Here's the number of bands per city (compiled from the alphabetical list on the SXSW site).

it's cool they support their local scene. but wow, seattle gets 10 more bands? that's craaaazy

I dunno, considering the number of really good bands in portand, 17 seems kind of paltry to me.

I suspect that they might add a few more later on. I do think that this town deserves far more than 21 bands, but it's out of my hands.

Yeah, honestly, 17 bands coming from Portland seems absurdly low, particularly when you compare to other cities. 96 bands from LA? 44 from San Francisco? Some consolation that Baltimore has only 9.

I often feel this way when looking at conference line-ups, but this list is quite short on unsigned bands, or even bands not on a major indie. Some great, deserving ones in there, don't get me wrong, but some deeper research should have been done as well.

I hope to see more Portland representation before all is said and done. Although, I guess on a per capita basis we're faring rather well.

Growing up in Austin, my friends and I always looked forward to SXSW time, but for all the wrong reasons. One popular phrase for the whole sleazy West LA cocaine orgy was "Spring Break for the Music Industry." Of course, the best shows were always the unofficial ones, the "Fuck SXSW" line-ups and stuff.

All the locals know to hit the pawnshops after the circus leaves town. Hundreds of bands come to Austin on a wing and a prayer, hoping to "make it big," and of course never do. They then have to pawn a bunch of their stuff to get back home, overwhelming the shops and bringing prices waaaaaay down.

Matter of fact, I'm planning a visit in mid-April. Best time to go there.