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Show THE FORUM Jan. 12, 2005 7 Musicians Battle for Trip toTexas New Years Resolutions I Stephen T. Haslam Staff Writer The stages of many of Salt Lakes premier live music venues were set ablaze on Saturday night, as select local artists from Logan to St. George gathered to compete in the preliminary round of the annual Austin, Texas, SXSW competition. Westminster student Peter Markowskis band Sixsidedbox played in the competition. The band comprised of six musicians, drummer Ryan Skinner, bass player Doug Wright, piano and saxaphone player Andrew Kuhnhausen, lead guitarist Willis Clow, rock trumpeter Dave Chisholm and Markowski as lead vocal and acoustic guitar. Sixsidedbox gets its inspiration from Radiohead, Elliot Smith, The Beatles, and Schoolhouse Rock. Markowski said they played a great show dispite some technical dificulties, and a missing keyboard player. The band did not move on to the next round of competition. The live musical contest, which is being sponsored by our good friends at City Weekly and X96, put the spotlight on each band for up to 45 minutes. Local talents pounded their souls into the masses gathered at clubs like DV8 and Burts Tiki Lounge, hoping that the night would end with their bands name being chosen to advance just a little closer towards Austin. Each of the artists was no doubt, surrounded by friends and family who could have applauded the performers all the way to Texas in March. However, the end results come not only from the battle cries of an crowd, but the main decision comes from a group of judges who are experts in the music and performing industries. Andrea Walcher, director of marketing for the program said that involving the crowd is actually pre-select- ed something new. The most popular band at each venue gets two extra points added to their final score she says, The audience involvement is meant to get people excited about the event and let them support local music too. Not everybody who signed up to be in the running was chosen to perform. Prior to the preliminary rounds, 45 bands were chosen from 100 based on judgments of their originality, creativity and their ability to perform. SXSW liquor laws have previously prevented any bands with members under 21 from participating. Though the laws have year, Salt Lake City did have its first not changed this ever venue, Sugarbeats, at which six under-2- 1 bands had the chance to win amazing packages from Guitar Center. The other 39 bands competed in eight venues for the chance to be in the semi-finaon Jan. 12. Liquid Joes and The all-ag- es ls Whiskey, both private clubs for members, will house the semi-finawhere eight of ls the 39 bands will have been chosen to compete. The final four will battle to the death on Jan. 15 at The Velvet Room. The winner of Salt Lake Citys portion of SXSW will not only be given airfare and lodging for a trip to Austin in March, but they will also be guaranteed a spot on one of the 100 SXSW Festival stages that will bleed the Texas sky. The annual South by Southwest music festival includes music at both a national and international level Popular radio artists such as Franz Ferdinand and The White Stripes have made their major American debuts on the festivals stages. Even artists, who have already had success in the past, but who want the world to once again recognize their sound, will make their comeback through Austin. Billy Idol, whether forgotten or not, plans to do that this year. Festival performers will also attend a conference where they can meet talent scouts, band managers, contacts for a possible jump into stardom and will be addressed by someone with a major history in the music world. The lucky attendees of 2005 will hear from many music giants probably the most notable being Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. For all of the bands that dont win the trip to Austin, Showdown to SXSW is still a very valuable event, Walcher said, They get their name out their to the general public and club owners and promoters are able to identify new bands to play in their clubs. Its really an awe- some thing for everyone involved. For a listing of bands that have qualified for any of the events to come, or the times and venues of which they will be performing, tune in to X96 or pick up your latest copy of City Weekly in the Shaw Center.cs Avalanche Forum Gives Tips for Keeping Safe Avalanche Gordon said, are recent said. avalanches. Recent avalanches are critical facts natures freebies, he told students. The snow can Searching for a person in snow is an emotional event. Skiers and boarders should be prepared and know how to use their Gordon also recommends checking out the snow on the drive up the canyon and being aware of the weather conditions. Continued from pg. 6 found after 15 minutes, he backcountry equipment. Some indicators of the biggest of avalanches, slide. If skiing in lower angle terrain, riders should think about what might happen- - ing above them. Be patient, Gordon said. The mountains will always be there. For more information on daily avalanche warnings or safety tips, log on to www.avalanche.org or call Utah Avalanche Control at Many ski resorts also offer avalanche safety classes to backcountry skiers and boarders.OJ (801) 364-158- 1. L. Gardner Staff Writer Joel New Years resolutions: Weve all made them, and weve probably all broken them. Why is it that after the indulgence and of the Christmas season we seem to have a sense that we need to change things in our lives? There seems to be a collective guilty feeling, a national anthem of guilty in which we say to over-purchasi- ng non-commitm- ent ourselves, Yeah, I really should New stop smoking, or I guess its about time to start working out again. ing out, youre actually relieved to stop doing the thing you knew you couldnt do in the first place. New Years resolutions are overrated. I think that it is very important to have resolutions and goals, but New Years is just too cliche, said Aaron Hadfield, Yearns resolu- tions are overrated. think that it is very important to have I res- olutions and goals, but Its as if New Years isjust too we feel this great social pressure to very lofty, like Im going to work out two times a day, said Laurel Walker, resident of the Salt Lake Valley. But then when you give in after a week and stop work- masters dent at stu- Westminster College. If youre going to set a resolution, make sure you prioritize whats impor- cliche. fee- tant to you, Aaron Hadfield, bly commit to and then set Westminster masters student change things goals. Be we know we sure they should, but which subconcoincide with whats imporsciously know we never tant to you, or youll have really will. personal conflict So, what are some stuWhat is so great about dent opinions about New the New Year? Does Jan. 1 Years resolutions? hold some sort of special, Katie Woolley, Snow unseen well of willpower, College graduate, said, I dispelling vices and instilldont like New Years resoluing virtues? I think its a tions because its like, why marketing scheme set up by dont I set goals all year, health clubs and weight loss instead of just on Jan. 1? I programs designed to leech mean, all the gyms are offerjust a little more money out specials to come ing new-yeof our pockets, says James and work out, but why dont Clark, student at the they offer those specials all University of Utah. year? Whats so special about When you set goals, the new year? make sure that you set realIf youre going to set istic goals, said Heidi Reid, a goal, you should make also a freshman at sure to write the goal down, Westminster College. and post it somewhere you Make sure you have a can see it, said Crystal plan, not Oh, Carter, a freshman at Im going to do this, withWestminster. out saying how youre going You should review the to do it. goals regularly so that you So, readers, whether or can check on yourself and not you like New Years resolsee how youre doing. Also utions- theyre there. If you make sure to set goals that decide to make a change this are reachable, dont make new year, follow the advice of them impossible! our students, and make I think theres a tenpositive changes.CJ dency to make a goal thats ar step-by-st- ep QUOTE OF THE WEEK I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed, there would be no more wars. Abbie Hoffman |