I believe it was legendary deejay Casey Kasem who enticed his Top 40 listening audience to stay tuned with the phrase “the hits just keep on coming.” I’m beginning to think that could be the new tagline for the TEMBA program.
A few months ago, I chronicled the success of FocalPop, an online marketplace for custom photography hatched by a group of TEMBA students from the Class of 2009. Winners of the Texas Moot Corp finals, FocalPop followed an entrepreneurial path blazed by other successful TEMBA ventures such as Bigfoot Networks, Phurnace Software and Pure Golf.
Given this success, it came as little surprise to learn that yet another TEMBA-originated venture is once again in the news. eVapt, Inc., a leading platform for subscription management and billing solutions for cloud computing, which was launched in 2007 by TEMBA grads Divakar Jandhyala and Ranjit Nayak, has been acquired by MagnaQuest Technologies, a Hyderabad-based billing software company.
Divakar and Ranjit, both Class of 2007, developed the idea for eVapt while in the program. Although they quit their day jobs in early 2007 to focus on the start-up, their big break came when they won the McGinnis Venture Competition at Carnegie Mellon. In addition to the recognition they garnered, capturing first place gave them some much needed cash to keep the business afloat during the first year of operation.
At the time of the competition, Divakar told the Austin Business Journal that the duo “used the Texas Evening MBA coursework to flush out the details of the business plan." Apparently, it worked quite well.
I was able to catch up with Ranjit earlier this week and congratulate him on the company’s success. While an extremely busy time for him, he was kind enough to answer a few questions about the venture and the recent acquisition. Here is a part of that conversation.
TT: “First of all, congratulations on the news. I know this is an exciting and probably very satisfying accomplishment for you guys. Was acquisition always a part of the strategy or did the MagnaQuest deal come as a surprise?”
RN: “Acquisition was the preferred exit at the very inception of the venture. It was therefore not a surprise.”
TT: “Give me a little background on what you guys were doing when you entered the program and whether or not you thought TEMBA would be a platform to launch your own venture?”
RN: “I was working as an integration manager at IBM Corporation when I started the evening program (Divakar was a product line development manager at BMC Software). As far as starting my own business, no, that was not on my mind when I entered the program. However, starting my own business has always been something I wanted to do.”
TT: “How did you and Divakar first meet and when did you realize you wanted to pursue this idea together?”
RN: “Divakar and I had actually met socially before the TEMBA program, but we were in Bob May's managerial accounting class and were fascinated by the use of activity-based costing and use of cost drivers for accounting. We felt that this should be applied in the computing industry.”
TT: “Very interesting. Dr. May will love to hear that. Cloud computing technology was fairly new when you developed this idea, so take me from that managerial accounting class to the development of the idea. In other words, exactly how was eVapt born?”
RN: “True, cloud computing was new. The idea was born out of problems seen in the enterprise software space but clearly the solution was more applicable in a SaaS ( Software as a Service) space which is now a subset of cloud computing. Incidentally, Divakar and I had a conversation about the problems faced by enterprises en route to the first BIC (now Austin Intensives) prior to the start of classes.”
TT: “Can you define cloud computing in layman’s terms?”
RN: “In layman's terms, cloud computing is the delivery and consumption of computing services as if it were a utility.”
TT: “I understand that you guys bounced a lot of ideas off of Daniel Nelson (TEMBA ’06 and founder of Phurnace Software) before your launch. How valuable was it to have someone like Daniel in your corner?”
RN: “That is correct. It was extremely valuable to have someone like Daniel to bounce ideas off. It was like driving in a thunderstorm following the tracks and tail lights of the car in front.”
TT: “Great analogy. Clearly, you and Divakar also did a lot of brainstorming and bouncing of ideas. What do you consider the strengths that each of you brought to the table?”
RN: “Both Divakar and I brought a track record of experienced software industry management capability. Divakar brought some technology evaluation strength, while I had experience in customer engagement and professional services.”
TT: “Other than Moot Corp, what part of the TEMBA program best prepared you for launching this venture?”
RN: “Being part of the TEMBA program allowed us to participate in UT's Idea 2 Product competition. Also, I took an entrepreneurship practicum that was simply the best preparation I could have hoped for. The class, taught by John Doggett, opened my eyes and let me consider my options.”
TT: “Tell me about the Moot Corp experience and how it helped refine your business plan.”
RN: “The preparation for Moot Corp gained in the New Venture Creation class allowed us to think through the issues rationally in gradual progression. The Moot Corp competition itself helped us identify gaps and holes in the business plan. The questions posed by the judges came from their own experiences. It was up to us to learn from their perspectives - and perhaps mistakes - without having to commit them ourselves.”
TT: “Obviously, you knew you were onto something when you won the McGinnis Venture Competition at Carnegie Mellon. Were you guys prepared to launch even without the validation of a competition such as McGinnis or Moot Corp?”
RN: “Interestingly, the decision to launch this venture was made before the McGinnis Venture Competition. Divakar and I had quit our regular jobs by Jan 2007.”
TT: “Wow. So, how was eVapt initially funded and at what point did you get investors?”
RN: “eVapt was initially funded by our savings. The McGinnis Competition gave us almost $45,000 in cash and services, which kept eVapt going through the end of 2007. We got angel funding in Jan 2008.”
TT: “So, back to the acquisition. I understand that eVapt will remain in Austin. Will you and Divakar stay with the firm?”
RN: “Yes eVapt will continue operations in Austin. Divakar plans to stay on with the firm.”
TT: “So, what’s next for you? Any new ventures in the works?”
RN: “I am definitely looking at all options at this time. A new venture is an option I am seriously considering."
TT: “Looking back over the last few years, is there any advice you would give current TEMBA students planning on pursuing an entrepreneurial path upon graduation?”
RN: “Students must understand that entrepreneurship is a very tough proposition. Financial preparation and spousal support is absolutely essential before diving into it. It is an emotional roller coaster, but very rewarding.”
TT: “Thank you Ranjit. Again, congratulations and best of luck to you and Divakar. I look forward to hearing about your next adventure.”
