some of that 'Southern Hostility' for me please

I don't usually do reviews that are not based on a live music experience or without some photos to back up the words. But I'll do it for the www to read and know. 

I have had the wonderful experience of seeing Upon A Burning Body  (https://www.facebook.com/uponaburningbody/) perform a few times. Definitely one of my favorites. Knowing they are from down the road in San Antonio and their mark on the metal scene, it is a pleasure to listen to and drop my opinion of their release 'Southern Hostility'. No, it's not a brand new release, but it is their newest.

So, lucky me. I was able to grab the limited release vinyl and get a copy of the disc. Well worth every damn dollar. Waited for the mailman to drop that shit off. Checked my camera EVERY DAY. I wasn't even home when it came in, but sent a neighbor over to grab the package when it was placed on my doorstep. 

I got home, opened it up.Admired the simple statement of the cover artwork, pure UABB. It was righteous. Then I put that fine piece of aural abuse on full volume.

Danny, Ruben, and the guys have stepped up created one of their finest works to date. ABSOLUTELY stunning, gut punching, nut kicking, ear bleeding masterpiece. The opening track doesn't really set the tone for the rest of the album, but that son of a bitch gets your attention instantly. It is great and demands that you shut the fuck up and listen!

Listening to the album on repeat several times moved me past the "Fuck yeah!" fist and middle finger in the air feeling on the first go round. To shouting along to lyrics on the second and third time. Yelling and thrashing about so much in my house the dogs were scared shitless and went outside and wouldn't come back in. 

Some where around the fourth listen something wonderful happened. I started hearing the music. The backing vocals. The choruses. I realized these boys from San Antonio didn't just put together another banger of an album. No, for fucks sake, they grew up. They just fully embraced the current sound and scene and made sure their music was still theirs, but knew how to stay absolutely relevant. Dare I say...mainstream. No! I am not saying radio airplay bullshit. But just simply, the music has moved to another level of badassery! I am not just talking about the legions of fans they have all over the world. I am saying this album easily moves them to a main stage. To crossing over a line where it's not just the long time fans listening, buying, and going to the shows. Southern Hostility has the sound, production, anger, and adrenaline producing ability to create smiles - show your teeth - to a wider and broader base of metal fans.

No. I didn't not critique the individual tracks on this album. I have just laid out for you a feeling it creates. Told you a story on how it made me feel. And simply explained to you....buy it, download it, and more importantly go to a show!

Laters

Red-Green Blue-Yellow

It has a meaning. This means something to about 3 million people per year. It also means "Up and coming Kings of Austin Pop Punk scene!"

If you haven't had the opportunity to see the band Colorblind (https://www.facebook.com/Colorblindtx/), it is another must see band. Colorblind is comprised of brothers Tyler (drums) and Travis (vocals) and Nicholas and Justin on bass and guitar. Colorblind has this completely polished sound, with a pretty cool backing track, their shows are electric and very exciting. The vocals by Travis are stunning and perfect for their style of music. The fans they have are loyal and bring even more excitement to the performance. It may also be because of frontman Travis, as far as I could make out, from all the screaming girls.

I have seen the band a couple of times. Once at The Dirty Dog and then again at Come and Take It Live. Here is an interesting reflection of their performances.


The show at The Dirty Dog was a pretty packed house. Colorblind was towards the end of the bill that night, before the headliner. It was a great performance with tons of energy from the band and it was felt through the crowd. As I stood and enjoyed their set I was able to over hear some of the remarks around me....Yeah! It seems like the headliner that night was in awe of the performance by Colorblind.

















Move forward several months and Colorblind is on the opening side of a national tour show at Come and Take It Live. The first two or three bands up were cool. Not anything I would give blog time to. BUT Colorblind came on...I will tell you what, where there was almost no crowd all of a sudden swelled to a large crowd in front of the stage. It's just a truth for you to ponder on the band and the fans. Even better is when they launched into their hit song, 'Parting Words' (https://youtu.be/MaIC5L_h6x8) the crowd just went off.  BE WARNED - the video in no way evokes their live show performance...but it is simply a great song!

Follow the links to find the band for upcoming performances. Go see them and then meet them and say hi. Watch the video or go find the song on your favorite streaming service and put Colorblind in your rotation.



