Tank And The Bangas Rock The Roof At Emos In Austin

by Tracy Fuller | Sep 24, 2019

Tank And The Bangas Rock The Roof At Emos In Austin

Photos and Review By Michael Mullenix

Last Friday, September 20 th, Louisiana Soul Maestros and winners of the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest, Tank And The Bangas rocked the house at Emos in Austin.
When the house lights went down, a dim green light fell upon the stage. After that, Tank took the center spotlight tethered to a giant Green Balloon, coincidentally the title of the band’s new album, and started singing the new single, Spaceships.

From there it was a wide range of the band’s top hits such as Ripperton Love, Quick and Let Your Soul Grow while still showing off new crowd-pleasers such as Nice Things and Ants. For the uninitiated, Tank and The Bangas is a multi-member ensemble that miraculously manages to blend Hip Hop with Soul and Funk and even Showtunes.

Tank can effortlessly command attention with her voice within songs like Nice Things and mesmerize a packed crowd. However, what’s always made this band unique can be found on the new song Forgetfulness where the band’s trademark Hip Hop Rhythm is blended with the same theatric quality of show tunes that run on Broadway.

Making this an extra significant night, this is the first meeting of the band with their Texas Soul counterparts, The Suffers, as the two head out on a three-night mini-tour. The two groups have been in each other’s radar for the better part of a decade it turns out, but this is the first time they actually will be sharing a stage.

The difference in Tank’s Hip Hop-infused experimental Soul, compared to The Suffers’ Neo-Traditional style was on full display, and it was incredible how the two complement each other so well. At the end of the night, the band brought it home on their top jam, The Brady’s, sending the crowd home electrified.

Yelawolf Devils Pass Bike Run & Tour Hits Austin

by Tracy Fuller | Aug 26, 2019

Yelawolf & DJ Klever The Unnatural Born Killers

We haven’t heard much from Yelawolf since he separated with Shady Records after clearing five albums with the label. At the end of March, Yelawolf delivered his critically-acclaimed album Trunk Muzik 3, his last with Shady. Five months later, the Alabama rapper fires back on the scene with his new, rock-rap single “Unnatural Born Killers.”

Announced on social media recently, Yelawolf also shared with fans that he’s working on his future project, Ghetto Cowboy, that is slated to be delivered on Slumerican Records. Unnatural Born Killers” finds Yelawolf in the pocket of his Southern rap charm and he seems to be ready to start a new musical chapter. Yela lets fans know that no matter who he’s inked a deal with, he’s still the same country boy with a talent for spinning lyrics so we’ll take this as both a preview of what we can expect next and a reintroduction to Mr. Atha.

Leading up to the release has been some hype about the Devils Pass tour, where Yela invites anyone with a bike to come join him on the road.

https://www.facebook.com/yelawolf/photos/a.10150299485859603/10157281368619603/?type=1&theater

The Devils Pass Tour Starts The Run At Austin’s Emo’s

The first night of the tour landed at the iconic Emo’s on Riverside in Austin. Emo’s has been home to Yelawolf many a stop over the years. He has developed quite the following with Texas fans in general. Tonight’s event certainly was a reflection of that. With an easily 700+ plus-sized crowd, it was a good mixture of fans. Everything from bikers, to hip hop fans, to Juggalos, to Technicians; it didn’t matter, we were all there as one to have a party.

Upon making my way to the photo pit, I stood in awe as to what I saw in front of me. It was the friggin back half of a Pontiac convert into a DJ stand for DJ Klever! Now that’s what I call Trunk Muzik!

This is probably one of the best Yelawolf sets that I’ve ever seen. He went all out with all the tracks including, “Daddys’ Lambo“, “Empty Bottles“, “Daylight” and it wouldn’t be right if he didn’t play some “Catfish Billy“! In between songs, there were lots of tributes to several different styles of music like Garth Brooks “Friends In Low Places”, and Pantera’s “Walk”. Between the country singing and the moshing and the party jams, this was a night where no one had a terrible time.