To learn more about eVapt, visit them online at http://www.evapt.com or follow them on twitter at http://twitter.com/evapt.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, October 23, 2009
I seriously doubt TEMBA grad Peter Keller ever envisioned a job in which he would be asked to straddle a tricked-out Kegerator loaded with beer and then joust with a colleague. Yet, that is exactly what he recently did in his role as director of product development for Living Direct, Inc., an online retail company headquartered here in Austin.
Now before you think I’ve lost my mind or had too many deep fried butter balls in Dallas last weekend, I have youtube proof of this feat, and Peter was kind enough to let me share it with you guys. It’s all part of the company’s product video contest in which employees are split into teams and compete for a $1,500 cash prize. Best I can tell, the goal is to show a product doing something other than what it is actually intended to do – I’m sure the lawyers love this.
I asked Peter about the idea for the contest. He told me it originated as a way to boost the company’s social media efforts – a test to see if youtube, in particular, could be an effective marketing tool. Since the Class of 2010 is currently discussing social media in Advanced Marketing Management, I thought the idea and strategy behind Living Direct’s contest would be of interest.
Here’s a part of our conversation.
TT: “Hilarious video, Peter. How did this all come about? “
PK: “We're an e-commerce company through-and-through- everything we do supports our sales and customer service efforts based around our network of websites. However, our marketing is very transactional. If we can't predict the ROAS, we don't make the marketing spend! We originated this contest as a jump-start to our social media efforts, and as a test of what sort of value funny youtube videos can add."
TT: “So how does the contest work?”
PK: “The company was split into random teams of three, and each team ‘drafted’ a product from our warehouse – there were 300 possible SKUs to choose from. Each team received a camera and a deadline. The team with the most views by October 30th wins. The winning team gets $1500. This way, we combine a team-building exercise with a marketing experiment.”
TT: “What a great idea! Tell me about your team.
PK: “My team is named The Finkies- named for Living Direct's first customer ten years ago! We held a few brainstorming sessions. We selected the ‘Cruzin’ Cooler’ because we thought we had many options with that product. We took a look at what we thought made a popular youtube video- people getting hit in the testicles, women in bikinis, music video parodies, rap videos by Miley Cyrus, etc.- and we spun out ideas based on those. We figured the testicle hits were too easy and low. Our wives don't want to wear bikinis for the shoot…so, we decided to combine a music video aspect with some violence. It seems to work so far- we have had a good number of views in the first 12 hours.”
TT: “A Miley Cyrus rap video? I’m not even going to ask. I think you’re on to something though. I routinely search for violence and Daft Punk when I’m on youtube. Seriously though, we’ll make sure you guys get some more hits. Good luck in the contest.”
Check out Peter’s video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR3kVy6tKkk&feature=autofb
I’ve been following Living Direct’s twitter updates over the last few weeks and have to say it sounds like a fun place to work. In addition to the video contest, I’ve read tweets about homemade Red Bull, beer robots and Moon Cake days…whatever that is. I also noticed that Peter spent some time in Vegas for the National Beer Wholesalers tradeshow – nice work if you can get it.
I asked Peter about the corporate culture and what he liked about his job. Here’s what he had to say.
TT: “I know you are a frequent contributor to the company’s twitter updates. It appears that you guys are having a lot of fun. Is that a part of the corporate culture?”
PK: “Living Direct was founded in 1999 and, until recently, we paid little attention to the culture- we valued hard work and hard play, but the work environment was somewhat unfocused.
TT: “Hence the contest and things like that?”
PK: “Yes, we realized that if we do not work on our corporate culture, it will stagnate on its own. So, this contest is one of the ways to accomplish a marketing goal, while at the same time bringing the company together in a way that unites different people and departments within the organization.”
TT: “I like the approach. Thanks for your time and, again, best of luck in the contest.”
You can follow Peter’s antics at www.twitter.com/petekeller and track the company at www.twitter.com/LivingDirect.
Kegerator jousting. Hmmm, sounds like a great team building challenge for next year’s intensive. Stay tuned.
Now before you think I’ve lost my mind or had too many deep fried butter balls in Dallas last weekend, I have youtube proof of this feat, and Peter was kind enough to let me share it with you guys. It’s all part of the company’s product video contest in which employees are split into teams and compete for a $1,500 cash prize. Best I can tell, the goal is to show a product doing something other than what it is actually intended to do – I’m sure the lawyers love this.
I asked Peter about the idea for the contest. He told me it originated as a way to boost the company’s social media efforts – a test to see if youtube, in particular, could be an effective marketing tool. Since the Class of 2010 is currently discussing social media in Advanced Marketing Management, I thought the idea and strategy behind Living Direct’s contest would be of interest.
Here’s a part of our conversation.
TT: “Hilarious video, Peter. How did this all come about? “
PK: “We're an e-commerce company through-and-through- everything we do supports our sales and customer service efforts based around our network of websites. However, our marketing is very transactional. If we can't predict the ROAS, we don't make the marketing spend! We originated this contest as a jump-start to our social media efforts, and as a test of what sort of value funny youtube videos can add."
TT: “So how does the contest work?”
PK: “The company was split into random teams of three, and each team ‘drafted’ a product from our warehouse – there were 300 possible SKUs to choose from. Each team received a camera and a deadline. The team with the most views by October 30th wins. The winning team gets $1500. This way, we combine a team-building exercise with a marketing experiment.”
TT: “What a great idea! Tell me about your team.
PK: “My team is named The Finkies- named for Living Direct's first customer ten years ago! We held a few brainstorming sessions. We selected the ‘Cruzin’ Cooler’ because we thought we had many options with that product. We took a look at what we thought made a popular youtube video- people getting hit in the testicles, women in bikinis, music video parodies, rap videos by Miley Cyrus, etc.- and we spun out ideas based on those. We figured the testicle hits were too easy and low. Our wives don't want to wear bikinis for the shoot…so, we decided to combine a music video aspect with some violence. It seems to work so far- we have had a good number of views in the first 12 hours.”
TT: “A Miley Cyrus rap video? I’m not even going to ask. I think you’re on to something though. I routinely search for violence and Daft Punk when I’m on youtube. Seriously though, we’ll make sure you guys get some more hits. Good luck in the contest.”
