You've heard it once and you'll hear it again: Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World.
Every single night of the week, all over town, Austin reverberates with the sweet sounds of local music. To highlight some of the great local acts you should support, we frequently share a list of five bands you need to hear. Welcome to Volume 43.
To see the full series, go here. We've been highlighting local bands for a while around here!
- Contributed by Jacob Carter and Raechel Hurd
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photo by ismael quintanilla
Self-described as “mean music for nice ppl”, Austin two (or three? four?) piece J’cuuzi have been the standard bearers for what remains of Austin’s weirdo music scene since early 2024. On their new EP ‘SLUDGEcontent’ the band channels the manic spirit of the B-52s, blended with the kind of sleaze-pop nihilism popularized by contemporaries like Viagra Boys or Amyl and the Sniffers. Steady dance and new-wave rhythms lay the groundwork for slap-dash melodies and playful choruses, sometimes whispered like a secret and more often screamed so loud the sound equipment struggles to keep up. - JC
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photo credit: Preston Rolls
Alma Muñeca, the four piece art-pop outfit fronted by Panamanian-born Cocó Allegra, is only in their second year of existence. Not that you’d be able to tell from their deftly honed sound, combining dance rhythms with the kind of atmospheric synth you’d typically hear in one of member/producer Ernesto Grey’s short-film scores. At time of writing Alma Muñeca has only released one single: ‘Eclipse’, which does a remarkable job capturing the moody on-stage presence of the group. - JC
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photo by ismael quintanilla
Austin natives Porcelain have been plugging away at their avant-garde noise-rock sound for just over two years now. Their heavy sound is sustained by the kind of distorted guitar familiar to fans of 90’s alternative, backed up by incisive melodies that cast the group in a similar light to contemporaries like Chat Pile or Deafheaven. Their latest single ‘Torch’ sees the band playing with elements of math rock as part of a more up-tempo, emo/punk-focused musical landscape. - JC
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photo credit: steve hughes
Whether you’re itching for early 00s indie rock or need more 90’s riot girl energy in your life, Cormae has all of your bases covered. Their time capsule sound leaves plenty of room for new noise as heard in their newest single “Vacay” — an ode to summer body dysmorphia and mentally checking out, complete with a ripping guitar solo. Fresh off opening performances for Of Montreal and Pretty Girls Make Graves, CorMae is gearing up for more Austin performances before taking off on their first tour. If you’ve ever wanted to quit your corporate job and become a rockstar — look no further. Give your two weeks notice and go to the next CorMae show where you can expect performances of songs like “Cali Sober” and “Hipsters in Love <3”. - RH
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Photo Credit: Kylie Bly
Indie rock quintet Other Vessels established themselves in the Austin music scene with their debut album Empty Afternoon, balancing indie pop-rock flair with the ebb and flow of ballad-esque production. Songwriter Miranda Haney’s warm vocal tones are backed by Sean Eads (keyboards, background vocals), Caro Somes (electric guitar, background vocals), Jack Owens (drums) and Patrick Curry (bass guitar). Their latest release Sea Legs, leans further into Haney’s warm vocal tones and the band’s sound sways more towards their pop sensibilities. Catch a show to hear some new gems that haven’t been released yet, as they like to workshop their music to live crowds before they release singles! - RH
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photo credit: t.j. masters
Never sleep on a band with a singing drummer like Good Ole Sammy G. Sam Graf belts lyrics straight from the heart – piercing through the stubborn front veil of a live show and straight into the ears of the background audience. The Austin music scene is teeming with talent, promoting a cross-pollination that creates even more amazing bands to listen to. This group is no exception, all of the artists belong to other Austin heavy-hitters. This group consists of Vocalist/Drummer Sam Graf (Redbud), Guitarist Alex Riegleman (Big Bill), Guitarist Ben Dubois (Ben Dubois Trio), and Bassist Taylor Turner (Otis Wilkins) who musically flow together in a talent pool of epic proportions. - RH
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