In January, Salt Lake-area bands competed for a chance to appear in the annual South by Southwest music and media conference in Austin, Texas. Although there was a lot of good music, no one tripped up Big Leg, which came out victorious.
The win proved bittersweet, though, said vocalist/guitarist Megan Peters."All the bands played well and I'm excited to go," Peters said during an interview with members of the band at the Ashbury Pub. "But it's not really fair to say one band is better than the rest. It's like comparing apples to oranges."
Big Leg will represent Salt Lake's music scene when it showcases its own brand of rocking blues at the conference March 15-19 in the Austin Convention Center.
With a panel of 10 judges lending an ear, the Zephyr Club hosted the Salt Lake showdown, which featured ska, rockabilly and progressive rock bands such as Insatiable, A Band and His Dog, the Rattle Kings, Honest Engine, the Obvious, and Marymonique and the Trip.
Big Leg came about just over a year ago when Peters, bassist/vocalist Wally Barnum, drummer Rob Clifford and guitarist David Parks met. Peters was in another local favorite called Zion Tribe when she first met Clifford, who drummed for Insatiable.
"I remember getting ready for a gig at the Zephyr," said Clifford, the group's jazzhead. "I was coming out of the dressing room when Zion Tribe went on and I heard this incredible voice. It really floored me."
About the same time, Barnum and Parks were in a band called the Lovely Lads. They, too, met Peters while she was part of Zion Tribe. They all got together to make some music.
"At first we were called the Big Legged Blues Band," said Peters. "It became too hard to say, so Wally and Rob cut it down to Big Leg."
Sometimes the band is billed as Megan Peters and Big Leg, but Peters said that's an inaccurate name.
"This is a band," she said. "It's not just my band, nor Rob's or Wally's or Dave's. We're a band."
"Though Megan's certainly the focal point," interjected Parks, who lists his mother's music - Neil Diamond, classical and the Osmonds - as some of his earliest influences. "But when we first got together, we wanted to make sure everyone was involved with the band. We don't really have a `boss.' "
"When someone has a song in mind, they put the lyrics on the floor and everyone grabs a piece of it," said Clifford. "It's not narrowed to one certain formula. We all have a part in the process, and that's really created a bond between us."
The band's first gig was in last year's South by Southwest primaries, said Barnum.
"It's been a busy year. We've played over 100 shows since we started and have been real lucky to get that many in. Actually, about 98 percent of those shows served as our practice sessions," he laughed. "We've really done a lot together."
"We've become really good friends, and what's different about us is the band made us friends," said Peters. "We weren't just friends who wanted to start a band. The band helped us find each other and gave us reasons to do things together. It's just like my family. I don't know what we'd do if one of us got hit by a bus."
"Go to a funeral," quipped Clifford.
This Big Leg closeness isn't only found within the the band's circle, said Peters. It extends throughout the Salt Lake music scene.
"This year's (South by Southwest) competition was refreshing," she said. "Last year bands were dissing each other. There was hardly any eye contact and it was just a heavy feeling altogether. This year was great. Bands were helping each other with equipment, encouraging each other and actually sitting in groups and talking. It was an awesome feel."
Though Big Leg is considered one of Salt Lake's best bands, the musicians plan to keep their feet on the ground and approach the Austin gig and any other band-related move cautiously.
"Musically, we're ready," said Peters. "But we've a lot of things to do before we can truly say we're prepared. We've got to focus on the business side of the scene. Though it's a major step in the right direction, we'll leave here only if it's worth leaving."
Still, the band agrees the competition proved to be a positive experience for the Salt Lake music scene.
"All the bands here are in this together," said Peters. "We all share tips, songwriting and music. In fact, I'd rather do a remake of a Marymonique tune than cover anything else."
Barnum agreed.
"When we get to Austin, I'm going to collect all the business cards and get as many names as I can and bring them all back for the other bands here," he said. "There's enough room in Utah for more bands. This could be the next Seattle."