The tour was a short limited one but also provided the means for a meet and greet session with his new whiskey line, “Creek Water“. I’m going to try to make it there myself if I get out work in time. I’m excited to give it a try.

https://www.facebook.com/creekwaterwhiskey/videos/342673599948677/

SETLIST

Trunk Music 3
Trailer Park Hollywood
Daddy’s Lambo
Billy Crystal
Outer Space
Gutter
Best Friend
Empty Bottles
Johnny Cash
Box Chevy 5
Lets Roll
Daylight
Tennesse Love
Until It’s Gone
I Wish
Rowdy
Punk
Pushem
Catfish Billy 1 & 2
Pop The Trunk

Tech N9ne’s Independent Grind Tour Turns Birthday Party In Austin

by Tracy Fuller | Nov 12, 2018

Tech N9ne & Krizz Kaliko Smash The Stage On The Independent Grind Tour

The Independent Grind tour made its’ way to Emos East in Austin, Texas this past Thursday the 8th of November. While Strange Music always brings a great show full of energy and electricity, this night was something special. Tonight, was the one and only, Tech N9ne’s 47th birthday! The proclaimed King of Darkness was here in the ATX and made sure everyone there was in celebration mode.

This was the first time I had seen Tech N9ne play at Emos to a half-sized room but that did not stop the party from going on. Usually, when Tech rolls into town, there is a local hip-hop act that brings their own following but oddly enough there wasn’t one this night. There was even house music playing for a solid hour.

All of a sudden, the house lights dimmed down, and then DJ Hoppa comes running on stage to hype up the crowd. Bringing a high level of energy, and excitement to the entire crowd. Then Dizzy Wright hits the stage bringing vibes of unity and lyrical freshness. I have not seen Dizzy since the Funk Volume days, the label himself and Hoppa were a part of. Let me tell you though, they have not skipped a beat since then. They still bring it all to the stage.

Up next was Futuristic. I had heard of him before but I must admit did not know a whole lot about him. He was born in Illinois but is a long time Tempe, Arizona resident. He began to gain traction from a release back in 2015 that hit the Billboard 200. Futuristic holds quite a bit of charisma and is very active on the stage. There were several moments when he was high jumping all across the stage. I will be keeping an eye out for what Futuristic brings down the line.

Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko Erupt The Stage For The Independent Grind Tour

Finally, it was time for the birthday party to get started. With a bright snake and bat set as a background, dubbed the official Strange Music logo, the crowd eagerly waited. The Independent Grind tour was in full effect and ready to go full circle. Then the lights went out, and the giant led screen lit up. Something different from the usual Tech performance, a cinematic movie featuring Tech & Krizz Kaliko. I won’t give away the details of the five minutes long short film but it set the stage for the night.

Stepping forth through a fog of haze Tech, clothed in black the familiar face paint presenting him look like he had just passed through the shadow realm, nearly made the venue implode by dropping arguably one of his best-known tracks to jump the evening into high gear – ‘Am I a Psycho’ being chanted back by the audience at full strength.

Easily one of the hardest working artists in the industry Tech is consistently pushing out new albums and seems to be enduringly on tour. But when you have a man who can spit double-time verses as fast as a Tec-9 weapon it is no surprise that he is in a consistent demand across the planet.

Allowing the crowd to bask for a while in his sole glow, it wasn’t long before Krizz Kaliko dressed identically to Tech N9ne took to the stage, their execution of ‘Strange Music Box’ from the 2009 album K.O.D immediately distinguishing the day-one fans at the front of the house. Displaying almost razor-sharp synchronicity the duo jumped onto ‘Riot Maker’ before N9ne let Kaliko crush the masses with a couple of his own tracks; ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Kill Shit’ from his 2012 album Kickin’ and Screamin’ nearly seeing the floor arch under the weight of the crowd’s intense bouncing.

While the assembled never quite seemed to get N9ne’s desire for a mosh pit going – despite dropping ‘No Reason’ they nevertheless fixed on every word that sped at light speed over the duo’s lips, their roars getting heavier as N9ne got quicker. Bringing out the obligatory chair N9ne teased those in attendance with a couple of acapella snippets of ‘Low’ and ‘Red Nose’ before springing ‘This Ring’ from his 2001 album Anghellic on them. Calling for everyone to “put your lighters up” the venue was soon illuminated with dozens of tiny flickers.

