Last weekend, on both Friday and Saturday nights, Austin Music People’s fundraiser United We Jam hosted bills of local bands at myriad venues across the city. Our own Lukas Read wrote yesterday about Holy Wave’s Hotel Vegas show, and we’ll have more coverage of the ambitious weekend up soon. Of all the shows, it would be easy to make the argument that Mohawk’s outdoor stage show on Saturday night was the weekend’s marquee event: a bill that included rapper group Magna Carda, up-and-comer Roger Sellers, and ensemble orchestral rock outfit Mother Falcon.
To be sure, Mother Falcon, prone to running with the youthful and spirited Raw Paw collective, has garnered a solid fan base of indie rock fans who like to think outside the box. But by using classical instruments—violin, cello, brass, among others—the group has also appealed to a wider range of fans, those older and younger than a typical rock band demographic. The group’s work in public schools with nonprofit organization Mother Falcon likely bolstered their appeal to families. These facts, combined with the city-wide Austin Music People push resulted in a pleasantly diverse crowd on Friday night.
Teens surrounded by middle-aged fans dominated the front few rows of people, dancing along to the Mother Falcon’s baroque pop. Everyone was particularly thrilled when the band was joined onstage by Magna Carda, who spit a few bars backed by organic beats. Although many have lamented the lack of hip-hop in Austin, there’s an upward trend of the genre’s popularity. This brief collaboration was a high point of the night’s performance, and showcases the diversity within Austin’s music community and the spirit of United We Jam.
All photos © Bryan C. Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