Check out Peter’s video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR3kVy6tKkk&feature=autofb
I’ve been following Living Direct’s twitter updates over the last few weeks and have to say it sounds like a fun place to work. In addition to the video contest, I’ve read tweets about homemade Red Bull, beer robots and Moon Cake days…whatever that is. I also noticed that Peter spent some time in Vegas for the National Beer Wholesalers tradeshow – nice work if you can get it.
I asked Peter about the corporate culture and what he liked about his job. Here’s what he had to say.
TT: “I know you are a frequent contributor to the company’s twitter updates. It appears that you guys are having a lot of fun. Is that a part of the corporate culture?”
PK: “Living Direct was founded in 1999 and, until recently, we paid little attention to the culture- we valued hard work and hard play, but the work environment was somewhat unfocused.
TT: “Hence the contest and things like that?”
PK: “Yes, we realized that if we do not work on our corporate culture, it will stagnate on its own. So, this contest is one of the ways to accomplish a marketing goal, while at the same time bringing the company together in a way that unites different people and departments within the organization.”
TT: “I like the approach. Thanks for your time and, again, best of luck in the contest.”
You can follow Peter’s antics at www.twitter.com/petekeller and track the company at www.twitter.com/LivingDirect.
Kegerator jousting. Hmmm, sounds like a great team building challenge for next year’s intensive. Stay tuned.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, October 16, 2009
Creativity magazine owes Abel Gonzales, Jr. an apology. Each year, the advertising and consumer culture rag publishes something called the Creativity 50, a list of people who have “made a significant mark on the creative consciousness of…our culture as a whole.” Stephen Colbert made the list. So did Tina Fey. Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Google fame are on it. David Byrne, David Axelrod and Jeff Bezos – check.
But Abel Gonzales? Nothing. Not one thing. Why it’s akin to leaving Abraham Lincoln off a list of best U.S. Presidents. It’s either a deliberate snub or a colossal oversight and both are inexcusable.
Wait. What’s that? You don’t know Abel Gonzales either? The Michelangelo of the Midway. The Edison of Edibility. The da Vinci of the deep fryer. The I.M. Pei of the PB&J. Anyone? Hello?
Well, perhaps you know Mr. Gonzales more by his actual creations than by his name. Does Fried Coke ring a bell? How about the Deep Fried PB&J sandwich? Texas Fried Cookie Dough? Surely you know Fire & Ice – that deep-fried confection featuring a pineapple ring with banana-flavored whipped cream frozen in none other than liquid nitrogen…that’s right, liquid freakin’ nitrogen. Google that, Sergey.
For those of you still in the dark, Gonzales is a now legendary concessionaire at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. Since 2005, the fair has recognized concessionaires’ culinary creativity through the Big Tex Choice Awards. Gonzales had already garnered 3 Big Tex awards going into this year’s competition.
I have had the pleasure of sampling all of these except the fried cookie dough and honestly wondered where Gonzales could go from here. After all, deep fried soda and liquid nitrogen-laced fried fruit are awfully hard to top. Abel Gonzales is no ordinary concessionaire however.
What he has done this year is the fair vendor’s equivalent to baseball’s elusive .400 batting average. Why, I’m sure even Teddy Ballgame himself would marvel at Gonzales’ latest feat. Abel Gonzales’ creation is nothing short of a miracle. He has created deep fried butter.
I’ll allow that to set in for a few seconds...deep fried butter.
Bobby Kennedy was thinking about a better world when he so eloquently stated that he “dreamed of things that never were and asked why not.” Abel Gonzales was apparently thinking about fried butter when he asked the same question.
And look at what it got us - saturated fat rolled in dough and then deep fried to a hushpuppy-like shape and consistency. If that doesn’t capture the creative consciousness of our culture as a whole, then I don’t know what does.
On Saturday, I’ll enter Fair Park for the annual Texas-OU showdown and make a beeline for….the beer line, of course.* THEN, I’ll venture over to Nimitz Drive to sample Gonzales’ heavenly butter creations. I can think of nothing more satisfying other than maybe an OU three-and-out and a Shipley punt return for a touchdown to start the game.
Our own Mark Hardin couldn’t wait until game day to get his hands on some deep fried butter. In fact, he was so enamored by the buttery bonnes bouches that he celebrated his first anniversary at the Texas State Fair last weekend. O.K, in fairness I don’t think the butter was actually a planned part of the celebration, but he has tried the dish nonetheless. For those of you making the trek to Dallas, heed Mark’s advice about the larger butter balls. For those of you not going to the game, well….you’ll just have to use your imagination. Here’s what Mark said:
“Fried Butter has the appearance of an un-glazed donut hole and the consistency of a Pillsbury buttermilk breakfast biscuit. Eight State Fair coupons ($4) gets you a serving of four of the fried butter balls sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar. You can choose from four flavors including original, garlic, cherry, and (everyone’s favorite?) grape. I was not brave enough to venture beyond “original” fried butter. The experience was basically par with eating a very buttery biscuit – warm, soul-foody goodness with a perfect blend of crispiness and moistness, sweetness and saltiness. However, beware of the larger butter balls in the batch – they squirt.”
Thank you Mark and best of luck to your Bruins this weekend. While most of us will be glued to the Texas-OU game, Mark will likely be keeping an eye on the UCLA-Cal game at the Rose Bowl. Good luck finding any fried butter in Pasadena.
As far as Texas-OU, I’ve learned over the last twenty years (I attended my first in the series back in 1989) that you can throw out the statistics when analyzing this rivalry. I’m looking for a breakout game from Fozzy Whittaker and more pass-run options for Colt. Couple that with a confident defense keying in on Bradford and you have the winning formula: Texas 31, Oklahoma 17. Then again, Texas might win by 50. Hey, anything’s possible. Just ask Abel Gonzales.
*Editor’s Note: A tip for those going to Dallas. Historically, the cheapest beer at the Texas State Fair has been at a place called the Chili Parlor located in the Tower building – half the price in some cases. This year, the Chili Parlor will also be serving the Chili Cheese Dog Pot Pie. While the editor has personally researched the contents of this dish, a well-placed hyphen between ‘cheese’ and ‘dog’ would probably go a long way toward eliminating any confusion over the ingredients of this savory entrée. Enjoy.
