I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Hurricane G, frontwoman for the up and coming quartet BÖNDBREAKR, for many many years, and after watching her go through a number of successful ventures, seeing her not only find herself, but find a crowd as well, has been inspiring. Recently, the good people at BlackRockersUnited invited Hurricane G to #BRUTalk, an interview series that gets down to the nitty gritty what makes key figures in the music scene tick, how they see the scene and other insightful conversation paths. If you love independent music, independent spirits and independent creatives, then check out this interview asap, leave a like and a comment if it moves you, and share it around for all to see.
My good friend Nick Hanover, the driving force of the popular Austin music and culture blog OVRLD.com, has some of the best taste in music of anyone that I know. For anyone with doubts, his newly created Mixcloud channel serves as proof of this fact. So far, All Night Fever 9/20 has been my favorite episode, with its focus landing squarely on the wide range of punk-influenced music from the Austin area. The playlist is diverse, with classic bands like Big Boys, Scratch Acid, The Dicks and Butthole Surfers sharing time with newer acts like Pleasure Venom, BLXPLTN, Meat Belt, Institute and much more. If you like irreverent, loud music with a message that’ll get you charged up, look no further than this mix.
When it comes to being an independent band, making the most of your promotional material is a must. Budgetary limits tend to be a bit of a constraint, but with a little creativity and ingenuity, classics can be created out of little to nothing. In the case of Worm Suicide, they used a green screen, some patience in the editing room, and an assist from the public domain in the form of the original Night of the Living Dead, and the result is the hilarious and infectious Lead Pipe. Check it out, give it a like and a comment if you dig it, and spread it around for others to enjoy.
As a working, touring band trying to get ahead in an over-saturated game, there is a sense of accomplishment to be felt whenever you complete a creative endeavor such as a music video or an album. At best, you hope that your blood, sweat and tears are recognized by a handful of appreciative folks. Sometimes, as in the case of Pleasure Venom and their newest video/single Seize, you put in that work, and then a publication like Afropunk gives you props and posts about it, giving you a bit more incentive to keep doing your thing. I’m happy for Pleasure Venom, as it’s always nice to see those that deserve recognition get it. They’ve been on quite the tear closing out 2017 and leading into 2018, so give the video a like and a share, drop a comment, and subscribe to the channel for all of the latest Pleasure Venom haps.
Anyone unfamiliar with the legend of Tim Kerr (especially anyone native to Austin) has some homework to do. From Big Boys to Lord High Fixers to Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee and more, Kerr has left an indelible mark on his city, punk/rock music, and art as a whole. Recently, Butcher Bear uncovered some footage of a Trophy’s on South Congress show, and decided to upload it to (in)Sect Record‘s YouTube channel. As a result, all of us have been blessed with the raw power than was Tim Kerr and his bandmates, and their extremely passionate sound. Enjoy, share, and let the nostalgia of a simpler and better time take you over.
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 