Austin's Underground Music Scene
I'm thrilled to get back to my music roots. For so long, I feel I've only been writing about, and posting about food... which of course, I love. Yet music is my truest and oldest passion. Time Out New York Magazine and Booking.com must know this, because they wanted my Austin adventures to be centered around this fine city's musical culture.
Since Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, I was given some interesting challenges to fulfill. One was to "Scare Myself Silly", and in this case, to find some live music that is very out of my comfort zone. My comfort zone of music is basically ANYTHING 90's as well as Country, Alternative, and Classic Rock. So when I walked past the Red Eyed Fly and heard the sweet sound of a drummer losing his mind on his kit... I knew I had to check it out. I asked the door guy what the deal was and he said, "Well the heavy punk show on the inside is free and the "metal" show outside is a $10 cover." I quickly responded..."I want both!!" So I paid the $10, walked in and grabbed a can of Lone Star beer. (My drink of choice the entire weekend) Now, let me explain. There's a lot of "metal-ish music" I don't mind. I like Disturbed, old school Soundgarden, Filter, maybe even some Pantera. But this was full on growling Death Metal with all the band members' long hair whipping around in circles in perfect unison. Everyone in the small crowd was also head banging... which of course I love to do too, especially during the "rock-out" part in Bohemian Rhapsody (cue Wayne and Garth). The music was not exactly my cup of tea (especially since the lead singer was only growling and grunting into the mic), but it was a BLAST. Stepping out of my comfort zone is usually rewarding, and this was no exception.
Death Metal and head banging at the Red Eyed Fly
I then was told I needed to "abandon my compass" and find a rock bar in a part of town I'm unfamiliar with. Well that's pretty much all of Austin since this is only my second visit. Yet I knew for this challenge, I wanted to get away from the tourist droves on 6th Street and venture off the beaten path. I was walking up and down some darker streets and came across a little dive bar called Beer Land that was dark, old, and grimy, just how I like 'em. I heard the familiar sounds of actual rock music... not too heavy, not too soft... it was the Goldilocks of rock. I paid the cover to hear what the door guy called "garage rock". After listening for a few minutes, with another Lone Star in hand of course, I would categorize it as Acid Surfer Garage Rock. Some punk influence with heavy surfer guitar riffs. Think The Ventures meets Green Day. It was great, and I was in my happy place. I think abandoning my compass will be my new thing, as that's how you discover life's most interesting finds.
Surfer rock at Beer Land
Stay tuned for my next adventure that I'll post about tomorrow!!