Yeah - i can see certain people finding it unfortunate. but they did technically have an OPEN call for bands. It is at least hypothetically representative of Columbus in the way that a lot of other stuff in Columbus is not. I hear complaints from bands all the time that they tried really hard to get a listen from (insert group or person here), but couldn't because they didn't have the right connections. Given that they had an open call (made available pretty widely on facebook too), it automatically gives them a leg up over a lot of other groups in Columbus, in terms of the "representative of Columbus" in my book. (Does DW give opportunities to bands, via open call/open audition? - I don't know, i'm just asking - it sounds like a great idea).

I'd still like to see someone from DW offer their services to them - given that it's such a no-brainer that a cooperation with DW is a good thing.

This attempt at being manipulative really is gross.

This attempt at trying to get out of a corner, by calling something gross, is humorous.

Sure - don't help them. I don't care. But if the complaint was REALLY that they are not representative of Columbus - and that somehow DW would have made it more representative, or that they should have involved DW somehow... why not help? (Or was that all really just a proxy for some less intellectual criticism?) Look - i wasn't the one who said that obviously involving DW was a no-brainer.

neither was anyone from dw

If no bands that play SXSW that are from Columbus respond to your open call...

It reads as a strikingly unofficial claim that the website is the official place to find info about the upcoming Columbus music showcases in Columbus, Ohio, and then in Austin, Texas when it really means it's just their official website for information on their showcases.

l would think if there were an official website on following Ohio bands who are playing SXSW it is probably the SXSW website.

"neither was anyone from dw"

Which is irrelevant...? If it's a no-brainer, it doesn't matter who said it? (that's usually how no-brainers work - anyone, even someone without a brain would agree). i understand if there are other reasons to not help. You feel the bands are being mislead (i doubt it), or you question how it's funded (through a legit fundraiser)... or you feel its not representative of Columbus as a whole (it had a pretty public open call)... or....

Of course, you don't have to do anything. I'm probably being more critical about this than I need to be. But... I thought that being critical in a slightly mean way was all part of the jovial DW rough-and-tumble spirit? Or was I misinformed?

what band are you in

I'm in the band called "Dana Lixenberg". My album is "Soft Underbelly of Friendship".

This picture is on my album cover:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clemon/5353931767/

Haha. But seriously though. I am 0% affiliated with anything relating to this. I think it's confusing too. If as someone suggested 90% of the audience is going to be Columbusites - why would Columbusites go to Austin to see a band that they would have seen in Columbus? Isn't this like going to France to eat at McDonalds?


-------------------------------

Such a great game...

Here's the instructions:

1 - Go to wikipedia and hit random. The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
...
2 - Go to quotationspage.com and hit random. The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”. Third picture ...no matter wh...at... ...it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar (picnik.com is a free online photo editor) to put it all together.

5 - Post it with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in

I think the biggest issue is that it isn't representative of SXSW.

I personally noticed that alcohol abuse highly correlates with hypercritical nastiness and post-message board posting regret. So, I've chosen to post alcohol-free in 2011.

Do whatever works for you.

Happy New Year.

Sound advice

yikes.

Have you ever been down there? That is how it goes. There is so much music saturated in one place that unless your band already has hype, you're probably not going to get anybody's attention.

I plan on giving press coverage to support what they're trying to do, and I'm glad to see people taking initiative — you never know what's gonna work, so you might as well try something. At the moment I'm just not convinced it's going to be a worthwhile trip for these bands. I would be pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.

I guess I fall in the "How bad can it be? I'm at SXSW and I get to play a show" camp.

And I wouldn't worry, Columbus Ohio's lofty rep in music circles will remain intact regardless of your opinion of the bands making the trip.

I realize you're half-snarking, but I'm guessing you understand what I mean. Music is subjective and different people like different things. But my example would be...say, hypothetically Pearl Jam is a brand new Columbus band. But they're busy, or broke, or overly skeptical so instead of Pearl Jam, the Stone Temple Pilots or (heaven help us) Creed make the trip.

I don't condone Pearl Jam or hold them as the epitome of artistic merit, I'm just making a point. I'd be a happy man if I never heard anyone sing "Don't call me daughter" ever again.

Since they've had an open policy for accepting interested bands, there's really nothing to come down on there. I think it's definitely worth supporting, and it's totally okay to be skeptical of it. I don't think anyone here has said 'I hope it fails' or would assume that it couldn't be successful without DW help or approval or whatever. Obviously some DW coverage would be helpful when it comes to trying to get a bit of buzz before the trip, but as far as I can tell, 3 out of 5 bands listed (so far) aren't as typical of what DW might usually get behind. That's not saying anything to the quality of the bands, but it's just stylistically disparate.

