You know, i always tend to go off the rails instead of perfecting one thing at a time.
The overall effect is that Extra Chill has become this massive and unique music platform.
I’m trying to make it fun to use so that people will be more inclined to come on here more often.
I know that i also need to make an app version of this that will get more people to be active in here. If Extra Chill was an app it would be so much cooler. But creating an app would be a beast of an undertaking.
Been a minute, but I have been working on the code this weekend.
Header & footer updated to match main blog – I did this a while ago but forgot to post an update here. The now has a cohesive look across the blog and the forum.
Added Community Header to top of front page – this will welcome you when you show up at the site, including displaying your username if you are logged in.
Ad-free license – Added a product to the Merch Store that will remove ads from the entire website when purchased. That is pretty cool, I think. It’s only $10, so if anyone feels like turning off ads, your contribution will go towards helping us keep building
I have a few more ideas in the works that i am currently trying to implement. Including the ability for community members to upload events to our calendar.
I sent out a newsletter today with my SXSW 2025 reflections, including some thoughts on their announcement of cutting back music programming next year and how it reflects upon the music industry as a whole. I think it also aligns with a lot of the things I wrote here.
Die Spitz played a bunch of shows in Austin during SXSW, only a month after they sold out Mohawk.
Perhaps the most memorable was their set on the front porch of 13th Floor on Friday afternoon. They shut down the whole street with a huge crowd gathered out front in the 90 degree heat.
Captured on photo by Zachary Salas via Extra Chill
Wish i could have been there but I was at Radio East seeing Being Dead at the time (who are another great Austin band)
Getting close to the end of SXSW. It’s been quite the ride so far.
On Wednesday night was the big C3 Management showcase at Stubb’s, where I saw Band of Horses, Jack’s Mannequin, and Yoke Lore
the members of Secret Guest, who are touring with Band of Horses outside of SXSW, are homies from Charleston who crashed at my place. We had a great day walking around Austin catching live music at different venues in town
Thursday i took it easy and just went to the Being Dead show at Radio East. They ruled, local band, super weird and cool. Also saw some of Wand’s set.
Yesterday was the BMI Brunch at the South Congress Hotel. I hung out with my friend Gab from BMI, Hunter Park of She Returns from War, and photographer Zachary Salas. There was free food and alcohol and a bunch of cool artists.
We hopped around a little on South Congress and then walked all the way to Antone’s for Jackie Venson’s set, a local austin blues artist.
Back down to South Congress for the Athens in Austin showcase. Went home, finally, after the Susto String Band set.
Good time overall. Now I am tired sitting in my room, considering going to “The Big One” at Radio East but also considering just not going and taking it easy. I’ve walked an average of 5 miles per day for this whole week. Starting on Thursday of last week. We’ll see what happens, the show goes late.
On Friday night I went to 13th floor for the Luli Presents show and saw Jeremiah Jackson for the first time. Super cool dude and talented. He is very animated on stage and the band plays all kinds of different rock music.
also saw a band called Telefaze that was very good. The guitarist was tuning to some Grateful Dead, which naturally caught my ear
on Saturday i went to SXSGrass at Radio East. It was chilly and windy but the music and the people rocked. I like all kinds of music but there is nothing like being surrounded by Deadheads.
the band Fennario Flats was my favorite. The guitarist from DeadEye, the Austin Grateful Dead tribute also plays in this band. They played an awesome cover of “Eyes of the World” to close out the set.
yesterday i went to a Builder’s Happy Hour and talked with some developers and entrepreneurs. It was cool to see that I can hold my own in those conversations.
i’m realizing that while Extra Chill is a cool underground movement, it’s not the most profitable business model. It’s super cool for networking and making friends in the music scene, and of course getting me access to cool events like SXSW. But to make a living i will need to do a lot more.
i’ve been building a tool on the side for Automated, AI enhanced cold email outreach and I think it is viable as a product that makes money. I just have to finish building it.
sort of off topic for music journalism but it’s the reality of someone in my position. If i want to be an entrepreneur for real, which i do, i will need to find a way to make money
the ads on the site do make some money but not really enough to replace a job. And looking at the landscape, it seems that blogging as a business model is on the out. It’s a rewarding thing to do, and it’s fun, but to make a living running a blog is an outdated idea. There has to be more going on, or it’s a passion project
i love Extra Chill of course. And i will continue to run it for a long time. I’m just being realistic about what it is and what i see happening in the future