But Abel Gonzales? Nothing. Not one thing. Why it’s akin to leaving Abraham Lincoln off a list of best U.S. Presidents. It’s either a deliberate snub or a colossal oversight and both are inexcusable.
Wait. What’s that? You don’t know Abel Gonzales either? The Michelangelo of the Midway. The Edison of Edibility. The da Vinci of the deep fryer. The I.M. Pei of the PB&J. Anyone? Hello?
Well, perhaps you know Mr. Gonzales more by his actual creations than by his name. Does Fried Coke ring a bell? How about the Deep Fried PB&J sandwich? Texas Fried Cookie Dough? Surely you know Fire & Ice – that deep-fried confection featuring a pineapple ring with banana-flavored whipped cream frozen in none other than liquid nitrogen…that’s right, liquid freakin’ nitrogen. Google that, Sergey.
For those of you still in the dark, Gonzales is a now legendary concessionaire at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. Since 2005, the fair has recognized concessionaires’ culinary creativity through the Big Tex Choice Awards. Gonzales had already garnered 3 Big Tex awards going into this year’s competition.
I have had the pleasure of sampling all of these except the fried cookie dough and honestly wondered where Gonzales could go from here. After all, deep fried soda and liquid nitrogen-laced fried fruit are awfully hard to top. Abel Gonzales is no ordinary concessionaire however.
What he has done this year is the fair vendor’s equivalent to baseball’s elusive .400 batting average. Why, I’m sure even Teddy Ballgame himself would marvel at Gonzales’ latest feat. Abel Gonzales’ creation is nothing short of a miracle. He has created deep fried butter.
I’ll allow that to set in for a few seconds...deep fried butter.
Bobby Kennedy was thinking about a better world when he so eloquently stated that he “dreamed of things that never were and asked why not.” Abel Gonzales was apparently thinking about fried butter when he asked the same question.
And look at what it got us - saturated fat rolled in dough and then deep fried to a hushpuppy-like shape and consistency. If that doesn’t capture the creative consciousness of our culture as a whole, then I don’t know what does.
On Saturday, I’ll enter Fair Park for the annual Texas-OU showdown and make a beeline for….the beer line, of course.* THEN, I’ll venture over to Nimitz Drive to sample Gonzales’ heavenly butter creations. I can think of nothing more satisfying other than maybe an OU three-and-out and a Shipley punt return for a touchdown to start the game.
Our own Mark Hardin couldn’t wait until game day to get his hands on some deep fried butter. In fact, he was so enamored by the buttery bonnes bouches that he celebrated his first anniversary at the Texas State Fair last weekend. O.K, in fairness I don’t think the butter was actually a planned part of the celebration, but he has tried the dish nonetheless. For those of you making the trek to Dallas, heed Mark’s advice about the larger butter balls. For those of you not going to the game, well….you’ll just have to use your imagination. Here’s what Mark said:
“Fried Butter has the appearance of an un-glazed donut hole and the consistency of a Pillsbury buttermilk breakfast biscuit. Eight State Fair coupons ($4) gets you a serving of four of the fried butter balls sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar. You can choose from four flavors including original, garlic, cherry, and (everyone’s favorite?) grape. I was not brave enough to venture beyond “original” fried butter. The experience was basically par with eating a very buttery biscuit – warm, soul-foody goodness with a perfect blend of crispiness and moistness, sweetness and saltiness. However, beware of the larger butter balls in the batch – they squirt.”
Thank you Mark and best of luck to your Bruins this weekend. While most of us will be glued to the Texas-OU game, Mark will likely be keeping an eye on the UCLA-Cal game at the Rose Bowl. Good luck finding any fried butter in Pasadena.
As far as Texas-OU, I’ve learned over the last twenty years (I attended my first in the series back in 1989) that you can throw out the statistics when analyzing this rivalry. I’m looking for a breakout game from Fozzy Whittaker and more pass-run options for Colt. Couple that with a confident defense keying in on Bradford and you have the winning formula: Texas 31, Oklahoma 17. Then again, Texas might win by 50. Hey, anything’s possible. Just ask Abel Gonzales.
*Editor’s Note: A tip for those going to Dallas. Historically, the cheapest beer at the Texas State Fair has been at a place called the Chili Parlor located in the Tower building – half the price in some cases. This year, the Chili Parlor will also be serving the Chili Cheese Dog Pot Pie. While the editor has personally researched the contents of this dish, a well-placed hyphen between ‘cheese’ and ‘dog’ would probably go a long way toward eliminating any confusion over the ingredients of this savory entrée. Enjoy.
Friday, October 9, 2009
TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, October 9, 2009
We all have one. For many of us, it’s in the kitchen. For others, it’s somewhere in the bedroom. Some of us even have multiple ones – home and office, perhaps.
I’m talking about the junk drawer - that place where we put things that we might use again or that could possibly come in handy at some point in the future. We just can’t bear to throw this stuff away, though often it’s more or less useless once it finds its way to the drawer.
So, the junk drawer fills with rubber bands, pencil sharpeners, post-it notes, plastic utensils, tacks, chopsticks, coupons, refrigerator magnets, packets of soy sauce and other condiments, pennies, that pill in the bag we think is an Advil but aren’t 100% sure, napkins, ticket stubs and Lone Star beer cap puzzles we don’t know the answers to yet...o.k., maybe that last one is particular to my personal junk drawer, but you know what I’m talking about.
After a while – usually the point when the drawer will no longer close – we are forced to get rid of some of the stuff. So, out go the now expired coupons and condiments and a select group of things we once thought we had to keep.
Our brain works in much the same way. We file ideas and thoughts that we might use again in a virtual junk drawer in our gray matter. I actually thought this was a pretty clever and, perhaps, original analogy until I googled “brain + junk drawer.” There are plenty of entries. One dude even has a blog entitled Junk Drawer Brain.
Anyway, original or not, today I find my brain’s junk drawer overflowing with ideas I have had for these Running Commentaries. Some were too short to stand alone; others require additional work on my part, such as getting in touch with someone else; and some, well, probably should never been filed there in the first place.
