The beloved annual event known as Rock Potluck unleashes its music mashup mayhem at Skully’s on Saturday night. Created by local musicians Bobby Miller and Shane Sweeney, it was inspired by the Rock Lottery that started in northeast Texas 12 years ago. The formula is simple: bring together 41 musicians from 41 different bands, jumble them into eight groups, and give them 10 hours to brainstorm a band name, write two original songs, and learn one cover. Each band will have two guitar players, a bass player, a drummer, and an auxiliary person — and at least one of them will have singing abilities. “We like to bring together musicians who would never otherwise play music together,” Bobby said. “It’s a totally spontaneous brand of art that’s all completed in one day.”
When they select the musicians to participate in Rock Potluck, Bobby and Shane invite a mix of old guard musicians, those who have been playing for a few years, and complete newcomers to the scene. The naming of the bands can get downright comical. “Everyone usually tries to come up with something clever or funny, but they end up being really dirty,” Bobby said. “It’s like Fantasy Football team names with puns.” But it’s the unpredictability of the evening that yields the most excitement. “Sometimes the bands you think are going to play punk rock end up doing something really melodic, and sometimes really technical musicians get together and play simple songs,” he said.
The frenzied circumstances surrounding Rock Potluck typically cause musicians to form a unique bond and see that they have more in common with each other than they previously thought. “There’s this mentality like you’re all in the bunker together fighting for a common goal, and when it’s all over, you feel like you accomplished something big,” Bobby said. This year for the first time Bobby will film a documentary of the event that he hopes will also serve as a snapshot of the Columbus music scene. A team of local filmmakers has already begun conducting interviews and will shoot all eight rehearsals on Saturday. Bobby hopes to screen the film at an independent theater in the spring.
If nothing else, Rock Potluck is memorable. “I think people probably get in a room together and their main goal is not to look like an asshole, so they’re willing to drop whatever ego they have to create something good,” Bobby laughed. “These people create music together for one night only — and you’re either there to experience it or you’re not.”
Doors open at 9:00. The cover is $5 and attendees are encouraged to bring a dish or snack to share. Plates, napkins, and utensils will be provided. A portion of Rock Potluck proceeds will benefit the Columbus Music Co-op. Visit RockPotluck.com for more information.
Band #1: 10:00 p.m.
Matt Reed (Mount Carmel)
Dustin White (Moons)
Kyle Siegrist (Second State Butchers)
Jess Martin (Mexican Standoff)
Adam Scoppa (The Main Street Gospel)
Band #2: 10:30 p.m.
Joe Peppercorn (The Whiles)
Eve Searls (Bird & Flower)
Melanie Holm (Total Foxx)
Leslie Jankowski (Behind You With Knives)
Nick Schuld (Obviouslies)
Band #3: 11:00 p.m.
Jenny Lute (The Wet Darlings)
Canaan Faulkner (The Randys)
Jay Gasper (Chris McCoy Band)
Ryan Ida (Vug & The Stallions)
Jesse Cooper (The Receiver)
Band #4: 11:30 p.m.
Ryan Horn (Karate Coyote)
Ryan Horns (Paper Airplane)
Brian Travis (Church of the Red Museum)
Dane Terry (Dane Terry)
Mark Himmel (The Compressions)
Band #5: Midnight
Dave Holm (Ugly Stick)
Tyler Evans (Super Desserts)
Sarah BB (Terribly Empty Pockets)
Nick Tolford (Nick Tolford & Co.)
Aaron Klamut (Jam Division)
Band #6: 12:30 a.m.
Corey Fry (Monolithic Cloud Parade)
Jacob Wooten (Mr. Fahrenheit and the Lover Boys)
Aaron Troyer (Day Creeper)
Roseanne Claiborne (Wing and Tusk)
Sam Brown (You’re So Bossy)
Band #7: 1:00 a.m.
Jon Slak (Sick Thrills)
Andrew Graham (RTFO Bandwagon)
Daniel Hagquist (Phantods)
Faith Gehring (Deerhead)
Aaron Hibbs (Sword Heaven)
Band #8: 1:30 a.m.
Tristan Swan (Love Culture)
Joe Camerlengo (This Is My Suitcase)
Bob Ray Starker (Whoa Nellie!)
David James (The Black Canary)
David Murphy (Ghost Shirt)
Alexandra Kelley writes about music for Columbus Underground and can be reached at alexandra477.com.