Local Newswire Local bands arm wrestle for glory before SXSW

The underground music community usually doesn’t pay much respect to physical prowess. Sure, there are some drunken kickball leagues and an occasional bowling event that showcases rockers’ skills—or lack thereof—in the physical arena. It’s always handled painfully ironically, and pits musicians in those bullshit pseudo-sports that are designed to foster self-esteem in gym classes rather than showcase physical dominance.

No longer. Now local musicians will face off in that manliest of all competitions—arm wrestling—to help decide the rocker with the most bulging biceps. The event, christened the Douglas Mancroc Warhammer Probably Presents Illegal Pete’s Band Vs. Band Arm Slam will feature representatives from the 18 bands set to play the burrito joint’s SXSW parties at Peckerheads in Austin. Held Feb. 25 at Illegal Pete’s Lodo location at 7 p.m., it promises to be a brutal, face-to-face struggle of unfettered muscle power. Or at least whatever facsimile of that exists in musicians’ circles.

So who are the early favorites? Illegal Pete’s Virgil Dickerson offers a few handicapping tips. “Aaron from A. Tom Collins is a pretty strong guy. He does construction,” Dickersons says. “Will from Snake Rattle beat him pretty decisively at one point, so it sounds like he’s kind of the guy to beat.”

Illegal Pete’s has yet to reveal the bands confirmed for its SXSW party, so the brackets for the Slam haven’t been made public yet. Rest assured that when they do, The A.V. Club will bring you the news.