Sound On Sound 2016 Preview: 5 Local Bands To Catch
Ladies and gentlemen, knights and knaves, sires and maidens– the time is drawing near for the inaugural Sound on Sound Festival and we here at ATH could not be more excited. Not only have the SOS folks put together a stacked bill filled with big time acts from all over the indie world, but they’ve also made sure to stick to their Austin roots by snagging some of the great local acts from around town. Sure, maybe you’ve seen their name on a poster for a show, but now is the time to make sure you show up for their set and give them some love. Read on for 5 local bands that you shouldn’t miss this weekend.
*Don’t forget about Late Knights, which is another excellent opportunity to catch some great bands– local and international.
Dream gaze bands in a festival setting are never a bad idea– and this trio will be bringing their ultra hazy sound early on Saturday at the Dragon’s Lair stage for a perfect start to day two. With the perfect pairing of group harmonies and sharp guitar sounds, you’ll be hard pressed for a better soundtrack for that first (or third) beer in the sun at 1:30 on Saturday.
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Oh man… this band! Night Drive are sure to make sure day three of SOS Fest is off to a roaring start at their 3:10pm set at the Forest Stage. This electronic synth pop duo that features new wave influence will have you shaking the sleep out of your eyes and plain shaking it. Their set may be short, but I’m so stoked to shimmy with these guys… so make sure you’re there to dance along. If you’re having any doubts, turn up “After Dark” really loud on those office computer speakers and just try your damnedest not to groove in your desk chair. I know I’ll be listening to this track on repeat until this weekend…
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The spirit of SOS is alive and well in the garage-me-not sound of Sailor Poon. Their loud and raucous aesthetic, featuring grunge guitars and lo-fi vocals, is exactly what you’ll be craving when you enter the grounds on day three. The band packs plenty of whimsy, but make no mistake– they’ll definitely melt your face off at their 1:30pm set at the Keep stage. Preview their sound with “Levitation” below.
Everyone needs a bit of unabashedly cheerful psych folk in their lives whilst festin,’ so naturally it’s impertinent that you swing by the Dragon’s Lair stage early (2:30) on Friday and kick off your SOS right with these party animals. Their live set is always a riot– the psych guitar riffs and those light and sweet vocals make for the right combination of rock flair and fun.
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This band has been a staple in the Austin hip-hop scene for years now, so if you haven’t spent some time with them, your chance is nigh. They’ll be bringing their eclectic brand of hip hop to the Forest stage on Friday at 3:10 and you can be sure they’ll bring enough energy to carry you through the rest of the day and potentially the rest of the weekend. Where will you be?
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Keep it local friends. See you at the fest.