As a result, this week’s commentary is a mixed bag of random thoughts with no common thread whatsoever – things I need to at least get out of my brain and on paper before I lose them completely. Some ideas you will probably see again, while others…well, you be the judge.
Jukebox Rules for Dummies: The Art of Picking the Right Songs. Ever been hanging out at a fun place with good music playing and then suddenly hear Uptown Girl coming out of the jukebox? Kind of kills the mood doesn’t it? It’s a crime that some jackass with a buck or two can do this by simply making a wrong selection. This commentary, when I finally write it, will hopefully prevent any of you from being that person.
The Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shops in Austin. An email earlier this week to which I have yet to respond reminded me of this almost forgotten idea. Thanks for the reminder Kim. Oh, and I’ll respond to your email later this morning.
What’s it like to run 100 miles? TEMBA Alum Kirk Coburn recently completed the Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado. I’ve been meaning to give him a call to congratulate him and ask him a few questions about the experience for a future column. This is one of the most grueling challenges out there. Want to learn more? Check out http://www.leadvilletrail100.com/. Congratulations Kirk!
What’s it like to qualify and compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii? There’s nothing easy about a 2.4 mile ocean swim or a 112-mile bike ride or a marathon. Now combine all three into one event and you have an Ironman triathlon. TEMBA alum Paul Terranova is a triathlon veteran and will be competing in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona this weekend. Follow Paul’s progress at http://ironman.com/worldchampionship. Best of luck Paul!
That Entrepreneurial Spirit. In the last few months, I’ve highlighted a few ventures in which Texas MBA grads are involved. From FocalPop to AVIA to CetraPro, it’s great to see the success these groups are having. TEMBA alum Byron Webster is the latest to enter the spotlight. His Botany Buddy app is now live and available in the itunes app store. Read the blurb on Byron’s app in today’s Gazette or check out his website at www.botanybuddy.com. Nice work Byron!
The Art of Drinking Alone Without Looking Like a Loser. I discovered this topic has already been covered by Esquire magazine, but you never know.
Farmville and Mafia Wars: Do you People Not Have Jobs? Self explanatory for frequent facebook users.
ACL Re-Cap: I hope you had a chance to experience the ACL Music Festival this past weekend. Special thanks to our experts – Eric Hirst, Jeff Bock, Natalie Osborne and Sam & Ben - for their picks. If you followed their advice, you had a great weekend. In case you missed it, here are my final thoughts on this year’s festival.
Best of Show: Them Crooked Vultures. Too often these “super groups” end up being disappointing. Homme, Grohl and John Paul Jones did not disappoint.
Most inspiring performance: Daniel Johnston’s battle with mental illness has been well documented. His passionate set on Friday was a must see.
Best Quote: “How the @#*% do you know who we are?” - Airborne Toxic Event’s Mikel Jollett in response to a larger than expected crowd for their set on Saturday afternoon.
Best Quote Runner-Up: Any of the f-bomb-laced quotes from Eddie Vedder about his night out with Ben Harper.
Best Promotion: The Belmont sent a message to all of its facebook fans encouraging them to mention the message to receive free tots. I did…three times.
Show I’m Sorry I Missed: Sara Watkins. Not only is she an exceptional talent, but she was joined by John Paul Jones during her set on Friday afternoon. Should have seen this one coming.
Group You May Not Know Now, but Probably Will Soon: The Henry Clay People. Trust me.
Best Attempt to Upstage a Headliner: Ghostland Observatory. People off to see Dave Matthews had to wonder what the hell was going on at the other end of the park. The laser show made the stage look like a freakish spaceship landing. If that weren’t enough, they brought out the entire University of Texas Longhorn Band for The Band Marches On. Top that Dave. Check it out on youtube if you missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFU3iB-6RSU.
MBA Shout-outs & Apologies: It was great to see Carmel Patton, Jeff Shih, Danny Lenz, TEMBA alums Matt Bosway & Aaron Trull, Texas MBA at Dallas alum Joaquin Martinez and MBA classmate Laura Avery all out enjoying the festival over the weekend. Apologies to Jeff, Alan and Jeremy for not seeing your texts in time. Maybe next year.
Next Week’s Column: Deep Fried Butter….seriously.
Have suggestions for future columns? Send them my way. I’ve got a little more room in my junk drawer now.
I’m talking about the junk drawer - that place where we put things that we might use again or that could possibly come in handy at some point in the future. We just can’t bear to throw this stuff away, though often it’s more or less useless once it finds its way to the drawer.
So, the junk drawer fills with rubber bands, pencil sharpeners, post-it notes, plastic utensils, tacks, chopsticks, coupons, refrigerator magnets, packets of soy sauce and other condiments, pennies, that pill in the bag we think is an Advil but aren’t 100% sure, napkins, ticket stubs and Lone Star beer cap puzzles we don’t know the answers to yet...o.k., maybe that last one is particular to my personal junk drawer, but you know what I’m talking about.
After a while – usually the point when the drawer will no longer close – we are forced to get rid of some of the stuff. So, out go the now expired coupons and condiments and a select group of things we once thought we had to keep.
Our brain works in much the same way. We file ideas and thoughts that we might use again in a virtual junk drawer in our gray matter. I actually thought this was a pretty clever and, perhaps, original analogy until I googled “brain + junk drawer.” There are plenty of entries. One dude even has a blog entitled Junk Drawer Brain.
Anyway, original or not, today I find my brain’s junk drawer overflowing with ideas I have had for these Running Commentaries. Some were too short to stand alone; others require additional work on my part, such as getting in touch with someone else; and some, well, probably should never been filed there in the first place.
As a result, this week’s commentary is a mixed bag of random thoughts with no common thread whatsoever – things I need to at least get out of my brain and on paper before I lose them completely. Some ideas you will probably see again, while others…well, you be the judge.
Jukebox Rules for Dummies: The Art of Picking the Right Songs. Ever been hanging out at a fun place with good music playing and then suddenly hear Uptown Girl coming out of the jukebox? Kind of kills the mood doesn’t it? It’s a crime that some jackass with a buck or two can do this by simply making a wrong selection. This commentary, when I finally write it, will hopefully prevent any of you from being that person.
