The Rock Lottery premise is simple, but effective. Twenty-five hand picked musicians meet at 10:00AM at the evenings performance venue. These volunteers are organized into five groups through a lottery-based chance selection. The five separate groups are then released to practice at different locations. The musicians have twelve hours to create a band name and three to five songs (with a one cover-song limit). The groups will then perform what they have created that evening in front of a waiting audience.

Portland needs this.

Any promoters out there want to take the reigns and organize it? It sounds like a blast, and I’m sure more than a few notable Portland musicians will be willing to take part. If you take a look at the alumni from the recent Seattle lottery, it’s an excellent collection of performers from a wide variety of bands/genres, from Tiny Vipers to the United States of Electronica. Come on Portland, it’s time for a Rock Lottery.

But if this doesn’t take off, I’m all for David Stern coming to town and conducting a draft, NBA style. The Knicks could use Stephen Malkmus’ veteran leadership, plus think of all the rings that backcourt of Malkmus and Marbury could win.