South by Southwest, better known as SXSW to the cool kids, is the place to be in the spring. At least, it is if you\u2019re in to music, movies, and interactive technology. So what\u2019s it like to actually be a part of this major Austin event? Funny you should ask, because our friends in the LA-based band Belmont Lights<\/a> told us all about their 2013 gig during SXSW. Here\u2019s what it\u2019s like to get booked during SXSW (and road trip there with your buddies in a rental van):<\/p>\n

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Flights.com (F): Tell us about Belmont Lights–how did you get together?
\n<\/strong>Lead Singer Isaiah Blas (IB):<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have been a band for about 4 years now. Casey and I went to the same high school, but we didn\u2019t start playing music together until our second year in college.<\/p>\n

At first we just wrote some songs during Christmas break and then we decided to do a few open mics around San Diego. After our second open mic at a coffee shop someone approached us and asked if we’d like to join the San Diego Songwriting Competition. We thought it’d be cool to be a part of, so we agreed.<\/p>\n

Crazily enough, we ended up winning the contest and got a few really cool opportunities to play bigger stages and we never looked back! We added Jed (Casey’s brother) and Chad, and we’ve had this lineup for about 2.5 years now. We would call our style of music urban-rock. We play pop rock songs with hip hop production and R&B influences.<\/p>\n