The Best Locally-Owned Coffee Shops in Austin. An email earlier this week to which I have yet to respond reminded me of this almost forgotten idea. Thanks for the reminder Kim. Oh, and I’ll respond to your email later this morning.
What’s it like to run 100 miles? TEMBA Alum Kirk Coburn recently completed the Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado. I’ve been meaning to give him a call to congratulate him and ask him a few questions about the experience for a future column. This is one of the most grueling challenges out there. Want to learn more? Check out http://www.leadvilletrail100.com/. Congratulations Kirk!
What’s it like to qualify and compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii? There’s nothing easy about a 2.4 mile ocean swim or a 112-mile bike ride or a marathon. Now combine all three into one event and you have an Ironman triathlon. TEMBA alum Paul Terranova is a triathlon veteran and will be competing in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona this weekend. Follow Paul’s progress at http://ironman.com/worldchampionship. Best of luck Paul!
That Entrepreneurial Spirit. In the last few months, I’ve highlighted a few ventures in which Texas MBA grads are involved. From FocalPop to AVIA to CetraPro, it’s great to see the success these groups are having. TEMBA alum Byron Webster is the latest to enter the spotlight. His Botany Buddy app is now live and available in the itunes app store. Read the blurb on Byron’s app in today’s Gazette or check out his website at www.botanybuddy.com. Nice work Byron!
The Art of Drinking Alone Without Looking Like a Loser. I discovered this topic has already been covered by Esquire magazine, but you never know.
Farmville and Mafia Wars: Do you People Not Have Jobs? Self explanatory for frequent facebook users.
ACL Re-Cap: I hope you had a chance to experience the ACL Music Festival this past weekend. Special thanks to our experts – Eric Hirst, Jeff Bock, Natalie Osborne and Sam & Ben - for their picks. If you followed their advice, you had a great weekend. In case you missed it, here are my final thoughts on this year’s festival.
Best of Show: Them Crooked Vultures. Too often these “super groups” end up being disappointing. Homme, Grohl and John Paul Jones did not disappoint.
Most inspiring performance: Daniel Johnston’s battle with mental illness has been well documented. His passionate set on Friday was a must see.
Best Quote: “How the @#*% do you know who we are?” - Airborne Toxic Event’s Mikel Jollett in response to a larger than expected crowd for their set on Saturday afternoon.
Best Quote Runner-Up: Any of the f-bomb-laced quotes from Eddie Vedder about his night out with Ben Harper.
Best Promotion: The Belmont sent a message to all of its facebook fans encouraging them to mention the message to receive free tots. I did…three times.
Show I’m Sorry I Missed: Sara Watkins. Not only is she an exceptional talent, but she was joined by John Paul Jones during her set on Friday afternoon. Should have seen this one coming.
Group You May Not Know Now, but Probably Will Soon: The Henry Clay People. Trust me.
Best Attempt to Upstage a Headliner: Ghostland Observatory. People off to see Dave Matthews had to wonder what the hell was going on at the other end of the park. The laser show made the stage look like a freakish spaceship landing. If that weren’t enough, they brought out the entire University of Texas Longhorn Band for The Band Marches On. Top that Dave. Check it out on youtube if you missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFU3iB-6RSU.
MBA Shout-outs & Apologies: It was great to see Carmel Patton, Jeff Shih, Danny Lenz, TEMBA alums Matt Bosway & Aaron Trull, Texas MBA at Dallas alum Joaquin Martinez and MBA classmate Laura Avery all out enjoying the festival over the weekend. Apologies to Jeff, Alan and Jeremy for not seeing your texts in time. Maybe next year.
Next Week’s Column: Deep Fried Butter….seriously.
Have suggestions for future columns? Send them my way. I’ve got a little more room in my junk drawer now.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, October 2, 2009
On one hand, it’s a big risk. With such a plethora of options, am I giving them way too much responsibility? What if they cave under all the pressure? Will I ever be able to trust them again?
Yet on the other hand, they have enthusiastically accepted this challenge. They have diligently done their homework. They appear confident in their choices. Now, only time will tell if they – and I - made the right decision.
For the first time, I have given full and complete control of an extremely important task to Sam and Ben, and we are about to see how it will all unfold. What daunting task did I give them? What herculean responsibility has caused me – and them - to lose sleep at night? What could possibly be this important…this gargantuan….this huge? Why, this year’s ACL picks, of course.
Yes, it is time for the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Thurman household has been preparing for weeks, if not months. We’ve previewed the bands, downloaded the songs, read the blogs and even periodically checked on the progress of the sod at Zilker Park.
We bought tickets as soon as they were available and will trade those receipts in for wristbands tonight. With schedule in hand…or, more precisely, in itouch…we will gleefully leave our place mid-morning tomorrow for the roughly two mile walk to the park and begin our three-day musical exploration tour.
With 130 bands representing nearly every musical genre, attending ACL can be an intimidating experience for the festival novice. Luckily, TEMBA Gazette readers need not worry. In addition to Sam, Ben and me; we have assembled our own panel of experts to help you navigate the harmonic waters of ACL. The panel includes Associate Dean and ACL veteran, Eric Hirst; TEMBA alum and music aficionado, Jeff Bock and TEMBA 2012er and Austin music proponent, Natalie Osborne. We asked each panelist to send us their Top 5 picks for the weekend and offer our sincerest thanks to this distinguished group.
And now the picks:
Eric Hirst’s Top 5
The Dead Weather (Sunday at 6 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “O.K., so it's not the White Stripes or the Raconteurs, but it is a Jack White band and you know it will be loud and rocking.”
Thievery Corporation (Friday at 6:30 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “An eclectic blend of world music. If the weather is just right, this could be the perfect evening performance.”
Levon Helm (Saturday at 6 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “This guy has written some classics when he was the drummer for The Band. A little bluegrass will go a long way.”
Girl Talk (Sunday at 7 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) – “Who could imagine the mash ups this guy comes up with? Should be very interesting.”
Bon Iver (Saturday at 5 PM, Dell Stage) – “Break up with your girlfriend. Lock yourself in a cabin for the winter in Wisconsin. Write an album. This is the result.”
