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Time switch mars Jones Family Singers set
If the Jones Family Singers had gone onstage at the Carver Museum Friday night at their advertised time of 9 p.m., they would’ve played to a packed house, following the Mwangaza Children’s Choir, featured on the front page of the Statesman on Sunday. As it turns out, the great gospel group from Bay City played to 16 people after an act was put on before them, with a day’s notice, and cleared the room. Is this how you treat acts that travel far and wide to play for $250, SXSW?
The disheartened nine-member group drove four hours back home Friday night and cancelled their 6 p.m. set today at the San Jose Hotel, where they might’ve actually played for a lot of people. They’ve had enough of Southby- even if the San Jose party is not affiliated- and I don’t blame them.
Full disclosure: I’m a big fan of the JFS and I actually advised them to play SXSW, when fest booker Craig Stewart asked me about that great gospel group that I knew who had wowed ‘em at SXSW a few years back. I also put them in touch with San Jose owner Liz Lambert, who had seen them before and was a big fan.
I had nothing to gain except helping a band that I feel is amongst the very best, and underappreciated gospel groups performing today. And they’re really wonderful people.
Never again would I tell a band that they should play SXSW.
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Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: SXSW 2010
Comments
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By Billy Ray Hanson
March 21, 2010 8:00 AM | Link to this
I went to SXSW purposely too see The Jones Family after having witnessed their explosive ministry at both SXSW & ACL festivals only to be frustrated to the gill at the the way they were treated. They waited to sing to a packed house that ended up containlng less than 20 people as they took to the stage. Although they sang as though the house was still packed out, I could tell that there was frustration and the sound system sucked. SXSW should take note as to how they treat a world class act in that family. I’m a fan and I want to be clear when I say that there is no band SXSW can employ that is any better than this family and yet they didn’t complain when asked how they felt being moved too the end of the line and singing too an empty house.
By A.J.
March 21, 2010 8:09 AM | Link to this
I was disappointed with the show at George Washington Carver Museum on Friday. I arrived at 8:45p.m. to see The Jones Family Singers only to learn that their performance time had drastically changed and a packed house dwindled down to less than nothingness . The group belted it out as always and I was thoroughly satisfied with their performance, but the pa was below par & the best artist of the entire festival (in my opinion) was sandbagged. SHAME on SXSW!
By Rimshotdrummer
March 21, 2010 9:21 PM | Link to this
Being the class act that they are, The Jones Family Singers of Bay City,held true to something they always say, “We grow where ever we are planted”. Clearly, they had every right to not perform because of the jack-up in scheduling, but being the class act that they are, performed anyway. Major artists would not have done so. This is a testament to the high quality people that this family is. SXSW should make this right by any means necessary. Even if it means footing their bill for next year and covering their rooms for the entire event. where is the integrity in such a large organization who is supposed to be displaying some of the best talent around? Is this what is to be expected at future SXSW events?