2012, a retrospective moving forward

So as I looked back on the blog from 2012 it was actually pretty damn sparse. I didn't make a whole lot of shows. However, there was a pretty wide variety in what I did see. Excluding the touring bands that came through Austin, here are my picks from 2012 as must see bands for 2013....and lets see what excitement and new things come to fruition in 2013!

RapCore/HardCore/Metal - The Dirty Wormz 
Facebook  - http://www.facebook.com/DirtyWormz
Website - http://www.dirtywormz.com/
YouTube - http://youtu.be/rUOIs_wAu8U
Twitter - @dirrtywormz

WHAT! Are you surprised? Are you fucking kidding?! This is your favorite rock bands rock band! I still contend that the Wormz should be nation wide. Touring the big venues and spreading The Viruz ALL OVER THE WORLD! If you haven't been to a show, GO! Performance wise they are at the top of my list for live performances in Austin. The energy, the performance, the show, the music. The Dirty Wormz have got the formula and the package. It is a spectacle to behold when you go, and go you must!

Cover Band/R&B/Funk/ - Les & The Funk Mob
Website - http://thefunkmob.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/thefunkmob
Twitter - @FunkMobATX
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDmoOpSfrXU&feature=share&list=UUaknllwwU4QcNWhLOWAB7Kg

Definitely the hottest All-Star act/band to see. This group is BUSTING AT THE SEAMS with talent. Every single member of this group has got a music resume that would drop your jaw and make many other local musicians green with envy. The huge catalog of what they perform is astounding, and the bad ass ability that Les & The Funk Mob does it with is very impressive. This is the band you take a date to when you really want to dance and have a great time. Whether or not you can dance, you will be on the floor with EVERYONE else in the house!. If you have a large group and want to make it an evening that they wont forget, be the hero and head to one of The Funk Mobs shows.

HipHop/Rap - MC Overlord
Website - http://www.overlordmusic.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/MC-Overlord/341239455857
Twitter - @MCOverlord
YouTube - http://youtu.be/tz5GZLnhAUk

Another "R U KIDDING ME?" remark here! This is THE godfather of Austin Hip Hop, PERIOD! BAR NONE! He does it better than anyone else and doesn't need a wall of awards to prove it (but that wall of awards is pretty bad ass!) The thing about an Overlord performance, is that he blows your mind with the way he flows and the way he moves. I think that a friend of mine put it out the the best "I like him because he's positive." True that! Hear is the deal with an Overlord performance, you never know who is gonna join him onstage. It could be anyone from the live music scene in Austin...ANYONE! So you really should get to a show and check it out. You won't be dissappointed, in fact you will leave with a story to tell and an "Oh my goodness you won't believe who I saw last night" to the folks in the office, family, and friends.

Blues, Rock, Latin, and Soul - DaHeBeGeBees
Website - http://dahebegebees.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DaHeBeGeBeeS
Twitter - @dahebegebees
YouTube - http://youtube/YvkGeFnTrxw

These guys may border on the saying "words can't do them justice." The latin vibe, the rhythms, and the whole package all amount to a good time to be had by all. Definitively different and really bucking that 'Austin sound' that many other bands can get sucked into, absolutely lands them on the list of MUST SEE bands for 2013. They have a fun vibe and a rapport with the audience that is top notch.







There are SOOO many other bands that I have seen over the years that UNDOUBTEDLY deserve to be seen. The big point from me to you is this...just go out once a month (minimum), see a local band. We, the fans of local live music and residents of this amazing city, need to do our part in keeping the live music scene ALIVE! 


Laters

Drastik IV - Elephant in the Room

A Sunday cocktail (or two)

A little Sunday evening cocktail at Icenhauers ( http://www.icenhauers.com/ ). Located on Rainey St., in the ever expanding down town entertainment district, sits a row of quiet little bars. A newly revitalized area that stands in stark contrast to itself. The east side of Rainey is predominantly occupied by renovated homes turned into drinking establishments, some with nice little backyards designed to accommodate a stage. The west side of Rainey has a few newly renovated homes but the stark contrast is the homes that still exist and are occupied by the home owners (I think there is a story in that as well and might just explore that in the near future.) Icenhauers has a nifty story on their website and some really great before and after pictures. It does make me smile and feel good that even though life, progress, and developers have encroached upon this little corner of Austin, they are doing well in preserving it also!

The bar has been described previously as a simply gorgeous, small little house. A very nice seating area out front. The entry has two modest sized rooms to the left and right with seating and televisions for watching what sport is on at the moment. A little farther in and you hit the main area with a well stocked bar to the left and access to the back yard. Floor to ceiling windows let you observe the festivities from inside.

The musical flavor for this late afternoon was provided by The Nightowls (http://www.facebook.com/ryan.harkrider?fref=ts ) with Ryan Harkrider sharing the vocal leads with his attractive co-vocalist Autumn ( http://www.facebook.com/autumnsmusic ) The music has that Motown sound with that black tie appeal. No doubt about labeling this band, as they will admit the sound they are going for is in fact Motown. The alternating vocals from male to female are fun and great, and the sound from the band was distinctly better than the last time I saw them at another venue (I will leave unnamed.) This switching keeps it entertaining and allows them a wide variety of tunes they can pull off with great respect.

It was a beautiful evening with perfect weather and a friendly crowd. Everybody definitively had a great time socializing. The Nightowls do it perfectly! With the ability to be great background music to any good conversation as well as performing those favorite tunes that do make you stop talking and listen, they are a great dinner/happy hour/out-for-a-few-cocktails type of band. They do play frequently around Austin so look them up and go.

Laters