Pre-Utopia Festival sounds and shows featuring Sour Bridges, Digital Antique, and Hard Proof

A few weeks ago I decided to carpool down with two friends to San Marcos (a mere 20-minute drive outside of South Austin) to catch my dear friends Sour Bridges play a sponsored KTSW 3rd Thursday showcase at the Triple Crown.  This showcase put up by UTOPIAFEST'S bookers & directors, featured not only Sour Bridges but also Digital Antique and Hard Proof Aftrobeat from Austin, Texas.

Not only was impressed with the cheap drinks, free pizza!, and nice friendly people at Triple Crown but the lineup had me dancing pretty much the whole night (paired with a Fire Engine shot that was two bucks and change).  There was even a small video surveillance camera aimed right at the stage so that you couldn't miss watching the band while ordering another drink (or shot in my case). It was a great way to get acquainted from the good folks that are running the festival (bookers and founder of the festival) and get a taste of what acts will be representing Austin at UtopiaFest this year.

Sour Bridges plays on at Triple Crown in San Marcos, Tx. (captured from the pull down screen behind the bar from the video surveillance feed)

UTOPIAFEST is a genius idea for folks who live in or near Austin and want to attend a festival and camp (FOR FREE) in West Texas that has an audience cap of 1,800 people who will experience an amazing live showcase of indie, country/western, rock, and cumbia-dance music and artists.  The festival's eclectic music knowledge from the array of acts and artists that has been booked & confirmed are worth a relaxing weekend of fun that includes festival activities such as a Drambuie sponsored silent dance party & disco and much more fun.  Set in a "natural amphitheater on the 1,000 acre Four Sisters Ranch", you will be able to watch some really stellar local and national bands on 2 stages beginning with a pre-party on Thursday, September 27th and into the festival weekend from Friday, September 28th - Sunday, September 30. 

Booked acts include:  Dr. Dog, Ben Kweller, Victor Wooten, Bomba Estereo, White Denim, Wheeler Brothers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Houndmouth, KakiKing, Dana Falconberry, Sour Bridges, Hard Proof Afrobeat, A Live One, The Dalles, Flying Balalaika Brothers, Digital Antique, and more.

This past weekend I ended up catching a full night's set from Hard Proof at the ND.  KUT's Lauri Gallardo curates The Good Music Club showcases that happen monthly on the east side that are taped for sessions to be displayed online on sites like KUT Austin, The Good Music Club website, and Austin Chronicle's Earache! web spot. Quality sound recordings and several excellent video shots from API Productions is worth noting.  (These folks know what they are doing even though I am dancing away in my own world during the FREE taping.)  Hard Proof brought down the house with their African, cumbia, and ever going energy that keeps you dancing and sweating.  I highly suggest you catch them again either at the Continental Club on Tuesday 08/28 ($7; show at 10pm).  Their next gig will be at UtopiaFest which they are featured to perform a hour long set in the middle of West Texas scenery (or do both, like I will!)

  Hard Proof (featuring Kalu James) covering Fela Kuti's "Water Get No Enemy" from Chasity Larios on Vimeo.

Digital Antique just had their first LP release party also at the ND the same week I caught them down at the Triple Crown in San Marcos.  Their new LP titled "II" is a must-see live if you can catch them around Austin prior to UtopiaFest on September 28th.  The band reminded me much of Explosions in the Sky mixed with Russian Circles with heavy on the distortion minus any lyricism.  Progressive in their instrumental-only sound, the string quartet melted my brains off and hooked me in as a fan instantly after the first song of the evening. "Doomed Hero".
No shows posted before Digital Antique plays at UtopiaFest but go here to buy the album and stay in the know.

Sour Bridges has been stirring up some honky tonk every week around Austin and I was lucky to have caught them on Sunday, after a run up and down 7th street, at the HOPE Farmer's Market off east 5th street and Waller.

The boys and lady have a few shows coming up before UtopiaFest that includes one at a winery out in Driftwood, Texas on September 3rd , The Blackheart off of Rainey Street will feature the band yet again this week, and even make a show appearance at the local sausage restaurant (right across from The Blackheart) with 101 beers on tap, Bangers.  I highly recommend the Spicy Italian sausage withOUT the spicy peppers...well, unless you're into that sort of thing. I cried the whole time I was eating it. It was so DAMN HOT!  Keep updated on them Sour Bridges shows here.

Austin Beerworks Pearl Snap that helped me wash & cool down that spicy Italian on pretzel bun i had for lunch