Me and Chuck(e)D were discussing it the other day, and thought it would be a magnificent idea to set up a showcase of Obner bands at next year's SXSW. Colin is already planning on feeling out some of the possible venues, such as the joint Whiney's band played Friday night. It wouldn't even have to be "officially" part of SXSW -- so long as it's in Austin at the same time.

Let's try to get all the Spade Kitty bands down there, plus Riviera, Belleville, The Bon Savants, and everyone else on Obner who's in a band. It would give all the bands (and the board) a lot of additional exposure, and MOST IMPORTANTLY would enure a mega turnout of Obnii for mongering.

This isn't really a request, so much as a notice. Start making plans now. There will be no excuses accepted.

SXSW is something I have always wanted to attend.
This will be the perfect excuse.

I'm on it.

Seriously...make it so.

If something like this happens, maybe we should think about changing the name.

I think they're pretty set on SXSW.

I'd go.

Hell, I'll probably be living in Austin at that point.

I don't know...I think this is a well-intenioned but bad idea. I think any obner band that can get an op to play at SXSW should do it but they ought to do at clubs with other non-obner bands. I mean bon savants would get a lot more exposure playing a club that might have bands like the wrens and walkmen playing later rather than belleville and riveria. And likewise, riveria and belleville would probably do better for themselves if they could line up a set in a club that Tim Easton, Joe Henry, Jon Dee Graham or someother alt country'ish act is playing rather than an obner stage.

I'd dig an opportunity to see some obner bands some day and meet more obnish but if I fly to Austin, take vacation days, and cough up cash for spending money, hotel, car etc, I'm not spending all my time at an obner stage either. There's hundreds of bands I'd like to see that played this year. Maybe I'll go next year. I'd like to and I hope more obners do, but I'm not sure you're doing anyone a favor trying to organize an obner band night.

I can't believe I'm putting this out there, but I have a brewing business interest (Colin knows about it and is FORBIDDEN from disclosing yet) that might be interested in making something like this happen.

Developing...

Billy G's mostly right. If we do play sxsw next year, it would likely be as part of a label thing. Here's where I differ: that, however, does not preclude us from doing something like this. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it's better if a band plays more than one event. This would just be another event, though with a particular association that would mean a lot to me.

you'll have to wait 'til next year. until then, plan on cmj:

http://www.cmj.com/

Although, a bunch of Hipinion regulars would probably come over and trash the place, then BeeOK would stand in the back with his arms crossed, telling everyone that there's better bands @ the ILM showcase anyway.

hahaha. i'm with billy g on this one. not that i don't want to support, but i'd be more interested in seeing one of ob bands in a showcase that would suit them. plus, if i'm going to invest the cash to go, i'm going to be on a mission to see every single damn band possible.

in any case, i'm going to sxsw next year. but next up, cmj.

In which case, Dalen, LooGAR, and the other beasts on this board (Shiv? FT?) would have bring the hurt on those nay-sayers.

I agree with your logic in part, but one of the beautiful parts of sxsw is the free day showcases. As it has been stated, most bands at sxsw play multiple shows - often several day shows and one or two night shows - and putting all of us in one place would be a wonderful way to get obner some exposure as well as get us an excuse to monger as a group. If we can get a bunch of our bands into sxsw this wouldn't hurt anyone at all, and then look into how the daytime showcases get organized (and it seems to me that they are often put together loosely by a label or a website), I don't see why we shouldn't look at this idea seriously.

i could possibly be in for SXSW next year. unless something big comes up.

Then it occurs to me that I actually have friends with contacts in Austin.

Hmm....

If you can put it together and you think non-obner type people would show by all means do it. I don't mean to totally piss on the parade. I was picturing a worse case scenario of 30 some obners endorsing the concept in the abstract, lots of organizational work being done by yourself, FT, swiateck, etc, some obners traveling to play the show and then:

maybe 5-10 of the non-band obners actually going to SXSW

half of the 5-10 blowing it off to see other non-obner bands

not many non-obners showing because they know none of the bands and

lots of disappointment and resentment about obners encouraging the event and then not showing

But I've never been to SXSW so I don't have a feel for how this would work and whether people would show or not. I guess I'd rather be a naysayer now and not have to feel guilty later if I encourage you and don't show.

Does SXSW work like cmj did, where you could buy actual tix for each show in advance??

if i went, id probably go that route..if im goin down there, i dont wanna be shut out of any show i really wanna see....

thats my cmj secret.

realism is always needed, it helps cull the lame ideas from the fit. much would need to go into this.

Thankfully, Colin spent a good deal of Tuesday night caressing the thigh (and getting the digits of) of a young lady who's a higher up @ SXSW.

Can't hurt the chances.

Exactly. Every band at SXSW plays AT LEAST three gigs while they're in Austin, so the Obner Showcase could just be one of 2-3 each band would play that week.

My god. Whose thigh DIDN'T he caress??

OK...absolute "worst" case scenario:

All the Obner bands who get into SXSW and all the non-band Obners who actually go to SXSW all get together like on Sunday afternoon or something for a backyard barbeque with any band who wants to play for those munching ribs doing so in the spirit of Obnish brotherhood.

Now, that CAN'T be THAT hard to pull off...CAN IT?!?!?!?

FT,

It makes a lot more sense for bands who get in and are playing label showcases to play just another show. I guess I was initially reacting more to the come to SXSW to play this than play this if you are already coming.

I just think you need the right expectations going in so peeps aren't disappointed with how it works out.

np: Mister We could Use A Man Like Sheriff Lobo Again

You make a very good point. This should be positioned as a "and while you're there" kind of thing. Of course, if there are any Obner bands unable to get into SXSW who still want to play the Obner gig, that will definitely be OK, too!