More than Music: Creative Merch and Promotions

There's no doubt that the tunes bring the fans to shows, but what keeps them coming back for more? How can bands ensure their fans will share their latest rockin' discovery with all of their friends? Sometimes it takes a little more than music. Here's where a bit of creativity and some great merch can make all the difference!

After choosing a name, recording a few songs, and playing a couple of shows, most bands take the next logical step and arm themselves with EPs and t-shirts to sell to the masses. Many even give out something small, like a button or a sticker, to potential fans for free to keep their name fresh in fans' minds. This is, indeed, one of the best ways to get your name out there! But some bands have forged their own path with regards to merch and advertising. Putting their creativity and ingenuity to good use, they've thrown a whole new spin on the idea.

My first true experience with merch tables and band promotions was at this year's Summer Side Show in Columbus, GA where I was lucky enough to be traveling with a band who were masters at the art. The very first thing Misfortune500 did when they arrived at the festival was set up a professional-looking merch tent complete with nicely arranged tables and well-displayed items for sale. After all, you've got to think big to make it big! Displays like these lend bands the illusion of great fame, and that really does wonders when you're playing for an unfamiliar crowd. They also took account of their audience for the festival. Hot weather? Well, then there's no better idea than selling water bottles with the band name on them! Other bands around the park also embraced the festival layout, guiding potential fans to their tents with signs and even writing messages on their friends' chests. Definitely eye-catching!

Here in Athens, I've seen some amazing promotional ideas as well. Several years ago, the Warm Fuzzies released their tunes on a bubblegum-scented CD. No fan is ever going to forget a band like that! I can vouch for the fact that, even weeks later, my friends and I could't get enough of telling our pals about them and letting them get a whiff of that sweet song-filled goodness.

Reptar, on the other hand, mixed it up in the early days with their t-shirts, making handmade pieces of one-of-a-kind art using just fabric paint and old clothes they'd found. Back when Allison Weiss lived here, she opted to go for printed t-shirts instead, but they certainly weren't any less memorable with sayings like "Allison Weiss is ok I guess." Ye Olde Sub Shoppe even went so far as to print headshots of one of their unwilling friends on their shirts. Having a sense of humor about their merch is an awesome way to keep the fans amused and excited!

Some bands step even further outside of the box when making their merch. Screamin Eagle, a soft indie pop band from Florida, sold small, hand-drawn books filled with the notions and themes they'd shared in their songs. It was such a unique move that you can bet I've never forgotten their show!

And hey, a band can even stand out in the way they sell their merch. Bambara and Misfortune500, among several other bands I've seen, have begun accepting credit cards at their shows as well. How is this possible? Well, all you need is an iPhone, a small addition to swipe cards, and an app to make your merch table into a legitimate portable business! You can't deny it. That is pretty cool!

Just remember, whether a band is selling sunglasses and beer koozies or earrings and bracelets, they should always make sure their fans leave with their minds full of unforgettable memories and their hands full of incredibly creative merch!

To read about all of the ingredients that make up a live show to top all others, click here!

Always a Sight to See!

Oh, the things you see on the road! Up on our Facebook page, you'll find our latest pics of everything from shows around town to our CMJ roadtrip with Misfortune500 to the Wild Rumpus Parade. Some of our top favorites are below, but you can find 'em all right here!

Sleepy Eye Giant performs in the NYC

Endless clouds over Philadelphia

The Wild Rumpus parade in front of the Georgia Theatre

Check out the Echoreyn of Athens Facebook page for even more pictures! Have a spectacular weekend, my friends.

Journey to CMJ 2011: the true story of a band on the road: Part 2

Read part 1 here!

It was just after 8 PM when we finally passed through the gleaming Holland Tunnel and made our way into the Big Apple. Minutes outside of Brooklyn, we found our venue, a midsize bar filled with a bunch of recognizable bands that had also journeyed up from the southeastern states to rock the CMJ showcase. Towers of band equipment filled the small room backstage, so we piled Misfortune500's instruments and amps onto the sidewalk as we waited for their set to begin.

