During SXSW 2007, Synthesis co-sponsored a Drive-Thru Records party at Emo’s. While an endless throng of rock bands set up, played and subsequently broke down, most of us Syn folks enjoyed the free beers and free Mexican food, chatting with publicists, band members and rock music aficionados.  Honestly, no Drive-Thru bands were bad by any means, but the only one that really impressed me was Steel train. Especially moving was their cover of Pink Floyd’s “Have A Cigar,” a song about being fed up with music industry bullshit. This choice, to cover the song during a notorious music industry schmooze fest, brought much warmth to my heart (or perhaps it was the aforementioned mexican food…).

The band has announced more tour dates, and for those who enjoy late-night network television, they’ll be appearing on Late Night With Conan O’Brien tonight. Let lose the rock.

From their press release:

Steel Train’s sophomore album, Trampoline, recently released on Drive-Thru Records, delivers the sounds and spirit of some of the band’s favorite music styles, including British and American classic rock, folk-rock, psychedelia, pop and alternative. Produced by Mark Trombino (Rilo Kiley, Jimmy Eat World), Trampoline is a wonderfully layered and versatile album that reveals the uplifting, self-medicating message of an emerging songwriter.

While the songs sound consistently joyous, the lyrics are hyper-realistic addressing the events that can shatter our world and break our hearts as well as focusing on the forces that lift us up and offer a second chance. Throughout the album, urgent guitars, euphoric melody laden keyboards, and yearning vocals cut through on tracks like “Alone on the Sea,” “Kill Monsters in the Rain,” and “Black Eye.” However, the band agrees that the track which embodies the album is “I Feel Weird,” an energized pop number full of piano, and xylophones. Trampoline is a bold departure from the band’s past excursions, and showcases a new Steel Train, musically and philosophically.

Upcoming US Tour Dates:

w/ The Hush Sound
07/16 - The Basement - Columbus, OH
07/17 - Headliners - Toledo, OH
07/19 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
07/25 - The Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO
07/31 - Knitting Factory - Spokane, WA
08/06 - Soma - San Diego, CA
08/10 - Antone’s - Austin, TX
08/11 - The Door - Dallas, TX
08/14 - The State Theater - St. Petersburg, FL
08/15 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
08/16 - The Social - Orlando, FL
08/18 - The Loft - Atlanta, GA
08/19 - Greene Street Club - Greensboro, NC
08/21 - Ottobar - Baltimore, MD
08/23 - Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
08/24 - Xtreme Wheelz - Buffalo, NY

w/ O.A.R.
07/18 - St Louis Waterfront - St Louis, MO
07/20 - Sandstone Amphitheater - Bonner Springs, KS

Music Festivals
08/02 - LOLLAPALOOZA - Grant Park - Chicago, IL

www.myspace.com/steeltrain
www.steeltain.net
Steel Train

My earlier post about SXSW 2008 got me thinking: where are all the party invites, press releases hyping showcases and all the other annual hoopla surrounding what is supposedly the music industry’s most important yearly gathering? The pre-festival buzz for this year’s festival hasn’t just been toned down, its been practically non-existent. A non-scientific poll of many of the publicists, industry heads and random cred stackers I got drunk with last year at SXSW finds that most of them are taking a pass on SXSW 2008. It seems like they aren’t the only ones either. Discussion over at the ever-vigilant industry board Velvet Rope seems to be unanimously negative in regards to this year’s festival, including rumors as to the possibility of the perenially badass Levi’s / Fader multi-day party being a no-go this year and the possibility that the fest has perhaps gotten a bit too big for its own good:

I think it may have jumped the shark last year. Too much PR about bands that didn’t matter. Too many things going on to focus on music that might have mattered. Too much like an economic development trade fair now.

Its bigness was an asset for awhile — everyone would be there. But once it got to a certain size, then it was probably too big to get anything done. When you have 1500+ bands getting official showcases and most of them getting ignored, sooner or later you end up asking, why are they here?

I know several industry insiders telling people not to bother to register or buy a pass because there are enough free events that you don’t need one. And I think the bands themselves have grown tired of spending $30 to apply when they know they won’t get in. And if they come to accept that they don’t have a chance, they can just tune out the whole thing.

I guess we’ll see in a couple of weeks.

Photo of me from SXSW 2007 by Melissa Welliver (Hardly Knew Her)