Laters

CCP

Since I live down in South Austin, Texas and  Moontower Saloon  (http://www.moontowersaloon.com/) is a couple of minutes away. This allows me the joy of hanging out at Austins original, bad ass, outdoor venue. With a 21 and up policy, it allows for a great time to be had by all. With a ton of parking, there is o need to fret, and if you have had to many, don't worry, they are cool with you leaving your car to make it safe for everyone out there on the road.

The facility consists of a small house that is the main bar and building, a huge outdoor covered deck with another bar and a large TV for your sports viewing pleasures. Another small deck attached to the back of the house which works as the stage. Tons of table seating, fire pits, washer pits, cornhole, sand volleyball courts in the distance. There is another satellite deck that works as a VIP area. 

To enjoy music pick your Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and go. Be surprised and be entertained, always.

Knocking down a tic mark on my Austin music bucket list this night was the  Chris Castaneda Project   (https://www.facebook.com/ChrisCastanedaProject/). What an outstanding group. Even better than just the CCP electrifying the crowd with his wicked guitar skills, super tight band, and great singing voice, but a special guest, Rojas - El Guitarrista,  stunning us all on the acoustic. This performance simply proved what I always preach - go out and catch some live music in Austin. You will NEVER know who you will see and what performances you will experience. 

The Chris Castaneda Project mixes originals with classic and iconic covers. The crowd stayed tuned and drawn in while Chris played, sang, and the band performed. The sound was a little bit rock and a heavy Latin influence, it is a group you have to catch. An evening performance, and afternoon festival or fair, it doesn't matter, you will be thrilled and enjoy the performance like every person in the crowd did during this set.

Joining Chris and the CCP on stage was  Rojas - El Guitarrista (https://www.facebook.com/caleb.s.rojas). This is was the special, unexpected, joy of this performance. Something new and freaking bad ass. Rojas was a stunning fill with his abilities and talent on the guitar. Although I had never seen the Chris Castaneda Project before this evening, it was stellar to take in the whole performance with this special guest. I was not aware of how lucky all of us in the crowd were until my dad saw Chris the next night. He was blown away by the performance, but was surprised when I asked him about the acoustic prodigy of Rojas. My dad indicated the performance was sans Rojas talents. 

Lucky for all of you Rojas performs regularly all over the place as does Chris Castaneda Project. 

Go out support live and local, and tell both Chris and Rojas I sent ya!

Post Script - I Saw The Castaneda Project one more time at Moontower as a trio. It is frigthening how bad ass these guys are. I had to look twice to believe there was not another guitarist on stage with Chris. There sound is full and exciting....and just wait, maybe Chris will do the National Anthem - Hendrix style for you!

Laters

XIII on 13

Walking in the doors of Texas Mist (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Texas-Mist-Live-Music-Venue-1115-Old-Bastrop-Road-Atx/790417254426441?hc_ref=ARRYd4yQHZAmBDx7X-PJYXGh5Bt4AKucKzQErj3uVk4Nn3TSYAgFTxq81bhRlnj1WW0) for the first time... is like this... remember that hall... You know the one your dad or grand dad used to go to... the VFW Hall... yeah that one. It's like that, kind of, but the music is wayyyy better and the bartender doesn't smell like coffee and Vicks Vapor Rub.... and yes, I tried to sniff him and he wasn't haven't none of that shit.

Texas Mist for the most part is just a big open room. You walk in the door and the bar is immediately in front of you to the left. The bathrooms are farther back as well as an exit to go out back for smoking or hanging out. To your right is the open area and the stage, which faces the bar. Lots of tables scattered around with a mix of seating.

There were several bands on the bill this evening. I caught the last few songs of one band and the entire set of the next band. Both were good, but there was little love from the crowd for there respective performances. So little, in fact, That I am done with blogging about their performances.

Now, Before I get into the review of the headliners performance let me talk another paragraph about the sound. As a fan of Austin music I am all about the performance, the impact, and the venue. The venue plays a large portion of any show, because if the club sucks or something about it, that will taint your night and impact your impression of the band(s). The sound here was pretty terrible. There was a blown speaker that kept making a popping noise all night...annoying. The sound person that evening acted like she could have given two shits less than nothing for being there or the bands on stage, super annoying. There was no urgency or hustle in anything she was doing. Worse than that to me, is a great that seems to be a great disrespect to the bands who are performing and the crowd that is paying, FUCK NO! 

