Published Tuesday, March 21, 2000, in the San Jose Mercury News

Pinning Hopes on a Dream

SILICON VALLEY PERFORMERS SHOW THEIR STUFF AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST

BY BRAD KAVA
Mercury News Pop Music Writer

… the Silicon Valley Poetry Slam Team, a trio that took top honors in last year's national poetry slam competition; an indie-style band called Your Precious You, which got rejected by the SXSW entry committee but wowed a panel of industry executives; and San Jose and Santa Cruz club booker Gary Tighe, who learned what it was like on the other side when he had to sneak into an Austin club. …

Their lucky break?

The members of Your Precious You, who work and live on the Peninsula, were among the 4,000 bands whose demo tapes were rejected by SXSW organizers. But they came anyway, hoping to get a sample CD into the right hands.

They were encouraged at an artist review panel, where songs are played in front of label executives and a roomful of musicians hiding their fears behind sunglasses.

They got thumbs up from two of three judges, who compared them to the Cure. It inspired guitarist Patrick Stull to get back home and finish their latest demo.

Then, they got what could be a big break. Stull, bassist Kevin Cole and manager Ernest Smitten were walking down Austin's nightclub and restaurant row when they spotted former MTV veejay Matt Pinfield having dinner.

Pinfield now does a TV show called ``Farm Club,'' where he plays unsigned bands and tries to get them signed to his record label, if enough fans vote on his Web site.

Pinfield spied the starry-eyed musicians, who waited outside clutching their disc. ``What's this?'' he asked. ``Can I have a copy?''

Now, if he listens, the trio may not need to play next year's festival.