Not every up-and-coming rapper gets the chance to perform at Houston’s Warehouse Live, let alone open up for American rapper Chris Webby. But that chance became a reality for 17-year-old Charles Chaiemezuo O’Kehie, also known by his stage name Mezuo.
As broke college students, it seems there are never enough funds for the endless concerts we want to attend in Austin. But for those who live for shows and have a barren bank account to prove it, there may be hope for your wallet.
For Austin natives Chris and Paul Grant, music isn’t just a pastime — it’s a lifestyle. After watching their father book gig after gig when they were children, the Grant brothers aren’t too surprised to find themselves co-running Junocat, a show promoting company that hosts local music events.
With new bands cropping up every day, it’s easy to get lost in the clutter, but O Conqueror aims to buck that trend with standout publicity tactics and, more importantly, their own special blend of psychedelic blues.
Call it “The Great South By Southwest Paradox.” A festival initially founded to shed light on local artists has slowly become overrun with superstars and big-budget sponsors. Its current form is unrecognizable from its humble beginnings. It was bound to happen, but don’t let that dissuade you from taking a chance on some of this city’s finest homegrown talent. Sometimes it pays to skip the three-hour lines, stop refreshing Drake’s Twitter and mosey into the charming dive bar you’ve been meaning to go to. You might find that your new favorite artist comes from your own city.
In the post-“Uptown Funk” world we’re living in, big brass and a Morris Day attitude are all the rage. And “Ain’t Nothin’ Fancy,” the latest effort from local band ROXY ROCA, fits the bill quite nicely.
Troy, Ohio’s metalcore quintet Miss May I's version of “growing up” involves support slots on high-profile European metal tours, massive festival gigs in both America and Japan and an album that was just one spot shy of cracking the Billboard Top 20 last year.
It’s not every day that someone comes across a 494-year-old werewolf that plays violin, but with South By Southwest just around the corner, don’t be surprised when the Violin Monster takes over the streets of Austin — with or without a full moon.
Sometimes, you just need to get away. That’s especially true if you live in Austin during spring break, and everybody else’s idea of a getaway is to flock to the already-congested city you call home. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to get your music fix outside city limits. Check out this list of Spring Festivals by the ORANGE Music staff and hit the road with a friend, a 12-pack and a killer Spotify playlist.
Ten years ago, the members of Driver Friendly would listen to Motion City Soundtrack’s “Commit This to Memory” on repeat. Little did they know they would wind up opening for the band on the album’s 10-year anniversary tour.
No strangers to huge sounds and eclectic shows, Austin natives Quiet Company deliver the perfect blend of angst-ridden vocals, pounding drums and distorted guitar work on their fourth album “Transgressor.”
