Gayngs Affiliyated Showcase
When: March 6, 7:30 p.m.
Where: First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N.
Christmas comes early each year for the music buffs and cinephiles of Austin, Texas. Every March, the cityâÄôs annual patrons of their South By Southwest (SXSW) festival flood the Sixth Street theaters and rock clubs for four days of up-and-coming entertainment. It is sort of Comic-Con for hipsters, which would also aptly describe the industry significance of AustinâÄôs weird little hybrid of an event.
The week toes the line of dollar-beer rock-band heaven and industry showcase. It is a wet dream for fans and bands alike, and that guiding corporate hand allows the showcaseâÄôs impact to ripple through any city with some aural pulse âÄî Minneapolis included. ThatâÄôs why City PagesâÄô Gimme Noise and First Avenue have partnered to give a Texan soapbox to the Twin CitiesâÄô local icons, and it is all starting with one big local sendoff for one big local band, Gayngs.
The locally affiliated supergroup, spearheaded by producer Ryan Olson, made two equally large splashes during 2010. They debuted their first record, âÄúRelayted,âÄù on Jagjaguwar, and they also threw First AvenueâÄôs biggest party event of the spring, their sold-out âÄúLast Prom on EarthâÄù performances. It is surprising that a band of such local impact also works in a bit of discord.
âÄúWhen they did the First Avenue show, some of them hadnâÄôt even met each other until a couple of days before the show,âÄù City Pages music editor and Gimme Noise founder Andrea Swensson said.
This nonchalant attitude that the decadent rockers carry is likely a result of their mishmash lineup, one that borrows members from CarolinaâÄôs Megafaun to DoomtreeâÄôs Dessa and P.O.S. It is also a family tree that is likely expanding.
OlsonâÄôs Totally Gross National Product record label also distributes for local synth hippies Moonstone Continuum and chaotic house stylists Marijuana Deathsquads, both of whom will be playing SundayâÄôs showcase.
âÄú[Ryan is] using this opportunity to introduce people to other things that heâÄôs been working with,âÄù Swensson said.
Olson and company may be teaming up with Gimme Noise and First Avenue for this âÄúbon voyageâÄù affair, but the two will be parting ways in Austin. Gayngs will be performing a separate showcase while the two sponsors will be throwing a day party event on the Friday of the festival.
Gimme Noise unveiled their lineup Wednesday, which is headed up by Tapes âÄòN Tapes. The Twin CitiesâÄô songbird Jeremy Messersmith is also on the bill along with the drunken punk of The Goondas. It is the sort of event that shows how AustinâÄôs marathon of setlists is not only good for their community but for others as well.
âÄúItâÄôs something for our national readers but also to encourage our local readers,âÄù Swensson said. âÄúWe really want to foster our sense of community and show what we have in this little city.âÄù
Who ever thought something so corporate could be so cool?
