101x’s Homegrown Live program, under the management of Deidre Gott, does a great job bringing together a bill of strong local acts ranging in notoriety. Due in part to its radio connections, the series’ has the ability to spotlight bands on the cusp of national recognition, propelling them forward, while sharing that buzz with smaller local acts. Saturday night, Scoot Inn’s stage saw a solid bill consisting of Slomo Drags, Good Field, Speak, and The Tontons.
I haven’t been to the Scoot Inn for a while, and was shocked to discover how much the spaces has been upgraded and renovated. The stage has been given a beautiful, arcing wooden roof along with a phenomenal lighting rig, and a large new bar and patio area has been constructed at the back of the outdoor area. It feels distinctly like a miniature version of Stubb’s. Scoot Inn has been appealing to larger artists and hosting more notable shows in recent months and are poised to make a name as one of the city’s most sought after venues.
Although The Tontons are from Houston, it didn’t feel unusual in the least to have them on a local bill. Frontwoman Asli Omar addressed this fact directly during the band’s set and said what I had been thinking all night. “We play in Austin more than we do in Houston,” she said, continuing to tell the crowd how much The Tontons love Austin and thanking us for accepting them as one of our own. “We’re all from Texas anyway,” she concluded, “and that’s what’s important, right?” Her earnest address brought cheers from the crowd.
The Tontons do feel a like a local band, and what’s great for Austin is that they keep getting better and better. Asli Omar’s voice and energetic stage antics have been a strong point of the band’s live show for a while now and remains so, but the rest of the band has been picking up their live show in recent performances. Most notable, the energy between Omar and bassist Tom Nguyen is more present that ever before, and Nguyen’s playing has become more deliberate, tight, and emotive.
The Scoot Inn crowd stayed completely attentive, and smiles were the norm across the faces of concertgoers. The Tontons just have that effect on people. They’re a band that’s endlessly fun to listen to and to watch. Songs throughout the night moved from upbeat indie pop to slow, grooving soul and included many of the tracks featured on their recently released full-length Make Out King & Other Stories of Love—“Magic Hour” as well as standouts “Bones 1” and “Bones 2.” We’ve been saying for about a year now that this band is going to see the upper echelons of popularity, and it has been happening, slowly. Their LP has seen some national press, and doors keep opening for the Houston four-piece. See them now and as often as possible before your only option is television appearances or buying scalped tickets for sold out shows.
SPEAK offered direct support for The Tontons with a set of slick pop music. I’ve heard a ton about the band, but this was my first time seeing them live. Major key melodies and harmonies abound, as do catchy guitar and synth lines.
Before SPEAK, Good Field performed, casting spells with their brand of laid back indie pop. The five-piece with Paul Price at the helm has begun to work on new material, and the current set features some unreleased tunes such as “Hospital Bed” and “Future Me,” as well as older crowd favorites like “These Dreams.” We’re huge fans of Good Field and can’t wait to see what the future holds for the band and their next released material.
Slomo Drags opened the night with a set of guitar-driven indie rock built on twinkling and distorted notes and solid percussion. The band possesses a great balance between sheen and grit. The set left me sufficiently impressed after the first time seeing them, and I expect that Austin will be seeing more of them in the near future.
Accolades are in order to all the players involved in the night’s show—each of the high quality bands that played as well as Scoot Inn and show organizer 101X Homegrown Live. Austin is lucky to have all of these forces at work individually, but it’s a staggering achievement when they convene to function cooperatively. Check out images of each of the bands below.
All photos © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