Jeff Bock’s Top 5
The Avett Brothers (Friday at 2:30 PM, AMD Stage) -- Indie Folk
File Between: Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Everly Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abQRt6p8T7g
“A striking combination of bluegrass, folk, pop and country -- brothers Scott and Seth Avett lead this North Carolina band that is on the verge of striking it big. The songs often are deeply emotional... even though the band usually just play stripped-down acoustic they have an amazing energy and presence. Saw them at SXSW 2009 at Stubbs and can say they were one of my highlights for the entire week.”
Todd Snider (Friday at 3:30 PM, Austin Ventures Stage) -- Alt Country/Singer-Songwriter
File between: John Denver and Tom Petty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuTFRZuOGl4
“The leading story-telling songwriter of our time. I did not know Todd Snider as an artist before I saw him at Bonnaroo 2009 in June. After the show, he has become one of my favorite artists. Do not miss this! Hard to tell whether he's a singer or a comedian at times, but you'll walk away with a new perspective.”
Zac Brown (Saturday at 6 PM, Austin Ventures Stage) -- Country
File between: Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhMwLN-mfsI
“Do you like to have your toes in the sand on the beach? Do you like to drink beer? Do you like good ole fashioned American music with lotsa harmony and hooks? Then you will like Zac Brown.”
Passion Pit (Sunday at 5 PM, XBox 360 Stage) -- Electro-Pop
File Between: MGMT and Vampire Weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUKB9SxMFpI
“Passion Pit are this years' indie-pop-electro "it" band, similar to what MGMT was at ACL2008. Their music is very danceable, with strong melody, harmony and electronic rhythm. I saw them play Emo's with friends back in June 2009 and it was probably the best concert that I've seen in Austin in the past year. Just let your hair down and dance along!”
Girl Talk (Sunday at 7pm, XBox 360 Stage) -- Electronic/Dance
File between: K-Tel 70's Hits Compilations and Lil' Wayne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK3O_qZVqXk
“Take every record or CD that you own from the 70's and 80's and mash it up with 21st Century Hip-Hop. That's what Greg Gillis aka Girl Talk brings to every set he plays. High energy dance party -- if you aren't shaking something after a few minutes you're not alive!”
By the way -- you can download his entire most recent album here with a donation:
http://74.124.198.47/illegal-art.net/__girl__talk___feed__the__anima.ls___/
Natalie Osborne’s Top 5
The Toadies (Sunday at 4 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “They provided the soundtrack to my formative alt-rock years. But if my adolescent musical taste is in question, you only need to look to their Rubberneck album from 1994 for proof of their time-tested talent.”
Kings of Leon (Friday at 8:30 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “The lead singer of this band has a seriously raw and passionate rock sound that forces you to feel every word along with him. Plus the band is made up of three brothers and one cousin, which is pretty cool.”
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears (Sunday at 12:30 PM, AMD Stage) - “You don’t get more Austin than this infectious soul and blues band. Joe Lewis was born and raised here and he recently picked up three of the brass players from the local band Hard Proof Afrobeat for his latest tour.”
Passion Pit (Sunday at 5 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) - “If you wanna dance, I think you gotta see this band. This may be the hidden hit electronic band that Ghostland Observatory was at ACL 2007.”
The Airborne Toxic Event (Saturday at 3 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) - “As early as SXSW 2009, you could see this rock band for free. But they are quickly becoming the darlings of the industry, so this may be the last time I can afford to see them live.”
Sam, Ben & Trent’s (though he had little say in the matter) Top 5
nelo (Friday at 11:15 AM, BMI Stage) – “Two years ago, these guys were finalists in the Sound and the Jury competition. This year, the local pop-rock sextet has an early Friday set and is the best bet to get your weekend started right.”
Phoenix (Friday at 4:30 PM, AMD Stage) – “With ties to Air and Daft Punk, this French alt-rock/noir pop group is getting good reviews for their latest album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Nice combo of rock, pop, electro and funk.”
Them Crooked Vultures (Friday at 7:30 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) – “Josh Homme on vocals and guitar, Dave Grohl on drums and John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards…hello? Can’t wait for this hard rock set.”
The Henry Clay People (Saturday at 11:45 AM, Xbox 360 Stage) – “How can you not like a band named after a nineteenth century American statesman? Known for loud and intense shows in L.A., HCP has been touring The Airborne Toxic Event (see Natalie’s list above) in recent months. Here’s your chance to catch both.”
TIE: Passion Pit (Sunday at 5 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) & Arctic Monkeys (Sunday at 4 PM, AMD Stage) – “Get this. Michael Angelakos got some guys together to write a few songs as a Valentine’s Day gift for his girlfriend. Don’t know if she liked it, but a lot of others did and Passion Pit was born. This electro group put on a high energy show at Bonnaroo and we expect the same on Sunday. British alt-rock group Arctic Monkeys had the fastest selling debut album in British music history…now that’s saying something. Count the Beatles, The Clash, The Smiths and The Stone Roses as influences. Great opportunity to catch both of these acts back-to-back.”
So, there you have it. See you at the park.
Yet on the other hand, they have enthusiastically accepted this challenge. They have diligently done their homework. They appear confident in their choices. Now, only time will tell if they – and I - made the right decision.
For the first time, I have given full and complete control of an extremely important task to Sam and Ben, and we are about to see how it will all unfold. What daunting task did I give them? What herculean responsibility has caused me – and them - to lose sleep at night? What could possibly be this important…this gargantuan….this huge? Why, this year’s ACL picks, of course.
Yes, it is time for the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Thurman household has been preparing for weeks, if not months. We’ve previewed the bands, downloaded the songs, read the blogs and even periodically checked on the progress of the sod at Zilker Park.
We bought tickets as soon as they were available and will trade those receipts in for wristbands tonight. With schedule in hand…or, more precisely, in itouch…we will gleefully leave our place mid-morning tomorrow for the roughly two mile walk to the park and begin our three-day musical exploration tour.
