South by Southwest Bounty Overflows to Benefit Dallas

And that's where the gigs here, surrounding the festival, come into play. Sure, the South by Southwest stops certainly have their benefits. A South by Southwest gig allows a band an opportunity to play for crowds of proverbial movers and shakers such as radio personnel, journalists, label representatives and bloggers. But does that really amount to anything?

Jarman's not sure. He likes to think so but insists that the best way for his band to reach out to new fans is to do so on its own terms.

"The best way for people to experience us is to see us live," he says.

A South by Southwest gig only allows so many people that opportunity. But, in a bunch of cases, the festival affords plenty of Dallasites that opportunity—and without the three-and-a-half-hour drive.

That doesn't happen by accident around these parts. That's happening because of South by Southwest.

So—for once—maybe we shouldn't scorn Austin with jealousy. Because, at least for the next two weeks, we're certainly benefiting from our neighbors to the south.