On with the show.

XII (https://xiiiasylum.bandcamp.com/) was having this grand party for the release of their new album. I do not have a copy so can't and won't comment on it here. Follow there link (www.facebook.com/xiiiasylum) and get a copy though...I will. This band is such a great surprise for being local. I saw this band a mere week earlier opening for a large national touring band and was so impressed by the performance, I decided to do it again to see a full headlining set. I was not let down nor were those in attendance with me. From the presentation of their merch - super important if you want to 'brand your band' to their stage presence, this band is acting and thinking big time and it shows in their performance. The lead singer does an eerily great job of being, not just the center of attention, but the front man down on the ground and in with the crowd. The audience loved the entire performance. Those that were sitting outside were drawn in. Those inside that were sitting were standing, and all of us were pushing up to the stage. 

I can tell you for a local metal band, the lead singer has a vision what he wants to perform and how. He nearly carries this off perfectly. With a touch more of rehearsals and coordination of an actual stage show - these guys stand to take the place of the reigning Gods of performance metal in Austin, The Dirty Wormz and take us another decade into bad ass, fun rock shows here in Austin!

Laters

What's Her Face - an EP review

Not my normal comfort zone, but I was asked. Even harder is knowing these guys that hand that EP off to you and ask for an honest review....well...here ya go.

From the opening piano chords of this EP to the surprising crunch of the guitar moments later, I felt it was nothing compared to the voice of the piano playing lead singer, Jeff Norby. 'Naive' is probably the best way to describe your impression of this EP by the first song.

Rolling into the second track it took all of 45 seconds to flash back to a time of musical genius that was the 70's. Unquestionably, the guys that make up The Soap Boxers (http://www.thesoapboxersmusic.com/) are lost souls from that era whom have found each other here.

The Piano and voice of Jeff are the pure essence of Neil Diamond. With a modern guitar and solid back line, it makes there song 'Maryanne' a comfortable classic. If you're not old enough to remember, you've still experienced this sound in the movies and tv shows around you all your life.


The 3rd track 'Monster' seemed more aggressive with the guitar work, but here again is Jeff's voice and piano work settling you right back into that groove.


Pretty hard to deny the theme of broken hearts, scandolous love, and many women running throughout the EP, but DAMMITT, by the time 'Julie' fired up, I felt like Mary Tyler Moore or Laverne and Shirley were going to bust in the door and start dancing.




Listening to the final track 'Alice' only solidified my belief of these guys being reincarnated musical souls from the 1970's right to our doorstep in 2017!

overall, the chords, mixes, and guitar work make 'What's her face' a memorable EP.

Check them out online and get the EP at a live performance!





Laters

fresh refresh

Probably won't be the last post of the year, but pretty damn close.

This will be a review of some sort. I am going to diverge from my normal chatter about how much fun the audience had and how the band interacted with them. I am just gonna touch on two bands that I have reviewed before, but you will just have to read on.

I didn't do a review of The Warhorses (http://thewarhorsesmusic.com/) when the played recently in Austin at The Rattle Inn. Simply put, it was their last performance in Austin with Guitarist Sonny Bihl. Sad day, but spectacular performance. They just let Sonny call out the songs he wanted to do. It was fun and spontaneous. For now that really doesn't matter. In the (near) future I can hope we will get to see them again with a new line up and maybe some new tunes. I will try to keep up with them and let you know when Austin, Texas will get a first look at the new Warhorses. 'Til then here are some photos from that night. I'll post more to FB.

The other band I recently saw which I have previously spoken about at length is the Cody Bryan Band (http://www.codybryanmusic.com/).

It was another fun night with these guys. They were just coming off of a high note playing for a larger size arena with several other acts. This night was just a small intimate crowd. What was exciting and spectacular is hopefully a lesson for all. They changed up their set! It was fantastic and fun. Just like seeing them for the first time. There were many new songs they did. There were a couple of mainstay's they keep for the fun of it, BUT they threw in and mixed it up with many older tracks we hadn't heard in a while. Once again, made to be very proud of the local boys done good!