Soon enough, I found myself watching band after upbeat band cycle through their short sets in front of a crowd composed mostly of friends they too had brought along with them. At times, the tunes of all the bands ran together in a blur of sound as the names of groups I'd seen before - Shallow Palace, the Winter Sounds, Sleepy Eye Giant - drifted in and out of my consciousness. Maybe it was all that time on the road, rushing to get to the city or the contrast of the quick pace of the New York streets with the bands' southern attitudes, but time seemed to just speed by as I stood there watching the show. What felt like mere minutes later, Misfortune500 was setting up and prepping their sound. Once they launched into their tunes, I began to feel a bit more alive as the numbness of traveling through eight states to get to this moment finally wore off. As always, I relished in every one of Misfortune500's dark rock songs, but much too soon, it was time for them to leave the stage. Atlanta's Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun followed them with a sexy, almost gothic sound that I quite enjoyed, underlined by thunderous drums. Then it was the aforementioned Sleepy Eye Giant's turn to give us a bit of their very whole and complete progressive rock style as we stepped back out into the cold city air.

Before ending our six hour jaunt in the NYC, the band and I, along with some pals of theirs, partied it up in a bar nearby around 2:30 AM. No 2 AM curfew for New York! Traipsing through the streets near Brooklyn, in the shadows of buildings that stretched far into the sky, I felt comfortable and revitalized. Yes, the lights were brighter, and people still filled the streets long into the night, but at that moment, I didn't feel so far away from home. In some ways, this little slice of the city wasn't so different from our own Athens town. One day, I'd like to visit this place again.

Then, with that small taste of New York still on the tips of our tongues, we drove back to Jersey, eager for one more nap in our cozy motel room before our journey home. The next afternoon, we began to make our way through the states we had traversed just days ago. I've always found that, for some reason, no matter where a trip takes you, the return journey always feels faster, and indeed, this notion held true this past weekend as well. Even with our stops for snacks and gas, the 13 hour ride back flew by. During one of our snack runs in Maryland, we caused quite a bit of a stir among some young teens merely by getting out of the van. At that moment, it hit me just how awesome it was to be traveling all the way to New York City and back with a band that looked and acted like a band. There's a camaraderie there that that emanates from such a band and fills onlookers, even ones unfamiliar with the group's music, with a sense of awe. It was quite inspiring just to observe such a thing.

The remainder of the ride passed relatively uneventfully as we crossed Virginia and slipped through the Carolinas, but that feeling of accomplishment, of satisfaction at having traveled so far together and seen so much in such a short amount of time... that feeling lingered. It was simply an incredible, unforgettable journey!

Journey to CMJ 2011: the true story of a band on the road: Part 1

What they tell you in books, what you see in the movies... those aren't the real stories. When the average person thinks of a band on tour, they imagine spacious tour buses, security guards, thousands of screaming fans awaiting them wherever they go, and massive drug-filled parties in ritzy hotel rooms that always seem to get trashed before the band leaves. That's just common knowledge, you know? For most fans of big name bands, it's hard to believe that there was ever a time before all of the autograph signings and dressing rooms, all the roadies and luxurious perks. I mean, all of this stuff just comes with the territory, right?

Well, unless that band embarked on their very first rock-filled journey under Disney's label or something similar, the untold stories of their road trips and tours are quite a bit different... and truly, just as interesting! This is a small taste of the true story of going on the road to the CMJ showcase in New York City with awesome local rockers, Misfortune500.

Hardcore as always, the band's plan was to do a straight-shot from Athens to Philadelphia in as little time as possible. In my cozy seat in the back surrounded by amps and luggage, I dozed off and on for thirteen hours between the road games and hilarious conversations that filled our trip. Until early evening, there really wasn't much of anything else to do besides watch the rows of trees speed past our windows and read the occasional road sign featuring names like Backlick and Dimwiddle. As the hours flew by, we knew once we reached our destination that we'd have a place to crash, but all the information we had was that we'd be staying with a man whom none of us had ever met, a man who called himself Bunny. Finally, right around 4 AM, while splitting headaches and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion engulfed us all, we arrived in the lovely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and navigated our way to our host's house.

