Music Felon, Austin, TX (2026)

12/05/2025

Purity Ring takes Austin on a Tantalizing Trip

Photos and written by Bang Ho

Once upon a time in Austin long ago, there was a venue downtown called Austin Music Hall. The last show I got to see there before it was bulldozed was also the last time I saw Purity Ring live on September 5th 2015. I missed their Austin stop in 2022, so when I heard they were finally coming back, I was beyond hyped to catch them again.

If you haven’t been to a Purity Ring show, know this: they are very much visual artists as they are musical ones. At the last show I got to go to, they had big light sticks that resembled q tips that lit up and responded to being hit with a drum stick by Corin Roddick, the intrumentalist of the band. So before the show even started this time around, I was up front and saw eight massive floor fans with LED arms and knew my expectations for a visual adventure were spot on. As a photographer, this was not an ideal situation as the house lights were pretty much off to fully immerse the audience in the spectacular journey. As a member of the audience, I didn’t care and I was blown away at the perfect marriage of art and technology. It is always amazing to see how creative two people can completely command and be on a stage as large as ACL Live’s Moody Theater. I cannot fathom the hours needed to design and create this visual buffet that perfectly complimented the beautiful soundscape the duo brought. Some of the visuals involved a tornado of flame, a forest backdrop, and more I’m forgetting. Megan Jame’s voice showed a rare side of pop, uniquely hers as it was warm and effortlessly slid up and down the scales, hitting notes with pure emotion in the mid and high range as Roddick’s percussive hits on the drum pads provided the synths and even changed visuals as well.

The great thing about a band that has been around like them is that they know exactly what they’re doing and how to please the crowd on every level. This, truly, was a show that you just had to see and experience. The band blanketed the entire theater with waves of light and sound. I highly suggest seeing Brett Bolton’s (the visuals designer/director) IG to get a taste.

12/02/2025

The Circle Jerks Reignite San Antonio’s Punk Core at Paper Tiger

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On October 18, 2025, legendary Los Angeles hardcore band Circle Jerks delivered a blistering performance at San Antonio’s Paper Tiger, bringing decades of punk urgency to the 210. The venue filled with anticipation as frontman Keith Morris and guitarist Greg Hetson led a set packed with fast-rhythm anthems and unfiltered attitude, reaffirming their status as pioneers of hardcore punk.

From the moment the first chord rang out, the crowd was locked in. The band tore through fan favorites like “Sick Boy,” “Give Me Fire,” and the landmark “City Baby Attacked By Rats,” their blistering speed matched by Morris’s snarling delivery and Hetson’s gritty riffs. With such raw energy coursing through the room, every song felt like a manifesto for resistance and unrelenting action.

As explosive and precise as ever, the Circle Jerks capitalized on the charged atmosphere at Paper Tiger—where the stage felt like a hero crucible and the audience a loud-voiced congregation of punk devotion. By the time the final chord faded, there was no question: they hadn’t just played a show, they had reaffirmed why punk’s fire still burns in places like San Antonio.

10/28/2025

GBH Ignite 29th Street Ballroom with Pure Hardcore Vigor

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On October 9, 2025, British punk veterans GBH stormed the stage at Austin’s 29th Street Ballroom, delivering an incendiary performance that reminded everyone why they’re pillars of the hardcore scene. From the opening chords to the final anthem, the band tore through their set with unrelenting speed and ferocious energy.

Frontman Colin “Jock” Blyth led with feral vocals and snarling intensity as GBH powered through classics like “Sick Boy,” “Give Me Fire,” and “City Baby Attacked by Rats,” while deep cuts and new material kept the fervor burning. The crowd responded in kind—mosh pits erupted, fists pumped, and sing-alongs rang out across the packed venue.

The venue’s high-charge atmosphere fueled the performance from start to finish. GBH left no doubt that punk’s heart still beats loud and hard—especially on a night when every beat of the drum and scrape of the guitar demanded to be heard. Austin witnessed not just a concert, but a full-on punk revival.

10/14/2025

Automatic Transforms Mohawk with Neon-Infected Post-Punk Energy

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On October 5, 2025, Austin’s Mohawk hosted Automatic, in support of their surreal and razor-sharp new album Excess. From the moment they took the stage, the band wove a sonic tapestry of moody synth lines, dark bass grooves, and sharp vocal interplay.

Automatic’s set drew heavily from Excess, mining themes of alienation and consumer excess with songs like “New Beginning,” an existential sci-fi-inspired anthem rejecting false hope, and “Reflect,” which explored internal turbulence under societal pressure. The performance balanced introspective moments with pulsating danceable energy, as shimmering synth textures collided with taut rhythms and emotionally resonant vocals.

