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Saturday, 21 August 2010
Alkari * Booher & The Turkeys * Frank Smith
Alkari - (Houston, TX) Mike Beatty (vocals, guitar, piano), Jason Smith (bass, synthesizer, vocals) and Marc Badillo (drums) met in 2004 when Smith and Badillo's band, Strangelight, shared the stage with the regionally (and now internationally) reknown band, Midlake. Soon after this chance meeting, Smith joined Alkari (with Beatty and Dustin Whipple on drums) to play to a packed house at Rudyard's Pub. Alkari played a few more shows in 2005 before taking a break. When Strangelight disbanded in 2006, Jason and Marc called Mike to reform Alkari and write new material. Ideas for songs between the three gelled quickly with an E.S.P. like connection between the musicians, and a common goal to write and perform hard-charging rock music that engages and energizes the listener. In late 2007, Alkari recorded their first EP, Kublai Khan which was released in 2008 along with a split EP with the Austin band, Hymn Six.
Alkari has shared the stage with regionally known bands such as Oso Closo (Denton), The Pons (Austin), and White Rhino (Austin), as well as nationally known bands such as Royal Bangs (Nashville), and Internationally known bands such as Loney, Dear (Sweden), and Midlake (Denton). They especially enjoy playing festival shows such as the Westheimer Block Party (2008 and 2009), and The Festival at Mink (2009 and 2010). Alkari is currently preparing songs to record a full legnth album for release in late 2010/early 2011, along with a new pressing of their Kublai Khan EP.
Regarding "If I Could": "...The guitars are fucking awesome, in particular, thick and substantial and almost bluesy at times. Plus, there's a warm, friendly, unpretentious sound to the whole thing, like it tumbled out of some long-forgotten Twin/Tone vault somewhere... " Courtesy Jeremy Hart, www.SpaceCityRock.com
"This is one band I really liked. Their sound reminded me of something I really miss: '90s indie-rock, but a little bit punkier. Hmm... Emo! Real emo before Hot Topic ruined it." Courtesy Corey Deiterman, 29-95.com
"'The Code' from Alkari’s 2008 Kublai Khan ep has been floating around in our head lately..." Courtesy www.theskyline.net
"...you also get one of the best flat-out rock bands in town with Alkari -- they do some nice, smart (but not over-brainy) indie-ish rock that I honestly have a hard time categorizing." Courtesy Jeremy Hart, www.SpaceCityRock.com
Booher & The Turkeys- (Austin, TX) Former Zykos frontman Michael Booher continues to lead that charge with his band The Turkeys, enveloping his early-’80s, left-of-the-dial jangle in clouds of road dust. - AV Club
Frank Smith - (Austin, TX) "Trudging deep into the well-stripped mine of red-eyed Americana, locals Frank Smith emerged triumphant with 2009’s Big Strike In Silver City. The band’s grimly soot-faced, scratchy-throated determination and willingness to occasionally bring the noise to break up all that pickin’-and-sinnin’ makes it one of the more unpredictable bands on Austin’s growing indie-billy scene." AV Club
Last Update Saturday 17 July, 2010
