Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2010 > December > 04 > Entry
Bleet-Up and Alpha Rev
Bleet-Ups — parties where bloggers and tweeters meet — are meant for networking. As promised, major mixing transpired on the Whole Foods terrace Friday night. Holy cow! I met dozens of people previously known to me only by their digital personae.
Amanda Garcia and Rose Reyes
Among the many folks wandering around Austin Eavesdropper Tolly Moseley’s carnival + concert + awards show were web editor JJ McLaughlin, newly arrived arts journalist Claire Spera, “funtrepreneur” Amanda Winters, Downtown Austin blogger Jude Galligan, attorney Luke Stanfield (who introduced me to business cards with QR codes), distance runner Rob Wetzel, iPad app-er Discovery Gerdes, Realtor Amber Gugino, some fresh faces from Public School’s creative pod, SXSW Interactive’s new word-spreader, Kelly Krause, loads of Statesman folks, local music advocate Rose Reyes, the pop-pleasing band MoTel Aviv, and Kahona Coffee honcha Piper Jones (who saved me some delicious decaf).
Megan Kelly and Rob Wetzel
The man of the hour, however, was Chris Apollo Lynn, who announced the winners of the Austin Blogger Awards at the end of the ceremony. To make the City of Austin’s noise-ordinance cut-off hour, he raced through the honors.
Kelly Johnson and Meghan Erwin
Dear ones, I did not win. Nor did newsroom colleague Addie Broyles of Relish Austin. We were nominated in the category “Best Blog from a Traditional Media Outlet.” Coming out on top was KUT’s exquisitely composed Texas Music Matters.
Claire Spera and Discovery Gerdes
I dragged my loser boots to Antone’s for the Mental Health America of Texas benefit. I wasn’t really there as a reporter, but rather as a fierce fan of Alpha Rev. (I promised the Mental Health folks I’d check into their good work soon. The band’s Casey McPherson sits on the charity’s board of directors — all the musicians and the club owners donated their services.)
Jude Galligan, Amber Gugino and Luke Stanfield
The band played songs from “New Morning,” also numbers I didn’t recognize. They interrupted their own compositions with incredible forays into blues, country and other genres with guests Junior Brown, Charlie Sexton and members of the Soldier Thread and the Gourds. I’ve always liked Alpha Rev’s music. Now I respect their musicianship even more.
Indiana Adams, Sandhya Ganesha and Amelia Raley
Odd thing happened: I was minding my own business — not reporting or photographing, just swaying to the band — when two separate individuals approached me with story idea pitches. I hope I behaved politely, but I could barely hear a word they were saying. I encouraged them to contact me by e-mail, when I was not blissing out to Alpha Rev. Hope they do.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Interactive, Music
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By KEVIN J CLARK
December 8, 2010 9:25 PM | Link to this
Alpha rev is so great live!! and what an event, supporting suicide prevention and promoting mental health! I will be there next year too!!
By Piper Jones
December 7, 2010 6:40 AM | Link to this
I will save delicious decaf (or whatever else your heart desires in the coffee realm) for you, Mr. Barnes, anytime. Always a pleasure seeing you!
Piper Jones
Kohana Coffee