With 130 bands representing nearly every musical genre, attending ACL can be an intimidating experience for the festival novice. Luckily, TEMBA Gazette readers need not worry. In addition to Sam, Ben and me; we have assembled our own panel of experts to help you navigate the harmonic waters of ACL. The panel includes Associate Dean and ACL veteran, Eric Hirst; TEMBA alum and music aficionado, Jeff Bock and TEMBA 2012er and Austin music proponent, Natalie Osborne. We asked each panelist to send us their Top 5 picks for the weekend and offer our sincerest thanks to this distinguished group.
And now the picks:
Eric Hirst’s Top 5
The Dead Weather (Sunday at 6 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “O.K., so it's not the White Stripes or the Raconteurs, but it is a Jack White band and you know it will be loud and rocking.”
Thievery Corporation (Friday at 6:30 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “An eclectic blend of world music. If the weather is just right, this could be the perfect evening performance.”
Levon Helm (Saturday at 6 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “This guy has written some classics when he was the drummer for The Band. A little bluegrass will go a long way.”
Girl Talk (Sunday at 7 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) – “Who could imagine the mash ups this guy comes up with? Should be very interesting.”
Bon Iver (Saturday at 5 PM, Dell Stage) – “Break up with your girlfriend. Lock yourself in a cabin for the winter in Wisconsin. Write an album. This is the result.”
Jeff Bock’s Top 5
The Avett Brothers (Friday at 2:30 PM, AMD Stage) -- Indie Folk
File Between: Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Everly Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abQRt6p8T7g
“A striking combination of bluegrass, folk, pop and country -- brothers Scott and Seth Avett lead this North Carolina band that is on the verge of striking it big. The songs often are deeply emotional... even though the band usually just play stripped-down acoustic they have an amazing energy and presence. Saw them at SXSW 2009 at Stubbs and can say they were one of my highlights for the entire week.”
Todd Snider (Friday at 3:30 PM, Austin Ventures Stage) -- Alt Country/Singer-Songwriter
File between: John Denver and Tom Petty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuTFRZuOGl4
“The leading story-telling songwriter of our time. I did not know Todd Snider as an artist before I saw him at Bonnaroo 2009 in June. After the show, he has become one of my favorite artists. Do not miss this! Hard to tell whether he's a singer or a comedian at times, but you'll walk away with a new perspective.”
Zac Brown (Saturday at 6 PM, Austin Ventures Stage) -- Country
File between: Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhMwLN-mfsI
“Do you like to have your toes in the sand on the beach? Do you like to drink beer? Do you like good ole fashioned American music with lotsa harmony and hooks? Then you will like Zac Brown.”
Passion Pit (Sunday at 5 PM, XBox 360 Stage) -- Electro-Pop
File Between: MGMT and Vampire Weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUKB9SxMFpI
“Passion Pit are this years' indie-pop-electro "it" band, similar to what MGMT was at ACL2008. Their music is very danceable, with strong melody, harmony and electronic rhythm. I saw them play Emo's with friends back in June 2009 and it was probably the best concert that I've seen in Austin in the past year. Just let your hair down and dance along!”
Girl Talk (Sunday at 7pm, XBox 360 Stage) -- Electronic/Dance
File between: K-Tel 70's Hits Compilations and Lil' Wayne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK3O_qZVqXk
“Take every record or CD that you own from the 70's and 80's and mash it up with 21st Century Hip-Hop. That's what Greg Gillis aka Girl Talk brings to every set he plays. High energy dance party -- if you aren't shaking something after a few minutes you're not alive!”
By the way -- you can download his entire most recent album here with a donation:
http://74.124.198.47/illegal-art.net/__girl__talk___feed__the__anima.ls___/
Natalie Osborne’s Top 5
The Toadies (Sunday at 4 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “They provided the soundtrack to my formative alt-rock years. But if my adolescent musical taste is in question, you only need to look to their Rubberneck album from 1994 for proof of their time-tested talent.”
Kings of Leon (Friday at 8:30 PM, Livestrong Stage) – “The lead singer of this band has a seriously raw and passionate rock sound that forces you to feel every word along with him. Plus the band is made up of three brothers and one cousin, which is pretty cool.”
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears (Sunday at 12:30 PM, AMD Stage) - “You don’t get more Austin than this infectious soul and blues band. Joe Lewis was born and raised here and he recently picked up three of the brass players from the local band Hard Proof Afrobeat for his latest tour.”
Passion Pit (Sunday at 5 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) - “If you wanna dance, I think you gotta see this band. This may be the hidden hit electronic band that Ghostland Observatory was at ACL 2007.”
The Airborne Toxic Event (Saturday at 3 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) - “As early as SXSW 2009, you could see this rock band for free. But they are quickly becoming the darlings of the industry, so this may be the last time I can afford to see them live.”
Sam, Ben & Trent’s (though he had little say in the matter) Top 5
nelo (Friday at 11:15 AM, BMI Stage) – “Two years ago, these guys were finalists in the Sound and the Jury competition. This year, the local pop-rock sextet has an early Friday set and is the best bet to get your weekend started right.”
Phoenix (Friday at 4:30 PM, AMD Stage) – “With ties to Air and Daft Punk, this French alt-rock/noir pop group is getting good reviews for their latest album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Nice combo of rock, pop, electro and funk.”
Them Crooked Vultures (Friday at 7:30 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) – “Josh Homme on vocals and guitar, Dave Grohl on drums and John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards…hello? Can’t wait for this hard rock set.”
The Henry Clay People (Saturday at 11:45 AM, Xbox 360 Stage) – “How can you not like a band named after a nineteenth century American statesman? Known for loud and intense shows in L.A., HCP has been touring The Airborne Toxic Event (see Natalie’s list above) in recent months. Here’s your chance to catch both.”
TIE: Passion Pit (Sunday at 5 PM, Xbox 360 Stage) & Arctic Monkeys (Sunday at 4 PM, AMD Stage) – “Get this. Michael Angelakos got some guys together to write a few songs as a Valentine’s Day gift for his girlfriend. Don’t know if she liked it, but a lot of others did and Passion Pit was born. This electro group put on a high energy show at Bonnaroo and we expect the same on Sunday. British alt-rock group Arctic Monkeys had the fastest selling debut album in British music history…now that’s saying something. Count the Beatles, The Clash, The Smiths and The Stone Roses as influences. Great opportunity to catch both of these acts back-to-back.”
So, there you have it. See you at the park.
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