As a fan of the local music scene and many different bands, it was just a great feeling to have something new and fresh thrown at me (the crowd). I don't know how hard it is to do a different set list regularly, but as a paying (and sometimes not) member of the crowd (and usually a fan of someone I am going out to see)...I DON'T CARE. The best bands in Austin become lame as shit when it is the same damn set list each time you see them.

For the crowd and and fans of the Cody Bryan Band it was inspiring and refreshing to enjoy a performance for what it was...Live Music! I appreciate and loved the performance for what seemed like a whole new band. I hope some of my other friends and members of bands around town might read this and take heed. We, the crowd and audience, will ONLY love you more for it!


Laters

Is this your 'Wake Up Call'

I have only done a couple of album reviews. Primarily because I don't do album reviews. But when it is something exciting and the album turns out to be beyond expectations and greater than the sum of all its parts...yes I will tell you about it.

Michael Dillard Band's - Wake Up Call  (https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDillardMusic/) could be referred to as a breakthrough album. It's luscious melodies, powerful riffs, and haunting melodies, make it a beautiful walk on air.

I won't break down the entire album, that is for you to do and enjoy, but there were some things that struck me in which I have to share. My highlights that I want you to know about. Piece together the story and movie in your head when you listen to it, but let some of what I say guide you.

The whole album plays like a movie. Some lost soul little boy, young and trying to find his way. His innocence shattered and the reality of adulthood brings the light. Not necessarily happiness, but enlightenment.



Unexpected! The greatest way to describe the opening track - Blind lead the blind. Never, ever would I have expected the sounds that came from my speakers. The string arrangement was as I described - luscious. Then voice of Michael Dillard has progressed and as you hear it on this first track, it provides just a little growl with his passion. Then the chorus vocals kick in - haunting. Definitely an impressive opening to the album.

This theme and sound runs into the second track - Sunrise. An instrumental of sorts. As interesting as it is, I can see where the band may have had difficulty deciding which track to the open with, Ultimately after listening and re listening, they did good.

By no small margin, the third track (and title track) - Wake up call, is explosive. It is a powerful piece, that ebbs and flows through you mind. Take your your time and ponder what the lyrics of Wake up call means to you.

The fun and technically brilliance continues with the masterful drum tracks, a ukulele, stings, and keyboard arrangements. The next couple of tracks hold their own with unique sounds and catchy riffs. Post productions with the vocals is just mind blowing.

The whole album does move like the tides sweetly from the slower darker tracks in the middle of the album to the bright and shiny Desert Rose and finally ending with the crescendo of The Beast. With its echoing and strange story telling with the lone trumpet....fade to black.

Laters

Happy for the tears

Of most any place for someone to choose to have a show in Austin, the One2One should be top of the list. To have a goodbye show...definitely. Unfortunately I have been to two to many.

As usual I will start with a description of the venue. It is all about the stage and the sound at the One2One (http://www.one2onebar.com/). You walk in the door and BAM there it is...in your face. The sound is amazing, bar service is great, bathrooms, seating, and good times. Look, for sound this is one of only a very few places in Austin that cater to the local musicians and the local crowds with a top of the line sound system.  Go to their page and check it out for yourself. Pick a night and a band and GO!

Although this was a BonVoyage/Farewell show for one Jack Burton Trio (http://www.jackburtonmusic.com/), it is not a pointless review. No, this is to tell you of the joys of good music, and the inevitable return of the white James Brown! Jack and his family are going off on a sabbatical to connect and enjoy his family, experience something new, and see the world. Something we should all look up to and aspire to want to do for ourselves. 

But the music. It is here to stay forever. It lives in our ears, in our souls, our memories, and not soon enough...on DVD. The Jack Burton Trio does funk link few others. Their spin on funk, Motown, and R&B is smile inducing, and feet moving. The band proved it, not just on this evening, but the last time I saw them. The show was changed up a bit and this is what made seeing it again great. Beyond this, I had the pleasure of sharing the event with my daughter, Angelina. We have not shot a show together in way to many years. To see her smiling and grooving to The Jack Burton Trio's music was uplifting. Music does heal the soul!

