South By Southwest is considered to be the most important music festival in the United States, and maybe the world. Now, I don’t know about all that, but there is definitely some stature associated with playing it. The good old days of the early 90s when a previously unknown band would descend into Austin, and blow away patrons and industry executives with a 45 minute set, thus setting the wheels of career advancement into motion have been gone for a long time. Now it is more of a promotional outlet and music industry asslick where a combination of bands, websites, music services and lifestyle oriented products all compete for your attention and pocketbook. It should also be noted that there is a dizzying array of good bands, and Austin is a really fun town. We had been extended an invitation to play a showcase slot at the festival, and we figured “what the hell, why not?”.
The major problem for a band like us is that Austin is a brisk 24 hour drive away. The best way to do it economically is to play some gigs on the way down to cut the drive down to size, and pay for your costs associated with getting across the country. The next issue is that because there are literally 2000 bands going to Austin all trying to do the same thing, every good club can pick and choose through the cream of the crop to fill their dates surrounding SXSW. Darren from Shake It told us about a scheme being hatched by some folks that run All Night Party in Cincinnati where our label mates in the band Wussy, and two other bands we had never heard of would all play together going down to Austin in a tour. The hook would be four Ohio SXSW bands would play in the clubs on the tour, each band theoretically a quality live act, and inquisitive music fans would come check us out regardless of their familiarity with the bands.
I knew going in that once we left our comfort zone of eight hours outside of Cleveland, our draw in most clubs would be limited at best. Translation: We have never played Columbia MO, so no one there knows who the fuck we are. I hoped some of the other bands would be able to help the draw in other markets. Wussy has been receiving an incredible amount of national press, including a critic at Rolling Stone calling them “the best band in America right now”. Surely hardcore music geeks will want to check out the best band in America right now…
There had been various discussions as this tour had started to come together about all the bands sharing backline and traveling in a bus like we were Foghat in 1975. I was admittedly kind of excited about that, as I would just get to ride around and pretend I was Mark Farner for a week. This was not to be. The stark economic realities of the associated costs soon had All Night Party (ANP) thinking about two larger Sprinter style vans. Eventually, we all just drove our own vans and ANP hired on a tour soundman and a tour manager.
I didn’t really see the need for a tour manager, as at this point we would be doing the exact same thing we have been doing since 1991. We would drive to the club, set up our gear, play a 45 minute set, and then go to our hotel. However, it seemed like some of the folks associated with this roadtrip really wanted the trappings of “rock”, so we had a woman named Venomous Valdez, or Rene depending on who was talking, acting as tour manager for the trip. Valdez and I had a quick conversation on the phone prior to the first gig in Cincinnati where I was peppered with some buzzwords like “tour book”, “meal buyout”, “load in” and the like. Still, she seemed really enthusiastic, and enthusiasm goes a long way.
It was on that phone call I learned that they wanted us in Cincinnati for load in at 4pm. This seemed a bit excessive as we would all be sharing backline and we were not scheduled to play until 9pm. We probably had about 15 minutes of prep time, so as opposed to sitting around for 4 hours and 45 minutes we decided to work a full day and arrive about 30 minutes before showtime. This would have been an excellent plan if Leo and Gary had not been 35 minutes late arriving at the rendezvous point. According to our navigation device we would arrive 15 minutes after our start time if I drove at normal speed. Uh oh. I was going to have to make up some time.
I have made the drive from Cleveland to Cincinnati probably 50 times. I have never made it in 3 hours and 26 minutes before that night though. I weaved through traffic in the rain like a grand champion at LeMans. I drove like a cautionary video in a Driver’s Ed class. We pulled into the Redmoor, a venue I had never heard of prior, with 15 minutes to spare. It is one of my greatest triumphs as a wheelman.
It’s really difficult to play a show like that. I’m all wired up from the drive with no time to chill out for a second and get my bearings. As Leo, Sugar, and Gary load our gear in, I’m writing out set lists sitting in the driver’s seat. This is when we meet our tour manager, who appears to be getting high in the alley with some guy that looks like he is in a band. We all throw our stage clothes on, and moments later we are playing in the renovated theater in front of the crowd. You really have no feel for the mood of the room, and are just left to throw out some songs in a “how do you like this?” manner.
All the shows have been set up the same way. Oh My Me from Lexington plays first. We play second. The Sundresses play third, as a nod to Brad from the band’s legwork as an employee of ANP. Wussy will play last on the strength of their current glowing press. It’s odd to play in a four band bill, as this cuts our set times down to 40 minutes. We are used to playing 75-90 minutes easy, so as soon as we start to get warmed up we are finished. I think we played OK.
After the show I meet some of the people I have been in contact with via email over the last couple months. It is a very odd thing to drive across the country for a week with strangers, and essentially being in business with them. Only in small time rock and roll would this happen. For example, do you think some guy at an insulation company climbs into a van with some people he has never met from a shingle, siding, and plumbing company? It’s weird right? We know the people in Wussy, but beyond that, we haven’t even seen a photo of the other people involved.
As Wussy finishes, Jeremy from the Sundresses corners me at the bar. “Hey? Can you drive our van? McKenzie is all fucked up.” Um, yeah...sure. Who is McKenzie again? He answers me, “OK. Ok. But you have to put that beer down RIGHT NOW!” I find it a little odd that a guy I am doing a favor for has started issuing demands 2.3 seconds after agreeing to help him. If he has decided I am sober enough to drive his vehicle, I would think he could give me a little slack. I’m not knocking back shots of mescal. I’m just sipping on my second beer. To avoid further drama, I drift away from him to settle finances for the show with Valdez.
I walk outside to see the Sundresses situation has become a confusing mess that can only happen at a band load out of very fucked up people. There are nine people standing around their van, and someone else has the keys. No one seems to know what is going on. I am not really interested in trying to get involved further, so I jump into the Whiskey Wagon after grabbing McKenzie to give us directions to her house. Somebody had been buying her bourbon (I think it was us) and she clearly is in no condition to drive. She may not be in condition to give directions. We get back to her place and I sleep on a pullout couch with a dog named “Dinner”.
Tour Diaries
SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST: Cincinnati
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Awesome
I love this story! Totally wish i was there!
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Happy I only caught the front act of this double bill.
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Aja would be terrifi
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