In the outdoor expanse of Mohawk, the band’s luminous stage presence and tight arrangements felt simultaneously expansive and intimate. As lights danced across the crowd and the music resonated under the night sky, Automatic proved they’re not just a post-punk revival— they’re piercing something current and necessary.

10/13/2025

Marky Ramone Keeps the Ramones Flame Burning at Mohawk Austin

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On August 27, 2025, punk legend Marky Ramone brought his “Plays the Ramones Classics” set to Mohawk in Austin, delivering a relentless night of timeless hooks and frenetic energy. With doors opening at 7 PM and showtime at 8, the outdoor stage filled with fans across generations, ready to sing along to every Ramones anthem.
Joined by a crack band, Marky powered through over thirty Ramones staples, including “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” “Rockaway Beach,” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” His drum work remained sharp and driving, the backbone of each song as the band navigated the rapid-fire set with precision and genuine devotion to the source material.

The open-air setting at Mohawk only amplified the communion between band and crowd. Audiences shouted lyrics in unison, jumped at every beat, and created an electric sea of Ramones memorabilia. As the final chord struck and lights fell, Marky and his band left no doubt: the spirit of the Ramones is alive and still sounding ferocious in 2025.

09/16/2025

Spike And The Gimme Gimmes Deliver Punk-Cover Brilliance at Radio/East

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On August 23, 2025, the outdoor venue Radio/East in Austin became the playground for Spike & The Gimme Gimmes, the punk super-group famous for turning pop hits into high-octane sing-alongs. Doors opened at 7 PM, and by showtime, the band — led by the irrepressible Spike Slawson alongside an all-star cast of punk royalty — hit the stage with a grin and launched into cover tunes reimagined with skate-punk speed and humor.

From heartfelt ballads to cheesy chart‐toppers, nothing was safe from their treatment. Expect renditions packed with punch: acoustic openers twisted into fast drums and distorted guitars, choruses drenched in gang vocals, and breakdowns that incited unstoppable crowd movement. With costumes and stage banter peppered throughout, the band navigated the set in true Gimme Gimmes style — sharp, sincere, and shamelessly fun.

The open-air setting of Radio/East added to the communal feel, letting the heat of Austin mix with the heat of the mics. As fans sang lines they never expected to know, the band left no doubt: Spike & The Gimme Gimmes don’t just deliver covers — they transform them into punk anthems. It was a night of nostalgia, novelty, and nonstop joy, all wrapped up in a sweaty punk hug.

09/05/2025

Stick To Your Guns Fire Up Austin with Resolute Hardcore at Come And Take It Live

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On August 17, 2025, Southern California’s hardcore-punk stalwarts Stick To Your Guns ascended the stage at Come And Take It Live as part of the Boundaries tour block, delivering a relentless and impassioned set that echoed their slogan—”Keep Planting Flowers”—with both ferocity and hope.

Frontman Jesse Barnett anchored the night with commanding vocals, leading the band through a dynamic performance that combined new material from Keep Planting Flowers—like “Invisible Rain” and “Spineless”—with anthemic staples such as “Amber” and “Against Them All.” Their blend of melodic hooks and hardcore drive had the crowd headbanging in unison and fueled circle pits that pulsed through the venue’s capacity floor.

The atmosphere inside Come And Take It Live amplified the communal intensity, creating a space where fans and band connected through shared conviction. Sweat, shouts, and sing-alongs filled the room, turning the performance into something more than just a show—it felt like a gathering of kindred spirits. Stick To Your Guns proved that at its core, hardcore punk isn’t just music—it’s a call to stand firm, stay hopeful, and keep planting seeds of resistance.

08/22/2025

Realprojectpat Packs the Mohawk Out with Memphis Hip Hop

Photos and written by Bang Ho

Project Pat served up some serious hip hop classics at Mohawk with decades of hits from his extensive catalogue. I honestly was not sure what the crowd would be like in the ever changing Austin zeitgeist, but the crowd showed nothing but love and one of the most energetic shows I've seen in some time. Pat even stopped during the show to acknowledge a Three 6 Mafia shirt from decades ago that a fan was wearing in the front. Performing timeless classics like Poppin' My Collar, Chickenhead, and Stay Fly --you knew Project Pat don't play. A personal highlight was Good Googly Moogly, even if it was cut short as Juicy J and DJ obviously were not on stage to perform.