Now, Bunny's house was actually just as you'd expect a place owned by such a creatively named man to look like! Art exploded over every surface, and his adorable yet rather insane kitty leapt from statue to statue in the living room where we were to sleep. In the bathroom, a sprawling ceramic mural of a nude woman adorned the wall. Too tired to move, though, we hardly noticed these things as we curled up on the cold, wood floor of the living room beneath a towering nine-foot statue of a very pregnant Virgin Mary that watched us as we alternated between resting and pulling the cat off of our faces. You truly haven't lived until you've experienced a night like this one! And yet, every band who has spent time on the road has a tale to tell much like this one.

The next afternoon, after a short nap in a hard-to-find motel in New Jersey, we wound through the impossibly confusing streets, muddy fields, and toll roads that populated that state as we headed towards our ultimate destination, the NYC! Darkness had already fallen once again by the time we reached the city, but before entering through the Holland Tunnel, we caught glimpses of the Statue of Liberty shining in the distance. I have to admit I'm not normally a person impressed by iconic landmarks, but there was just something about seeing Lady Liberty for the very first time, even if just from afar, that left me a bit emotional and full of hope. I simply couldn't wait to see what the night had in store for us!

Stay tuned for the rest of the story as the band rocks CMJ and more!

The Summer Side Show 9 experience: Part 4

Read part 1, part 2, and part 3 of the Summer Side Show 9 experience!

As darkness settled over the festival, Misfortune500, one of my top Athens favorites and the band sweet enough to share their Summer Side Show adventure with me, began setting up. A few weeks ago, I tweeted that I could happily see this band play a live show once a week and still never get sick of them, and since that time, I've actually caught them in action about that often. Hey, it's true! Misfortune500's strong and dark alt rock is so powerful, I just can't get enough of their sound. And I'm definitely not alone. Curious fans, seeing the intense display of lights and pure rock from afar, ventured over throughout their brilliant set to join their crowd of fans as they ruled the show. Even on a stage sandwiched between Attila's monstrously loud tunes and American Idol contestant Bo Bice's songs from across the river, Misfortune500 owned the evening and, after their set was tragically cut short, left us dying for so much more of their style. In fact, the guy standing right in front of me during the show said that it was, by far, the best act he'd seen all day. What an impression!

And then, there was nothing left to see but the headliner. Creators of iconic 90s hit Sex and Candy, Marcy Playground topped off the night on the main stage, lit by Misfortune500's awesome lights, in front of a crowd of mostly teens too young to actually remember their biggest hit in its heyday. Now, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from these guys since I, like most of the audience, only knew one of their tunes. During the set, their sound ranged from almost metal to more southern rock which, all in all, was pretty well-crafted. Unfortunately, though, until they performed the song that everyone eagerly awaited, their hearts just didn't seem to be in the performance. I suppose, after all those years of being known for one great tune, it can be hard to maintain enthusiasm for the others. When the time came to satisfy the fans' craving, however, all of the band members threw themselves into the song and even got the fans to join in, proving that there are some things, like Sex and Candy, that never go out of style.

After that intense heat and all of those bands and those wild sights and sounds, I really only have one thing left to say. Wow, what a day!

You can check out the full coverage of the entire Summer Side Show 9 experience right here!

A buzz worthy lineup and the "Return of Allison Weiss"

All of the bands on 40 Watt's bill last Friday night have garnered quite a bit of buzz about themselves. As such, I knew I would just have to split my time between my friends' graduation and this crazy stacked lineup. Kicking off the night, the Young Orchids played for us a very indie set with a sort of old school vibe. Their soft pop rock songs layered with the punk-like vocals of the lead singer gave them a bit of a unique edge, and I was certainly intrigued when they whipped out maracas for one of the tunes.

