunes. Surely, the curse couldn’t strike again.

“We didn’t even have amps,” exclaims Callum. “The amps didn’t arrive. And when they did, the power was fucked.

“Our set was about to start at 1 o’clock and there was no drum kit. Shit, we’re fucked. We delayed it by half an hour.”

Were they lost in a wayward Waymo, we’ll never know. “Possibly, it’s in a car park spinning in circles,” scoffs George.

Before arriving in Austin, FEET were performing at the Colossus Festival in NYC. While transporting gear to an evening show, Mother Nature gave them a hearty New York welcome. “It was mental,” recounts the singer. “There was still snow everywhere. We didn’t pack for biblical rain. Then the last day it was sunny, like something out of a film.”

While spending time in Manhattan, the band had an epitome. “The vodka sauce slice,” they say with glee. “We ate loads of Prince St pizza. The Sicilian base, we fell in love with it.

“You know how the trend, in the UK and Ireland, is stone baked pizza. No, that’s got to go. We need to do square Sicilian style pizzas. It’s unbelievable. That needs to be the new gentrified pizza style. What they need is 5 English guys to start a Sicilian pizza place.”

As for the band’s ambitions at SXSW. “Shoot for the moon, whatever we can take. Tambourine endorsements, hit us up, we keep losing them. The future of FEET, an American tour, an American agent. I wouldn’t want to put a ceiling on it.”