The crowd was thrilled at the performance, Jack did not ham it up, he played for the crowd, he played for the joy of the music, and  played for the love of it all. THIS is what you can expect and will get at a Jack Burton Trio show. Let the world have him on borrowed time, we know he will come home and he will entertain greater than what I write about now.

In the end, Jack sad his good byes to the crowd and took time for every single person that wanted to say goodbye. He and his wife greated and hugged everyone. It was such a joy to see so many people crying and saying their temporary goodbyes. This simply means that the Jack Burton, his beautiful wife, and amazing family will be missed. They made an impact. 

And that, my friends, is a reason to be happy for the tears.

Jack....we will see you soon.

Laters

Solo show, good show

I was not sad to be hanging up in Pflugerville, Texas for an evening. My time here waiting for my wife let me chill at this cool little spot on the side of IH35 called Wagner's Backyard (http://www.wagnersbackyard.com/). Super cool place with room indoors, outdoors, or out on the deck. Wagner's is not hard to find, but it is a little tricky. Located behind a small used care dealership and tucked away in the front corner of the theater parking lot is where they make their home.

The bar itself, on the inside, is the home to a lonely pool table, some hi-top tables, bench tables, and a decent size bar right in front of you on the back wall as you walk in. Wagner's also houses plenty of TV's to catch the game. As you step outside onto the very nice deck, you will find more seating as well as some more TV's. Down the steps you go and out into the yard.

As you go down the steps you can't help to notice the really big stage. This is pretty impressive for the location. The arrangement of the stage and the seating in the back yard is great. Plenty of picnic style seating, logs, stumps, benches all allow ample area to sit and enjoy the music. Of course you can't help but notice the sand volleyball court right there as well. I only question the actual square footage and the body's they can add if it wasn't there. But this is only weighing the ability to put more people back there for bigger acts. It is possible.

There is also a nice bar in the very back. It is stocked well and the bartending staff is killer. So here is where I planted my ass to enjoy the conversations around me and some good whiskey poured by my friend. It wasn't very long before for I was drawn to what was happening on the stage. A single figure, standing there and doing his damndest to entertain the early Saturday crowd.


I try to write about the crowds reaction to a performance, but Jacob Essary (https://www.facebook.com/jacob.essary) was on early and there were distractions in the yard. Not me! I was captivated. Jacob was doing his covers of country favorites, old, new, and some a little off the beaten path. He even casually was tossing in some of his originals. He was great. For one man and his guitar he was holding my attention well.

As the sun went down, the evening grew longer, my wife dropped in. As soon as she got her drink she asked me "Who's this guy?" She was intrigued and entertained. She is the country music fan more than I, and she had high praise. "Oh my God! He is so much fun." It wasn't to long after that when I noticed that Jacob had taken on the crowd. All though the applause grew after each song, it was not too long before it was over.










Look Jacob up. Check him out for a happy hour show. Hell!, we might even get lucky and get to see him down in way south Austin for later evening performance. This was good stuff. I am happy Jacob Essary took some time away from me and left me with an impression.



Laters

no need to start a war

This is part of the thrill I have about the music scene in Austin, sharing it with someone. My wife joined me this evening for a great double bill. After checking out the first band for the evening we took a 45 minute drive and headed BACK into Austin for some super bad ass late night sounds.

The venue is the One2One (http://www.one2onebar.com/). Built for sound, built for the show. The One2One is the premier small venue in Austin. Located just 3 minutes from the electricity of the downtown entertainment district, The One2One is located on S. Lamar in an unassuming little strip mall. But boy is this place anything BUT unassuming. Owners Gregg and Destinee Ware have built what many local musicians praise as the legacy to The Austin music scene of old (think Steamboat - if you don't know you don't get it don't worry about it). Just pick any night and you are sure to be thrilled by a performance and the great sound.

I didn't just randomly pick this night. Oh No! After seeing two of this bands members do a small acoustic set, I knew I had to check out the whole package. And not only am I happy I had the opportunity, but doubly thrilled my wife could join me. The band…ahhh well they are The Warplanes (http://www.thewarplanes.net/).

