The second-half of our one-two Austin punch, O Conquerer come from the same school of rock as Hooka Hey but sat in a different part of the class. The band’s bluesy, effortless cool is aided by standout jam “Lost Your Mind,” a favorite of the local TV news circuit. Later Thursday night we recreated the video for the song, in which frontman Dustin Doering runs around batshit along the streets of Austin, but no one noticed since it was SXSW.
Some bands flyer to get people to their shows, others post on social media an hour before their set. Grey Season took a different approach, busking around Austin and organically developing a fan base that returned the favor and watched the young folk/bluegrass band completely take over Brush Square Park. Catch them on home turf April 2 at Church in Boston with Amy & the Engine and the Silks, and let’s hope the good people at the Newport Folk Festival people are paying attention.
Building off the energy from Grey Season, the Ballroom Thieves shifted gears ever so slightly into the world of Americana, playing a handful of tracks off their upcoming debut album, A Wolf in the Doorway. With a new record and headful of steam, big things are ahead for the Thieves: a two-night record release party April 17 and 18 at Great Scott, an appearance at Boston Calling Music Festival in May, then a gig at Mass Moca’s FreshGrass Festival in Western Mass. in September.
Ten years ago, Night Lights would have been an endangered species in Boston: an ultra-slick alt-pop band build on catchy melodies and more hooks than a Peter Pan reboot. But these days they’re rising a new wave of crisp pop sounds that stating to get noticed around the country, and it’s no wonder Night Lights are in the running to play Bonnaroo this summer. Get in on the dance party early and catch the young band at Great Scott this Friday with V:Music kickstarter Verite.
