Sharks in the Deep End | 02.18.16

I'm going to keep this short, since I didn't go to this show with the intention of shooting it... it was more an instance of knowing myself well enough to know that if I didn't bring my camera along with me, I'd be bummed out and it's better to have it and not use it, than to not bring it and wish I had. Which, I don't think there's ever been a time where I've brought my camera and not used it, but I digress.

I've known Tucker (and his fiance Sarah) since I went to one of his shows back when I was a freshman in college and remember really enjoying his music. I've kept in touch pretty much ever since, although I haven't seen either of them in probably about two years, which is seriously way too long! Fast forward to last night, where Tucker had his first show with a new band, Sharks in the Deep End. I knew I absolutely had to make it out, especially since I hadn't seen anyone in so long!

The space for the show was actually a photography studio and was really cool! There was almost this house show vibe because of that. And the show itself was incredible. Tucker is an awesome musician himself, and the bands he was in previously were all great and the guys in those bands were all really talented, but there was just something else about this new project. I talked to Tucker after the show and told him this exact thing and how it was just next level. Everything sounded so good! It was so exciting getting to see him play again, getting to catch up a little with Sarah, and running into his mom, Dolores. They are all such wonderful, genuine people and it was so wonderful getting to see them all again!

It was just such a great night of awesome music and getting to see friendly faces I hadn't seen in forever.

This Will Destroy You | 02.09.16 | Barracuda

A friend and I have tried to see This Will Destroy You the last couple times they've been in town without much luck, so, when I saw the band was playing a show here in Austin, I immediately messaged her about it. I was so excited about finally getting to see these guys live but when I finally went to buy a ticket they were sold out. I hardly ever sleep on buying concert ticket and I was so bummed, but I asked my friend if she'd be willing to just try and see if we could get in, and I wasn't above trying to sneak in or anything to be perfectly honest. We figured we could show up to the doors and feel out if anyone was selling a couple extra tickets or maybe beg the doorman to get in. When it comes to shows, I ain't too proud to beg! The night of we walk down to the venue and the guy told said that he didn't want to guarantee us anything, but that we could check back in a bit when TWDY was about to take the stage. It was a maybe and that's all we really needed, so we just ducked into a bar to kill some time and catch up, which was wonderful. After a while, we walked back over to the venue and up to the doorman with a "hey again, we got any chance?" To which he just asked for our IDs and let us in for free since he "made us come back." For a sold out show, the place was pretty empty once we made it in. TWDY hadn't started yet, so it was pretty much kismet for us to finally get to see them. Once they were about to take the stage the place filled up pretty quickly, and the energy in the room was pretty electric. I wish I could put it more eloquently but these dudes seriously just rock. For me, a large part of enjoying muisc is due to lyrics. Sure it's melodies and the actual music itself, but it's also the lyrics that rope me in. Not to say I don't enjoy all instrumental music because clearly I do. I'm meaning to say that it's real when I just enjoy what is played and feel the music without having words that I relate to or find relevant or gripping. It was the music itself I seriously connected with, especially in the live setting, and that's a truly awesome thing.

P.S. RIP former Red 7 where the last show I saw there was La Dispute during FFF Fest after it'd been shut down. I was pretty bitter about it being painted completely white, but I digress.