With over 20 years experience working in the music and a few in the film industry, I established myself as one of the more creative and resourceful Music Coordinators who worked at both the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Film festivals in Austin, Texas and the North By Northwest (NXNW) Music festival in Portland, Oregon (1996-2002). My work at both conferences had me co-coordinating showcases with over 1000 music acts at more than 50 venues for 5 nights.
My determination, experience and knowledge of new and upcoming acts led me to improve the overall quality and indie talent of the music festivals. I am proud to say that I brought in such incredibly talented, and sometimes, overlooked bands and record labels both local and national. I booked showcases from such outstanding indie labels such as Sympathy for the Record Industry, Man's Ruin, Lookout! Records, Estrus, Gearhead, Grand Royal, Sub Pop, Kill Rock Stars and so many more. Bringing to Austin for the first time such bands as the White Stripes, Tenacious D, Black Eyed Peas, Queens of the Stone Age, the Donnas, At The Drive-In (now Sparta/Mars Volta) and so many more exceptional bands too numerous to mention! And brought back attention to many well-deserved Austin and Texas bands! Also helped improve the quality of Hip Hop by bringing in the legendary guys at Hip Hop Mecca (Dougie,Dave & Scooter!) and Austin's own Tee Double to head the movement (as I know almost next to nothing about Hip Hop). Also helped coordinate national slam poets into the festival with the glorious Mike Henry (Director of Austin's Slam Poets).
I also took complete control over the Music Video program of the SXSW Film Festival and improved the quality and length of the program to feature new upcoming directors as well as bands whose videos were showcased.
I also must mention that I was only able to do all
this with the support of my friend and co-worker at SXSW - Craig Stewart (Thanks for keeping me sane around a bunch of complete idiots!) And, no... I can't get your band into the festival!
And, oh yeah, I co-created and managed one of the country’s premier music venues: EMO'S!!! (Austin & Houston) and man, are there stories to tell about those days! I could only have done that thanks to my good friend Eric "Emo" Hartman (thanks for your musical teachings as well as a few other "life lessons") Ha!
Also, most recently have lent my services to the 2006-2008 Austin City Limits Festivals.(No... I still can't get your band in!!!)
Also enjoy being an extra in movies starting with Steven Soderbergh's 1995 film "Underneath" to most
recently in a scene with Rosario Dawson in Quentin Tarantino's/Robert Rodriquez' 2007 movie "Grindhouse"! Fun! You gotta love Austin!!!
My multi-tasking experiences at SXSW, NXNW, Emo’s and other music and service industry jobs I have held have demonstrated my abilities to lead as well as being a part of an organized and eager team.
Other than that...my life is fairly mundane (and welcomed I might add)...biking, sculling, watching Roller Derby Girls pass by, video games, vintage British motorcycles (and my new Triumph Bonneville!!!) and American muscle cars, Rat Rods & bobbers, discovering new bands, watching movies at Alamo Cinema Drafthouse, eating at great restaurants (and the all mighty Buffalo Burger at Casino's!!). And the most fun I am having now is hosting the Monday Night Record Player Party (lovingly referred to as "Love & a 45" ) at Rio Rita (it's ALL vinyl 45's, baby!) AND, in the meantime...I am STILL trying to open my record store! So be on the lookout for SheBang! Records (and Starfucker's Pub!) to open...at some point...eventually...really...I hope...maybe! (Also, most photos that appear in my photo section should be credited to Michael Crawford! Many thanks and curses, my friend, for capturing a few moments in time - mostly embarrassing!- of the great early years of Emo's!)
Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting
.. David L. Thomson III's Profile
Create Your Badge ..
