LOS ANGELES’ SUNSET STRIP MUSIC EXPERIENCE RETURNS WITH: THE VIPER ROOM IN AUSTIN MARCH 12-15 DURING SXSW 2008

Press Release Content:
DT:    FEBRUARY 26, 2008

FR:    ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/MSO
         818-380-0400 x223, agreenberg@msopr.com
       
         ANNA GEYER/VIPER ROOM
         310-358-1881, anna@viperroom.com
       

    Following the news of its recent acquisition by entrepreneur Harry Morton, the world famous VIPER ROOM has announced its return to Austin for the third consecutive year of events during SXSW. Fueled by the incredible success and experience gained from previous years of events during CMJ and SXSW, the internationally renowned music venue will once again transport its world famous Sunset Strip experience down south for the 2008 installation of THE VIPER ROOM IN AUSTIN.
    From Wednesday, March 12 through Saturday, March 15, the VIPER ROOM will anchor at Orchid (405 E. 7th Street, Austin) for showcases that will include performances by THE RINGERS, HELLO STRANGER, BASTARD SONS OF JOHNNY CASH, HELMET, NICO VEGA, YOUR VEGAS, BIG BANG and THE DAYLIGHTS, among others.
    THE VIPER ROOM IN AUSTIN—sponsored by Bebo.com, Mark Nason, Marshall, DW Drums, Shure and Asdown Amps will highlight some of the club’s most prominent acts, as well as the club’s most distinct characteristics.  Performances will feature both up-and-coming and national bands that will display the venue’s reputation for leading the nation’s music scene. Aside from transporting a majority of its staff to Austin, the VIPER ROOM—praised for its paramount sound quality—will also install a DYNACORD rig and Midas desk sound system similar to the one in its Hollywood venue, maintaining its reputation for clear, powerful sound in tact.
       The opening night kicks off with appearances by The Ringers, a Los Angeles staple that keeps the tradition of sexual and dangerous rock ‘n’ roll alive; Semi Precious Weapons, New York’s new heroes of garage glam; Roses On Her Grave, San Diego’s “venom-injected rock ‘n’ roll” outfit; and Coyote Shivers, Hollywood’s most eccentric musician/actor combo.
       The second night will feature Norway’s biggest rock outfit, Big Bang, with album sales of over 500,000;  Hello Stranger, combining elements of rock and glam, with a hefty dose of raw energy; Leroy Powell, who blends seventies outlaw country with sixties electric blues; and Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash, with pure Americana heart and soul.
       Friday’s line-up includes one of the primary forefathers of the post-hardcore/punk genre, Helmet; LA’s indie-soul trio Nico Vega; SF Bay's The Morning Benders; and the fledgling Long Beach, CA trio We Barbarians, which features former members of The Colour.  Saturday concludes the four-night stand with Run Run Run, LA’s lo-fi-indie touring machine; the polished pop-rock of Los Angeles trio The Daylights; West Philadelphia’s Liam and Me, who mix immaculate post punk with a synth factor for a vintage 80s vibe; South Carolina's The Working Title; and Your Vegas, the Leeds, UK transplants currently taking over NYC.

The complete line-up for THE VIPER ROOM IN AUSTIN is as follows:

Wednesday, March 12
The Ringers	www.myspace.com/theringersband
Semi Precious Weapons	www.myspace.com/semipreciousweapons
Roses on Her Grave	www.myspace.com/rosesonhergrave
Coyote Shivers	www.myspace.com/coyoteshivers
Thursday, March 13
Big Bang	www.myspace.com/smallbang
Hello Stranger	www.myspace.com/hellostrangermusic
Leroy Powell	www.myspace.com/wwwleroypowellcom
Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash	www.myspace.com/bsojc
Friday, March 14
Helmet	www.myspace.com/helmetrocks
Nico Vega	www.myspace.com/nicovega
We Barbarians	www.myspace.com/webarbarians
The Morning Benders	www.myspace.com/themorningbenders
Saturday, March 15
The Working Title	www.myspace.com/theworkingtitle
Run Run Run	www.myspace.com/runrunrun
The Daylights	www.myspace.com/thedaylights
Liam and Me	www.myspace.com/liamandme
Your Vegas	www.myspace.com/yourvegas

About the Viper Room:
Since its stellar opening in 1993, the world-famous Viper Room (also known as Johnny Depp’s joint) has hosted the likes of Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Oasis, Queens of The Stone Age, Courtney Love, Elvis Costello, Pete Yorn, Pearl Jam, The Strokes, Weezer, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Iggy Pop and Sheryl Crow, as well as an array of other internationally established artists and the cult favorites of America's underground. This intimate nightclub, situated in the heart of the world famous Sunset Strip, is styled in the fashion of Harlem's great jazz clubs of the 1920's. On any given day of the year, you’ll find musical talents that are developing and leading the music scene of Los Angeles and the nation. It has become the premiere destination to discover emerging local talent.  Bands like Shiny Toy Guns, The Vacation, Gram Rabbit, Phantom Planet, Giant Drag, Something For Rockets, The Plebs, Nico Vega, Monsters Are Waiting, The Like, Carina Round, Ringside, Low vs. Diamond, Midnight Movies, The Shore, Katy Perry and Oslo are just a few of the artists who have appeared at the Viper Room early on in their careers.  For information on the venue and upcoming shows, visit www.viperroom.com.  

For more information on THE VIPER ROOM IN AUSTIN, contact:

Alexandra Greenberg/MSO
818-380-0400 x223, agreenberg@msopr.com

Anna Geyer/VIPER ROOM
310-358-1881, anna@viperroom.com

Press Release Teaser:
LOS ANGELES' SUNSET STRIP MUSIC EXPERIENCE RETURNS WITH: THE VIPER ROOM IN AUSTIN MARCH 12-15 DURING SXSW 2008