Next up were the Winter Sounds, a band I was introduced to very early in my exploration of the local music scene. I've always been a fan of their rich and powerful sound and their beautifully soft yet upbeat style. This time around, the band featured what seemed to be a whole slew of new members whose presence added a brand new dimension to their tunes though admittedly also made them a bit less cohesive than I remember. The sweet melody of the violin intermixed with the rock, however, was undoubtably exciting, and their banter between songs was just plain hilarious.

Then it was time for the widely advertised return of Allison Weiss. Back in the day, people would refer to her as the queen of the Athens music scene, but she has since changed things up by making the big move up to New York and trimming her locks as well. Fans of Allison can rest assured , though, that she still employs that rather adorably awkward style of crowd banter between songs that had been something of a trademark when she lived here. Backed by members of the Winter Sounds for many of her newer songs, she started things off with the familiar tune I'm Ready before launching into a set that alternated between slower melodies and very upbeat dance tunes. The latter of these naturally caused an eruption of hipster dancing at its finest right in front of the stage as the other fans mouthed the words to every song along with her. During the performance of a cover, Allison even brought two of the dancers onstage to move behind her as she sang. Quite a crazy time!

Finally, after an Eminim song served to us by two girls calling themselves Feminem, headliners Misfortune500 finished out the night with a set that, once again, was impossibly better than their last. These guys are definitely among my top favorites in the scene, no question about it. What a show!

Attack of the Cowboys, Aliens, and Everything in Between: Yo Soybean, Kite to the Moon, and Misfortune500

Thursday night was a lovely break from all of the schoolwork that has been plaguing me lately. To start things off, I headed on over to catch a forever favorite, Venice is Sinking, play Live in the Lobby at the WUOG radio station. Then Dreamboat, whose members Claire and Paige you may recognize from Hope for Agoldensummer, gave us a taste of something purely beautiful and serene with their short set. The rock, however, didn't start till I stepped into the 40 Watt.

Now to my utter surprise, Yo Soybean had already taken the stage when I got there. Why is it that I'm always either extremely early or horribly, unfashionably late to shows? I'm never just on time! Tragic, indeed. Boy, am I glad I finally got to see at least half of their set, though. After hearing about them for quite a while, this experience was certainly looooong overdue. And I've gotta say, I really enjoyed their folksy, southern rock style with a hint of pop. Wow, these guys went wild onstage as they played. Clearly, they all, especially singer Nicholar Mallis, have a flair for the dramatics! Using everything from banjos to harmonicas, they jammed their way through a medley of movement-inducing tunes leading up to a rather awesome wall of sound. Absolutely, genuinely beautiful!

Next up were newer blog favorites, Misfortune500... not the Modern Skirts as they tried to lead you to believe. Don't let them fool you with their jokes! Oh, the ridiculousness! Most wonderfully, these guys brought the darkness with their set, and I loved their sound just as much as I did the first time I saw them. During the show, they gave us quite an awesome cover as well as a taste of one of their newest tunes, a song undeniably filled to the brim with rock. Great stuff! I have to admit, though, you know it's kind of a weird lineup when these two bands play one after another.

And speaking of weird, Kite to the Moon took the stage next, ready to give us an experience that can only be described as random (and that's coming from a person doesn't ever use that word). If you've never been to one of their shows before before, all you really have to know is that you're in for a crazy spectacle when you go to see these guys. Is it Halloween again? Kite to the Moon will, without a doubt, have you pondering this question during their set. Watching them this time around made me feel like I was observing some sort of gathering of circus clowns. Utterly insane. I can see why the Cowboys and Aliens theme was necessary to remotely tie these three bands together. Madness, I tell you! Madness!

No Need For A Thousand Words...