Walking in the doors of the One2One at midnight and being happy the band hasn’t started might seem like an oddity to you, but you are just going to have to come to Austin and see what this is about.

The Warplanes dove onto the stage minutes after midnight. The music is ridiculously hard to pigeon hole, much like many other bands in town. If you are not straight up country or rock/metal or rap then you have that “Austin Sound”. The Warplanes embodied this with the group of guys on stage. A lead guitar, an acoustic guitar wielding lead singer, a keyboard/rhythm guitarist, bass, and drums. It wasn’t quite country, it had a kind of rock edge to it, sweet harmonies, and a front man with attitude. Yes Sir! The Warplanes are pure Austin.

They were exciting to watch. They were fun to listen to. The crowd was entertained and fixated, and the crowd stayed for the whole show - a super hard thing to do for a band playing that midnight slot. The Warplanes had all of us dancing at one point. On command the lead singer had us clapping along. The lead singer was playing to the crowd and enjoying it like a little kid on Christmas...all smiles. He was climbing on the drum riser, jumping, and singing. It was amazing fun for a late night out.

With my wife, with some friends, with family, or solo, I will attend a Warplanes show any chance I get. Guess you should too. Look them up.

Laters

PostApocolypticAngryPopPunk

I received a call to check out several bands down at The Lucky Lounge (http://www.theluckylounge.com/) on 5th St in Austin, Tx.

The Lucky Lounge is a shotgun type of set up. When you enter the club street side you are in a very small lounge. Tonight it was the pre staging area for band equipment due to the number of bands performing. Once you step in from the entry way you are looking down a long hallway and see the stage at the opposite end of the club. As you walk down the hallway the bathrooms are to the right and the stairs to go up to the VIP are on your left.




Once you walked down the hallway the club itself opens into a slightly wider version of the hallway. Hi-top tables along the wall to your left the bar on the right and a raised viewing area above the bar, against the right wall.

This particular event was an all ages show and the venue had a very decent crowd. The crowd was definitively mixed from the under age to the older parents of those, and all ages in between. Everyone was smiling talking and enjoying the music. Down in front of the stage though, that is where the fun was.

Although I was running a little late I still caught the last 3 songs of the first band up, Gold Steps  (https://www.facebook.com/Goldstepsatx/). Fronted by female vocals, this band unquestionable had that Pop-Punk sound. It was fun, energetic and the crowd was enjoying it. Although there was no stage diving or mosh pit happening, Gold Steps had the attention of everyone, including myself. Gold Steps hails from Austin, Tx and most definitely is a good band to check out if you get a chance. With that comfortable sound that seems familiar, Gold Steps will have no problem with pulling a crowd soon enough.

Next up was Forever Starts Today (http://www.foreverstartstoday.net/). I love their name and if you are familiar with lots of the Scream-O, Pop-Punk bands you can appreciate this name as being pretty kick ass. The nice thing is that FST has the talent and sound to back up the name. FST is fronted be female vocals. This young woman was very energetic and had the crowd wound up by the second song. The crowd was jumping along and following the lead singers every breath and word. FST was some pretty powerful stuff. With a brief, emotional moment from the lead singer dedicating the show to a recently passed fan, it seemed very evident this young front woman can control a crowd.

This next band is/was the reason I love going out to check out live music in Austin. Something new and exciting. A band or a performance that provides you that "Holy Shit!" moment. Chernobyl, The Secret (http://chernobylthesecret.bigcartel.com/). The whole performance, from start to finish was just pure bad ass. The lead singer was just energy. Living the music, being the music, performing the music, energy. The audience new it and felt it. That pent up rage just exploding throughout the crowd. Chernobyl the Secret was just adrenaline fueled mayhem and everyone was in on it. The photos here and what the band have are just lucky shots between me getting pummeled and trying to save my camera. Didn't matter though, I loved Chernobyl the Secret  just as much as the crowd did.

Drown The Coward (https://www.facebook.com/DrownTheCoward/) mounted the stage next and just kept the crowd going. Their sound wasn't as dark as the previous band, but Drown the Coward was just as hard hitting. Drown the Coward had another front man who was a beast with the vocals. The performance was just the perfect amount of creative rage and energy to keep the crowd pulsing around and forming another circle pit in the small space.