I totally understand how the sweeping statement of 'We Are Columbus Ohio' can be uncomfortable. It's all encompassing and exclusive all at the same time.

wait what

so here's the thing. during that week in march, there is official sxsw events and unofficial sxsw events. like deville said, these days it is becoming less and less important, but still, it is a thing. SXSW hates when organizations who are not official use their branding... so an email address like SXSWinfoCbus@Gmail.com or Columbus x Southwest are sort of misleading to bands to think they are playing an official event. i guess i was feeling bad for bands who might think they are playing an official show when they're not. like i said, not really a big deal, but sorta a thing. i dunno.

that was my only complaint, really.

if every band in columbus wants to do shows in austin, best of luck. going to austin in general is fun even if you arent a band. have your expectations set to just have fun and not become the next red wanting blue and you'll be a-okay.

As for this:



If you paypal us $50 to listen to an album we promise we will. we'll also post an mp3 (for 30 days)

You'll have to let us know who signs Billy Cool's checks.

Pagan Tiger Swing Band. B level
the altered states of the united snakes. D level.
Childish Freaks. A level.
Ipps. A level
floorwalkers. c grade at best.
Town Monster. C minus.
Vile Gash. A level.
Time and temperature. B minus ( you haven't turned in all yr. homework)
Ghost Shirt. B level (i guess)
CDR bands. Fucking F minus ( collector skums)
Unholy 2. A minus.
My Uncle Wayne. pass the bottle it's time to party.
Human Boys. A+
X-whites. D minus.
Ferals. C.
Deville's band. B+
necrapolis ( what are they doing up there?)
Kung fu Coyote. seriously... teachers pet.
Andy Shaw. dude is so a head of the class...
2050's. A++
2049's. Hogwash
Cheater Slicks. B minus. ( you guys could do better)
Son of Bob Foster and friends. A+
Six Gallery. (teachers pet)
Black Swans. b minus.

when am i serious when am i not?
I dunno?
i could keep going but why?
(much like this thread)

playing our unofficial showcase landed us a sync deal which got our songs on MTV (RJ berger season 2) and the Fox Sports Network. seemed worth it to me...

I had to google this to see if it's true. Wow...12 more episodes were ordered. I guess the world needs more penis jokes.

Go to Austin and play your showcase. Call yourselves wearetheonlybandsthatmatterinColumbusOhio.com. Rock on.

not really trying to come off as abrasive here..just trying to illustrate that cool stuff can come through these "unofficial showcases" or parties or whatever people call them these days.

my only regret is that we didn't book as many as possible when going down to austin. but hey, everything's a learning experience, right?

DEAD HORSE
10mpg average
25g average van tank. ~$3/g
2500mi round trip assuming no gas-shows off-route booked.
so, like $750. if you're real road dogs, you could pull it off in 3 days.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=carabar+bar+columbus+ohio&daddr=emo's+austin+texas&hl=en&geocode=FfPEYQId28sN-yH0Gj21z4ijgw%3BFTPVzQEd5aYs-iHe7lY0ZyCAQQ&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.775203,71.894531&ie=UTF8&z=6

or, you could spend that $750 on a bag of weed and take a few days off work. really work on those songs. dig deep. do you really want them to sound that way? are you sure you're not just playing that change because it seemed like the right change to play? does it sound good?

IT TOOK LIKE THREE HOURS TO DO THAT MATH

don't let indie "rockers" like MIKEY OH scare u
just split a van with another 1 of the not so good bands playing

who wants 2 be stuck in columbus at some crappy dj/karaoke nite when u could be somewhere warm & sunny & doing shots with babe$ in cowboy boots

If you're not trying to trick people into playing your showcase, then why are you using SXSW at all? Just nix it.
Sure, it's clever.... if being fraudulent is clever.

You can always try to play MPMF.

CHRI$$Y, didn't TNV "forget" to give you a ride back from THE INDIE ROCK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AUSTIN TEXAS when they signed with Independent Recording Company Matador Compact Discs and then you had to work at CHI-CHIS for six months to save enough money to come back?
OR WAS IT COS YOU WERE SMUGGLING BABIES INTO MEXICO FOR HURRICANE KKKATRINA VICTIMS I KNOW YOU CAN'T JUST BUY BOOTS LIKE THAT AT ROD'S MATE