What's the best way to balance out the two extremely wordy posts below this one? Pictures, of course! Tons of pictures from all of the unbelievable bands that rocked our September will be up on the Echoreyn of Athens facebook page this afternoon, so be sure to check them out! But to tide us over until then, enjoy a visual feast of some of my favorites from the Athens band, Tealvox, Misfortune500, the Orkids, and the Beat Geeks!

Chase from the Athens band

Beau "Monkey" of the Athens band with a giant inflatable monkey

Tealvox

Misfortune500

Misfortune500 (Photo credit: Page Walker)

Chisolm of Misfortune500 (Photo credit: Page Walker)

The Orkids (Photo credit: Page Walker)

Hanging with the Beat Geeks at their first show (Photo credit: Meghan McBain)

Loved these? Don't forget to visit our facebook page for many more!

With Lights and Screens: Misfortune500, Heypenny, and the Orkids

All photos courtesy of Page Walker

Wow, the luck just keeps on following me! I can't believe how many amazing lineups I've seen since I returned to Athens. This Thursday night was no exception. In fact, I'd say the Orkids/ Misfortune500/ Heypenny show has to be one of my top favorites!

Just after my friend Page and I stepped into the venue I affectionately refer to as my home (the Caledonia, of course!), Heypenny struck their first chord. Now, to be honest, I'd never heard of these guys before, but after this show, I know everyone

here will be buzzing about this Tenessee-based band! Surrounded by tons of TV screens that were cable-linked to their guitars to display digital art in time with their music, this band's show was a visual feast. These experimental indie rockers had a sound and style that could only be compared with kings of the Athens scene, Reptar. Complete with prominent keyboard tones and quite a range of falsetto, Heypenny had a clear sense of fun that permeated the whole room. And wow, their energy was unbelievable too! These guys used the whole stage as their playground, leaping up from their instruments to dance and move as they gave us tune after joyous tune. The next time they come to Athens, I know you'll want to check them out!

Moments later, it was time for Misfortune500 to wow us with their tunes. Now, naturally, I've been dying to see them live ever since I interviewed them about their Popfest show in August, so this was the fulfillment of dreams! And truly, it was. These guys blew my face off with their incredible alt rock sound! Without a doubt, they ruled the genre like no other band I've seen. The whole experience - the rockstar lights, the amazing tunes, the wonderfully dark style - was essentially perfection. Their music made me feel so alive! Honestly, I struggle to find words to describe the sheer awesomeness of it all, and that is something I definitely don't say too often. I was so sure that I would be able to keep from adding to my list of ten local favorites for a while at least, but it seems that I was very wrong. You can bet I'll be seeing Misfortune500 again soon!

Then the Orkids rocked out the night with those ever-exciting dance tunes of theirs and some brand new ones too! And, in a super crazy turn of events, they gave us some hilarious impromptu covers of Ace of Base's The Sign and R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly among others as well. The crowd was so into their music that when singer Sandra Gallardo pointed the microphone offstage, the words were clearly heard from every corner of the venue. What a spectacular ending to an unbelievable night!

Athens Preview: Misfortune 500 at Popfest tonight!

Photo by Michael Lachowski

Popfest has taken over Athens, bringing bands upon brilliant bands to rock our days and nights this week! Among them, local alt rockers Misfortune500 have plans to blow us away with tonight's show. Describing their sound as one of gravity and grandeur, the band promises to give the audience "the opportunity to feel real human emotions, find love, find inspiration, find themselves. Be galvanized. " Influenced by "the concept of longing that matures into action" and a strong desire to defy the world's current view of popular music, they appear to have some surprises in store for us when they step onstage tonight. Most intriguing, they've been recruiting models to be used in the show for some mysterious purpose though they're remaining tight-lipped about exactly what that purpose is. Guess we'll just have to see the show to find out. Exciting!

Misfortune500 will be wowing us tonight (doors: 8:30 PM) as part of the Caledonia Lounge's Popfest lineup, playing with the Pass, Antivillians, and other blog favorites Reptar. You won't want to miss this!