Holy crap, it’s only seven days until we hit SXSW 2013 and we’re running around left and right prepping for it. SXSW is always a huge challenge and this year is no different. The stage manager has been really phenomenal to work with and, make no doubt about it, with all our A/V crap and big ass gear, we can be somewhat of a challenge. For example, she and Audible Treats were kind enough to allow us to add a “member” to the band – Mlee Marie – who will be doing a guest spot on “Rust.” That was super nice of them and we’re beyond thrilled Mlee can make it.
The size of the club and a window of 20 minutes to set-up, cause us to finally decide to leave all but the psychedelic oil light and one laser at home. So don’t expect weird films and fog for this show. We’d love to come in with everything we’ve got but festivals are a challenge for all involved and you can’t be selfish and cause problems for the other bands, the venue, or the organizers. At least Lord Hightower’s work will be much easier than he originally signed up for.
Another big challenge we encountered was the stage – a 9’X9′ stage. To give you some perspective, the drum riser in our practice space is about 8 feet wide and our amps side to side are maybe 10 feet wide. As for depth, if we took all the amps and stacked them behind Larry, not only would he be deaf but we’d also have little room to spare in front of him. So, working with the stage manager, we tossed around various ideas. [Sadly a substitute band of monkeys and penguins was rejected as impractical.] In the end, it’s been largely decided that the best route is to skip the stage entirely and house party the show by playing on the floor. That kind of shit can be a lot more fun; you’re right up in people’s faces and you can set up however you please to get the best interaction between players. Just a lot of fun way to do a show that way and the venue seems cool with it, so sure, why not?
We’re ready to bring on the noise and the next time you hear from us we’ll be touching down in Austin. See you guys there.
