What’s the genre you most associate with Texas? Did you just say country? Get out. Now. I’m serious.
Don’t actually go. But I’m about to rock your entire existence. Because Texas is all about metal. At least this weekend it is.
There’s a wave of metal tours going through Texas right now hitting spots from Austin to Houston to Dallas and more.
Here’s a shot of what’s happening this weekend
Against Me! – This Gainsville, FL based band has been around since 1997, but they’ve recently been on a tear of album releases with Transgender Dysphoria Blues (2014) and Shape Shift with Me (2016) representing the most recent release. Although it’s off their stated goal of one album a year for the rest of the decade, it’s clear Against Me! is in an artistic renaissance. This may have been prompted by front-woman Laura Jane Grace coming out publicly as a transgender woman in 2012. She had previously performed under her birth name and that transition features heavily in her current work.
Sick of It All – The Queens, NY band just finished wrapping up their 30th anniversary tour last year with an EP of new songs, When the Smoke Clears. Of course, for a band who’s been touring continuously since 1986, breaks don’t come naturally – so they’re out again on tour and coming through Texas. Happy 31st anniversary!
Houston (March 3rd, 2017) – Austin (March 4th, 2017) – Dallas (March 5th, 2017)
Deafheaven – One of the newer bands taking Texas this weekend, Deafheaven formed in 2010 in San Francisco and have been on a meteoric rise ever since. Described by Rolling Stone as “boundary-pushing blend of black metal, shoegaze and post-rock,” they really define the genre. They themselves push back against the label, claiming they don’t “the ethos, the aesthetic or really the sound of [a black metal band].” Either way, that kind of rebellion seems pretty metal.
Austin (March 2nd, 2017) – Dallas (March 3rd, 2017) – Houston (March 4th, 2017)
Fear Control – This band is this list’s hometown hero. Based out of Austin, they’re only playing there this weekend and for the foreseeable future. They have two more shows scheduled for June in case you don’t catch them now.
Senses Fail – This band from River Vale, NJ is finishing out this list as the only band on here so far who has a release in 2017. Maybe there’s more new music on the near horizon? Maybe some they’ll play in Texas? You’ll have to go to find out.
Dallas (March 6th, 2017) – Austin (March 7th, 2017)
Time to get your metal on Texas! Who knows when the next perfect storm of metal will hit your state?
