Kate McKinnon’s Audible Series Heads Will Roll Launches at SXSW
March 20, 2019 |
By Lola Hagopian

Kate McKinnon took over Javelina during the first weekend of SXSW. Well, at least her voice did.

Heads Will Roll (Not the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s song) is Broadway Video and Audible’s first joint venture together and it’s a 10 episode star studded audio comedy. The first of its kind series was created by Kate McKinnon, of Saturday Night Live fame, alongside her sister Emily Lynne.

The launch event took place Friday, March 8, through Sunday, March 10.

Let’s just say it had our heads rolling into another time, medieval times that is.

Javelina, located on the southern end of Rainey Street, was turned into the Night Realm Tavern with great attention to detail. Who doesn’t love a good theme? From food, (turkey legs, corn on the cob, meat pies and more) and drinks to the staffs’ attire!

In Audible’s Heads Will Roll Kate McKinnon voices Queen Mortuana. Of course, with it being an audio comedy, you can expect royal decrees like: “Eat my cleavage merchant peasants” and “I am from a long line of tyrannical queens, and you are from a long line of peasant trash.” 

Though the event didn’t give too much away about the audio series, from what we did hear, I’m expecting a lot of people to look at me like I’m crazy when I have my AirPods in, laughing out loud by myself like a lunatic.

This event had to be one of my favorite installations at SXSW this year because it wasn’t over the top but engaging enough to make me interested in what the installation was about. Also… the details. I can’t get over the details. I have been to Javelina on a regular weekend so, as you can imagine, I noticed the changes pretty quickly. Especially the large pillory in the back patio of the bar. Naturally I had to get a picture of myself in it. I instantly knew that the “guilty of catching feels” was the sign for me!

All in all, I’m really excited to experience an audio comedy. The concept reminds me of a mashup for a podcast and fictional Drunk History. The star studded vocal cast doesn’t hurt either. We’ve got Meryl Streep, Peter Dinklage, Tim Gunn, the Queer Eye Fab Five, and many many more! I can’t wait to listen!

Coming to Audible, May 2, you can preorder it now through Amazon or the Audible app! Want a free download? Go to audible.com/hwrVIP and try this code: 9SAGFQE49NRKK

Not sure if it will work for everyone, but it’s worth giving it a try. 


Photos and article by guest contributor Lola Hagopian of The Girl Who Sits.