IN FOR SIN
Although Emo’s recently concluded annual onslaught of post-New Year free local music was both artistically and financially off 2006’s blistering pace, the Red River cornerstone still has plenty to crow about. For starters, Playboy.com named it one of the Top 10 rock clubs in America last week, a distinction shared by Chicago’s Empty Bottle, New York’s Mercury Lounge, and Minneapolis’ First Avenue. “I’m waiting for my invite to the mansion,” says Emo’s forever quotable owner, Frank Hendrix. “I’ll be in the grotto with the blondes.” As for Free Week, even diminished it’s a vital part of the venue’s midwinter bottom line. “Between that and [this weekend’s] tattoo convention, that’ll get us through January,” admits the owner. Meanwhile, Emo’s planned Las Vegas outpost recently hit a snag when Hendrix realized one of his fellow investors’ vision for the club was more South Beach than Red River. “We weren’t even six weeks into the deal, and he’s bouncing stuff off me that’s totally not Emo’s,” Hendrix says. “He wanted to change the colors of the logo to teal, pink, white, and purple. I thought we’d all have to wear white sport coats.” In a total Vegas move, Mr. Pink bought the building in question anyway and now wants to lease it to Hendrix and friends, who remain convinced of Sin City‘s appetite for live music. “It’s still on the burner,” he says. “There’s a viable market out there.”
STEP THIS WAY
Signing up as a SXSW volunteer has become serious business. “It’s really not a good option for people just looking for a free wristband,” says SXSW volunteer coordinator Jillian Lobstein. The 2007 volunteer call is Sunday, Jan. 21, in the Hilton Downtown‘s main ballroom, 3:30pm for rookies, 5:30pm for veterans. It’s hard work, the sort that goes practically unnoticed by Conference registrants and performers but without which SXSW couldn’t operate on the level it does. Besides a point-blank view of how the world’s pre-eminent music conference operates, not to mention valuable life experience in how to stay cool under extreme duress, daytime Conference workers earn badges or wristbands according to hours worked, while club volunteers (“production”) earn a music badge through four nights of work. That only leaves one night to roam freely, but Lobstein says the Festival wants to accommodate volunteers as much as possible. “We try to match them based on their music preferences,” she says. “We do want to put them at clubs where they’ll enjoy the music.” Volunteers must be 16 years old, 21 for production; see www.sxsw.com/volunteer or e-mail vol@sxsw.com for more.This article appears in January 12 • 2007.