We sat down with last year's JanSport Battle of the Bands winner, Cold Fronts, to talk about their experience playing SXSW, getting signed by one the biggests labels in the game, and what 2014 has in store. Check out their EP Pretty American and make sure to catch them on tour this winter.
Submit your EPK for JanSport Battle of the Band for a chance to play our SXSW showcase. Submissions are free, and close December 6th, 2013.
How did you guys prepare for SXSW?
We prepared by making some sick playlists, getting some quality snacks, and booked about two weeks up to Texas and a week tour back. In 2012 it was our first year at SXSW. We actually slept in a tent in a production parking lot that we had to sneak into every night. The last night they caught us and kicked us out so we had to stay up all night just wandering around and partying. It was a real bummer ;)
What was it like playing SXSW?
2013 was nuts. We had a hotel so we felt like we were living large. We had 6 shows in three days which is the way we like it and we had made a lot of friends from the previous year so it felt like going to camp. It's always positive vibes down south.
How was it working with a brand like JanSport?
Jansport hooked it up. They paid for our travel expenses, gave us some luggage, and really made us feel at home at the SXSW party. All the people we worked with were rad and even let us crash at their place when we came to California. It felt more like we were working with friends than a huge company.
I heard you guys got signed at SXSW. Can you tell us how that went down?
Yeah it was wild. So we played an impromptu generator show on the street. We got word that we'd be doing this about an hour before hand. We played, a big crowd formed around, and then after the show this older looking guy came up and asked for a cd and said he liked the songs. I didn't think anything of it but a few weeks later I found out it was Seymour Stein from Sire Records. The dude who signed The Ramones, Talking Heads, Madonna. I mean the list goes on. Long story short, he liked the show and the songs enough to sign us and now we're finishing up our first record with them. It feels like one of those weird fairy tale rock and roll stories but it's all true.
What was the best show you guys saw at SXSW?
Too hard to pick one. The SKATERS, Team Spirit and Wavves show was probably the craziest show I saw. It was fun to just party and slam into everyone around you. Plus, beer was free.
Second favorite was the So So Glos. I stumbled into their show by accident and it was rad. Listen to their record blowout.
Third was Diarrhea Planet. 4 guitarist, all stratocasters, all rock and roll anthems the whole time. Good dudes.
How have things been since last year's festival?
Non stop man. After we signed the deal with Warner/Sire we went on a 6 week tour to California and then when we got back we went into the studio for another 6 weeks. The albums now wrapped up and were planning our winter schedule now. Any free time we have we're writing and rehearsing.
What does the future hold for Cold Fronts?
We're gonna put out a record, tour all the time, make music videos, and have a good time doing it. This has been my dream since I was in middle school so at this point I'm just trying to not wake up.
