Ask off from work on Friday, August 7, ASAP. This year's Pitch Music Showcase is signed, sealed and ready to be delivered to a Westport near you on Thursday, August 6. The lineup is subject to change, but I kinda hope it doesn't, because, holy shit is this gonna rock. Lots 'n lots of new blood.
Wristbands (21-and-up) are available at any of the venues or at The Pitch for the every-year low, low price of $5. This year, for $12, you can get a showcase wristband, a ticket to the awards show at the Uptown on August 16, and a fly-ass Pitch showcase T-shirt. If you buy that package for yourself and five friends, I might just kiss you. Without no furthermore ado...
The Riot Room DJ deck
9 p.m: Max Justus (Electronic/Dance)
10:45pm: Reach (Hip-Hop/Rap)
12:30am: Nomathmatics (DJ/Dance)
The Riot Room indoor stage
8 p.m.: Sailor Sequence (Indie Pop)
9 p.m.: Oriole Post (Folk/Americana)
10 p.m.: The Rich Boys (Frontman)
11 p.m.: James Christos (Hip-Hop/Rap)
12 a.m.: Waiting for Signal (Rock)
1 a.m.: Thunder Eagle (Rock)
The Beaumont Club
8 p.m.: Grand Marquis (Live)
8:55 p.m.: SeedLove (Reggae)
9:50 p.m.: Antennas Up (New)
10:45 p.m.: Be/Non (Indie Rock)
11:40 p.m.: Hammerlord (Metal)
12:40 a.m.: Roman Numerals (Indie Rock)
1:40 a.m.: Pet Comfort (New)
The Foundry at McCoy's
9:30 p.m.: Kipsquared (Electronic/Dance)
10:45 p.m.: Shaun Duval (DJ/Dance)
12 a.m.: Kiko De Gallo (DJ/Dance)
8 p.m.: The Kansas City Bear Fighters (Country/Bluegrass)
9 p.m.: Barclay Martin (Singer-Songwriter)
10 p.m.: Softee (Pop)
11 p.m.: Cowboy Indian Bear (Indie Pop)
12 a.m.: The Irietions (Reggae)
1 a.m.: Adam Lee and the Dead Horse Sound Company (Country/Bluegrass)
Pitch Sponsor Area (the parking lot south of McCoy's and the Foundry)
8 p.m.: Howard Iceberg (Singer-Songwriter)
9 p.m.: Mark Lowrey (Jazz: Solo Artist)
10 p.m.: David Seume (Singer-Songwriter)
Millions of thanks to the hardworking Pitch marketing people -- Jason and Max, especially -- without whom this would not be happening. And thanks, of course, to the bands, rappers, DJs, groupies, merchgirls and everyone else for saying "yes" when we called. But these 28 acts are just a portion of the whole ballot (not to mention a mere fraction of the whole scene). Vote online for yer favorites.
Further reading: My review of last year's showcase, plus three slide shows of eye-melting glory.
