March 14th, 2012

What a difference a year makes

And so SXSW2012 music week starts. I often question why I still make the journey out to Austin each March but I have come to the conclusion that I can have more discussions with UK agents, managers, publishers, radio, PR companies & bands than I could ever do in months in the UK. Whether it’s the March sunshine, the music or the beer, there’s something conducive to chatting on an equal level in Austin that is not found back home. From an A&R point of view, UK band possibilities are limited. If a band has managed to make it all the way to SXSW, then they are likely all signed and sealed up with their UK label. However for a UK label wanting to find a non UK band to take on, the possibilities are endless amongst the 3000 odd acts playing in city parks, halls, clubs, car parks and even street corners.

A year ago to the day I found myself as I do today, arriving at Dallas’ DFW accompanied by my great friends in The Answering Machine en route for Austin and the annual madness that is SXSW. The band always been really well received by US audiences and moreover were arriving in Austin with a new UK and US manager in tow. Indeed a band with great expectations for the future.

What followed were a great series of amazing shows in Austin culminating in an absolutely packed 512 Rooftop showcase where their performance left me incredibly proud, a band at the top of their game. On balance, it was probably one of the best lice performances I ever saw them do and proved that they always rose to the occasion.

Who would then have expected that within a few months of returning from SXSW, the band would be no more deciding to call it a day. History tells us that no matter how much adulation a band gets at SXSW, how hard they work, how great their music is, that the music business can be incredibly fickle and moreover, unfair.

Therefore, whilst I expect to see some incredible performances over the next few days in Austin, something for me will always be missing from now on, a great band that was not only part of Heist but part of the reason I love being involved in music. I suspect that I won’t be the only one a little sad that The Answering Machine won’t be wowing the fans somewhere on 6th Street.