From Temple, Texas came Isonomist (https://www.facebook.com/isonomist/). Supporting their recently released CD, these guys were just a little different sound of crazy then the previous two bands. Isonomist was very technical and had what seemed to be a tuned down sound. The front man towered over the crowd with command and the band roared through their set. Realizing how good this set was made me wonder how much more the crowd could take. Isonomist just plowed through their set and with the vocals and guitars, and just pounded the shit out of the crowd... it was accepted with sweaty, smiling faces.

And then there was the king, Call Me King (http://wearecmk.com/). The final band of the evening. Hailing all the was from Austin. They proudly announced to the crowd this was the last home show as they were about to hit the road on tour. Well, if I thought everyone was wore out, Call Me King fueled the crowd with their announcement and then lit the match. Everybody was jumping on command of the lead singer.

With the most surprising vocal harmonies of the evening, I hope this part of this Call Me King's performance didn't escape the notice of the young crowd. Call Me King was the most electric performance of the evening. It was the fill between fun and energetic, and fast and crazy. Call Me King was in the right spot to end the evening.


Laters

A Ray of sunshine

TV food personality Rachael Ray has made a temporary home here in Austin for the last several years. Usually around the second or third weekend in March. The line to get in for her Saturday festivities (called Rachael Rays Feedback - http://www.rachaelray.com/tag/feedback2016) borders on infanity (yes, you read that correctly)! Starting a 6 O'clock the evening before, fans of all ages start the wait outside of Stubbs. The food, the drinks, the frivolity, all lead to an afternoon of truly epic proportions. I was thrilled to have been at the event previously to shoot photo and talk all about the extravaganza that only Rachael Ray could put her stamp on. With her small stature and H U G E personality, there is no wondering why people wait for hours just for the opportunity to be a part of this. Even more thrilled to be able to do it again, and this time with my beautiful wife supplying some of the great camera work.

But did you know there is another event that is a 3 day lead up that culminates with the Saturday fun that is the Rachael Ray Feedback!?

It is called the Feedback House. Generally reserved for special guests and press. It takes place in a secret location. So sorry, I can't, and won't tell you about the location, but will divulge some of the beauty of this very small and intimate 3 day party.

The food is all Rachael Ray, just like the big event on Saturday. A special menu dreamt up by Rachael and her staff. There are beverages to enjoy. And this year, OH MY GOD, this year there was peanut butter! Lots of it! It was....to quote Rachael..."DELISH!" It was Peter Pan - Simply Ground. I am not a food critic. I will leave that to the professionals, but I do love me some peanut butter, and the peanut butter pretzel sticks with white chocolate chips was the BEST EVER!

























Ok, the music.

Hundred Hounds (http://www.hundredhounds.com/) rocked the stage at the Feedback House while I was there on one particular day. It was a stellar performance. In my opinion, way more deserving of a big stage on the Saturday event, but no worries, Hundred Hounds tore into the crowd at the the Feedback House like a pack of hungry wolves. I even overheard someone exclaim "Rachael's husband must have picked out this band." No matter, it was not good. It was EXCITING, ENERGETIC, GREAT, ELECTRIC, AND REVITALIZING... all at once.

Hundred Hounds took the small stage in front of only 50+ people (remember these all invited guests and press) and just pounded out some bad ass rock and roll. The lead singer was a charmer all to himself. Of course he has to be, he is the front man. He came out as an emcee to introduce the band, stepped off the stage, only to return a split second later as the lead singer who thanked the emcee for the introduction. At this moment, I knew Hundred Hounds were absolutely about the performance. Which is just what they did. Listening and watching them drive through their set was a blast. It really did energize the hot crowd. Hell it was exciting enough to make me miss another gig I had planned to shoot.



The only bullshit drama on this piece, as I write it, is Hundred Hounds hail from the upper east coast - New York area. Like most local bands the reap their fame at home. Hopefully the opportunity opens up for Hundred Hounds to lead their pack back Texas way and see how a crowd of a few hundred would bite into their style of rock.





As for Rachael Rays Feedback on Saturday, just stay warmed up listening to some funkadelic tunes to prepare for that review.




Laters