The expected hits like ‘Caribou Lou’ and ‘Areola’ all made an appearance, ‘Erbody But Me’ seeing the crowd followed in at full volume but it was Tech N9ne’s closing hit ‘Hood Go Crazy’ that saw the fans off into the night in a state of pure happiness as Tech N9ne’s declarations of how much he freakin loved them all rang in their ears.

Showing that he is still very much at the top of his game Tech N9ne is an artist that is a mandatory must-see live act.

Independent Grind Tour

Tech N9ne Setlist:

Am I a Psycho?

Stamina

Planet Rock 2K

Strange Music Box

Riotmaker

It’s Alive

Sickology 101

Fresh Out!

E.B.A.H.

Einstein

Dysfunctional

Straight Out the Gate

URALYA

Anxiety

Spaz

No Reason (The Mosh Pit Song)

Unstable

Kill Shit

Welcome to the Midwest

Worldwide Choppers

Speedom (Worldwide Choppers 2)

Low / Red Nose / Come Gangsta

The Ring

Schizophrenia

Girls Like That

Caribou Lou

Erbody But Me

How I’m Feeling

Don’t Nobody Want None

Hood Go Crazy

SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque Seduces Austin

by Tracy Fuller | Mar 19, 2018

The SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque Troupe Danced Their Way To The Stage While Seducing The Adoring Crowd At Emos In Austin

SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque, if you are unfamiliar with the name, then you may just be out of the pop culture loop. They have been showcasing alternative modeling for at least 15 years. In the development of the brand, they established a burlesque troupe in 2003. The SuicideGirls, got a pretty remarkable start by being the opening act on a Guns & Roses tour in the same year. With the brand moving towards focusing on the modeling side of things the stage show stood on the back burner for a little bit, only to build up the anticipation for what was to come! I remember in 2013 when the burlesque act came back in full force, but I never got to witness the magic as a patron. Well, 2018, is better late than never, and these lovely ladies surely did not disappoint!

I have been to a few different burlesque shows over the years. So I knew to expect to see some beautiful women conducting a stage show to various elements with a bit of a striptease. A lot of these events maintain the bar of entertainment, what makes a SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque show top shelf is that each act raises the bar by a notch or two. Not only do they have an incredible soundtrack, but they also take various fandoms and add their appealing sensual twist. For example, some of my personal favorites acts were the Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance segment, an eerie Stranger Things set and even a Little Mermaid performance. To top it off, they also had something to satisfy the nerd within me, a Star Wars set, donning glitterized stormtrooper helmets!

Ok so you are probably going, “yeah, of course, you had a great time.” Yes, I will admit, the eye candy was everywhere, but the show is so much more than that. You are not just going to see beautiful women dance in front of you. You are going to see a variety of body positive women of all shapes and sizes who are comfortable in their skin performing but also supporting each other and making people in the audience feel comfortable about their own bodies. An added plus to any SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque, each show requires crowd participation!

At one point the host called out for a couple in the crowd, not just any couple, but one that was adventurous and willing to try new things. I am pretty sure this ended being a night to remember for them (I am not going to ruin the excitement, check it out for yourself!)

There are a few more crowd participation elements that cater to everyone, even the singles out there. The show started to close, and then a showdown of ladies in the crowd was set to compete on stage for the best dance/tease/twerk… It was something to be witnessed. If you have the chance, you will want to make going to this one a priority.

Here are the remaining stops on the SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque Tour, be sure and check them out:March 29 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVaMarch 30 – Washington, DC – The Howard TheatreApril 1 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore SoundstageApril 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living ArtsApril 5 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music HallApril 6 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert HallApril 7 – Boston, MA – Royale NightclubApril 8 – Portland, ME – State TheatreApril 14 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage TheaterApril 15 – Birmingham, AL – SaturnApril 26 – Des Moines, IA – WoolysApril 28 – Omaha, NE – SlowdownApril 30 – Bozeman, MT – Rialto BozemanMay 2 – Seattle, WA – The ShowboxMay 3 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall