Coming up in a couple of weeks, The Sour Notes will be throwing a big ole tour kickoff for their upcoming east coast tour featuring 11 bands, some artists, and photographers. (Full disclosure: Kindform is sponsoring the event). The Sour Notes are a band that we’ve had our eye on for a while. They’ve not-so-quietly put out four albums to listener/critical acclaim and have toured the country several times. Yet, they’ve managed to remain an entirely independent band, earning the title of “hardest working band in Austin” from the media elite. And if this shindig they’re throwing on July 21 at Red 7 is any indication, that title is justly earned.
One of the groups playing this mini-fest of sorts is a new name to myself and many others. GROWL is band making solid indie rock that harkens back to indie’s infancy; the days of round-wound guitars, ride cymbals, shaggy haired dudes with no style or money or girlfriends, just a hard line on how to make a good tune. From a listen to their demos online – of which there are 5 – they are sometimes revelatory (ala Real Estate), sometimes punky, jangly (see: Pavement), and infinitely uncontrived.
GROWL is a quintet, formed in early 2012 with friends Kent Hale (Drums), Sam Houdek (Guitar), Alex Cohen (Keys, Percussion), Santiago Dietche (Guitar, Vocals), and Jon Lee (Bass, Guitar, Vocals). Check them out on July 21. You can stream their 5 song demo below. We recommend “Shallow Grave”.
