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everybody else thought they might be. There was a ton of competition and I
worked with a ton of really cool bands, but the True Believers had something
that everybody kind of recognized. Alejandro's concern about music as art
remains really high. Whether it's good music or bad music matters a lot to
Alejandro.
[italics] And Bloodshot's probably the most stable label relationship he's had.
He was the other day telling me he knew how many records he'd sell on
Bloodshot, he'd like to figure out ways to sell more and he thought with
Bloodshot he could, and he got his checks regularly from Bloodshot.
[italics] That's the same exact thing Jon Langford said. They sent his checks on time.
That's no small accomplishment. I worked at an independent label in Los
Angeles for a couple of years, Spindletop, which originally was a Texas-based
label. We did roots stuff and we did what's called "New Adult Contemporary,"
which - the less said the better.
[Italics] You couldn't say that with a straight face, could you?
No, I could not. But boy, those things sold a lot of records. It woud blow your
mind how many records that you could sell in that format. The point of that only
being, I know because of that how hard it is for an indie label to manage their
money well enough just to make sure that they're responsible and their obliga-
tions to their artists are made. It's really hard to make it go as an indie label,
even an indie label with integrity has a really hard time paying their artists what
they're due. So the fact that Bloodshot manages this and convinces artists like
Jon Langford and Alejandro, who are smart people, that speaks really well of
them.
[Italics] Beside Bloodshot, who throws your favorite party?
I don't get to go to any parties. I go to the barbecue.
[Italics] Whose is the biggest hassle, then?
Oh, this year it's Revolver.
[Italics] So why is it a hassle? Is it just the fact that they're bringing in a big band that's
[Italics}not playing the conference? Do you feel you're getting shown up?
No, it's not being shown up. In my mind - now mind you, I'm 100% biased
about this - but if you want the benefits of SXSW, if you have a reason to be at
SXSW, then work with us and allow all of our registrants to be able to see the
acts that you're bringing.
[Italics] The Cult didn't apply and get rejected?
No, they didn't.
[Italics] Last year it was a to-do because of Guided By Voices.
Yeah, it was. And we believed they were going to work with us this year and
they chose not to.
[Italics] And yet you also encourage bands in Austin that don't get in to play non=
conference shows.
But that's completely different. Bands that don't get in, if we're not able to take the band, and we can't take nearly all the bands that deserve to play, and if a

16 Geek Weekly #9

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