08/21/2025

Less Than Jake Reignite Emo’s with a High-Energy Summer Circus Spectacle

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On August 11, 2025, Emo’s Austin was transformed into a riotous celebration of ska-punk as Less Than Jake took the stage for their “Summer Circus 2025” tour stop. Opening with the explosive “Gainesville Rock City,” bassist Roger Lima’s cheeky banter and the thunderous brass of Buddy Schaub (trombone) and JR Wasilewski (saxophone) ignited the crowd from the very first note.

The setlist was a thriller for both die-hard fans and newcomers alike—blasting through fan-favorites like “Lie to Me,” “Walking Pipebomb,” “Brand New Day,” and the wildly anthemic “The Science of Selling Yourself Short.” In a delightful twist of nostalgia, the band even treated the crowd to a surprise “Animaniacs” theme cover before closing with classics like “Al’s War,” “Plastic Cup Politics,” and “History of a Boring Town,” followed by an encore that included “Last One Out of Liberty City,” “Help Save the Youth of America From Exploding,” and “Look What Happened”.

The vibrant energy of this high-octane performance left Emo’s buzzingly packed and visibly enlivened—proof that Less Than Jake’s infectious spirit and brass-fueled mania continue to stand the test of time. With each chorus becoming a communal anthem, the Summer Circus tour stop felt less like a concert and more like a jubilant reunion under the neon lights of Emo’s stage.

Adding to the night’s charm, lead singer Chris DeMakes spotted a stray dreadlock on stage mid-set. With his trademark humor, he held it aloft like a trophy, joking with the crowd and turning the odd find into another shared laugh. It was a small, quirky moment that perfectly captured the band’s ability to mix fun, spontaneity, and ska-punk chaos into one unforgettable night.

08/13/2025

Sleigh Bells Bring the Heat at Mohawk

Written and Photos by Bang Ho

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen Sleigh Bells live, but as soon as they danced onto stage to “Everlasting Love” I knew what kind of show it was going to be –a fun filled raucous cathartic event with the dial all the way up to 11. The setlist was a perfect blend of their perfectly blended noise pop classics like “A/B Machines”, “Bitter Rivals”, “Infinity Guitars” and new hits “Bunky Pop” and “Wanna Start a Band?” Even their slower songs were energy filled and loud. It was a blast finally getting to hear Locust Laced from the Texis album live in Texas. After all these years, Sleigh Bells still puts on a helluva show and are still down to earth, with Alexis taking time to chat and take photos with fans outside the venue immediately right after show.

08/13/2025

The Aquabats! Soar into Austin with Superhero Ska Spectacle at Radio/East

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On August 2, 2025, The Aquabats landed their “Bats! Kats & Rats Tour” at Austin’s open-air Radio/East venue, launching into a kaleidoscopic set brimming with quirky, campy energy. This beloved superhero-themed ska-punk ensemble—known for their colorful ray-gun costumes and comic-book theatrics—turned the evening into a playful musical adventure.

The crowd erupted as The Aquabats unfurled a setlist that paid tribute to their eccentric catalog, featuring fan favorites such as “Cat with 2 Heads!,” “My Skateboard!,” “Super Rad!,” and “Burger Rain!” The performance blended surf-punk riffs, goofy lyrics, and interactive moments that made it feel like a superhero convention set to music.

Fans reveled in the band’s immersive fun: costumes, props, and stage antics all served to elevate the experience beyond a concert and into the realm of theatrical escapism. With generous doses of nostalgia and unabashed joy, The Aquabats reaffirmed that their exuberant brand of rock remains as delightfully anarchic—and uniquely memorable—as ever.

08/12/2025

Clutch Shakes Emo’s with Relentless Rock Power

Written and photos by Neal Cribb

On August 1, 2025, Clutch took over Emo’s Austin as part of their “Full Ahead Flank MMXXV” tour, delivering a no‑compromise set filled with heavy rock anthems and infectious groove. Launching into staples like “Earth Rocker,” and “Worm Drink,” and "The Mob Goes Wild", they immediately drew an intense reaction from the crowd. Fan favorites including “Slaughter Beach,” “X‑Ray Visions,” and “Firebirds!” followed, each maintaining the momentum with the band’s signature blend of riff-driven punch and soulful swagger.

The set also featured deeper tracks such as “Subtle Hustle,” “Skeletons on Mars,” and “Willie Nelson,” all delivered with sharp precision and commanding stage presence. Clutch closed the night strong with “Spacegrass,” leaving Emo’s full throttle and the audience soaked in the high-octane charge of experienced heavy rockers still at the top of their game.

The high-energy performance had the crowd swept up in a beautifully chaotic storm of chanting, fist-pumping, and horns-high headbanging —a testament to Clutch’s ability to turn every live show into a communal rock explosion.

Music Felon

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