What, you thought a little rain was gonna stop the Midgetmen from getting sloppy drunk and playing some sloppy punk after doing it for 11 years? Anyone who knows anything about the band could’ve told you otherwise. Despite a little gloomy weather (that cleared up just in time), the Midgetmen threw a great show at Red 7 on Friday night consisting of performances by some of Austin’s most brash indie and punk acts.
The show featured all the moody bar lighting you could want plus several dudes in dresses. Many of the bands on the bill, such as Easy, Tiger, Big Bill, and the Midgetmen shared a no-frills approach to song craft, generating lean, upbeat power-pop. The Sour Notes were one act that seemed to veer away from this mindset, playing their distinct and diverse indie-rock that borrows from a variety of styles and decades and relies on a cast of five members to create lush arrangements.
The Midgetmen have made a name for themselves not only for continuing to forge forward in the waters of carefree pop punk, but also putting together large local bills such as their Texas Jumpstart SXSW event, which held its sixth installment this year at Sidebar. In the volatility of a challenging and saturated music community like Austin, The Midgetmen have proven that they have the wherewithal to do their own thing and to do it without letting up.
All photos below © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open set in slideshow viewer.
