Live music review: A Hot Summer Nights ramble through the weekend with great local acts

Another Hot Summer Nights in Austin has come and gone. Twice a year, the Red River Cultural District holds a cover-charge-free, street-wide event that features mountains of Austin talent and beyond in both a January and July edition at venues such as Mohawk, Chess Club, Empire Garage & Control Room, Swan Dive, The 13th Floor, Elysium, and more. For each festival edition, an eclectic lineup that spans all genres invades Red River for thousands of attendees to get a helping of great, local talent, new and old. During the festival weekend, programming lasts from the early evening to closing time to give local music fans a taste of what makes the Austin music scene one of the best destinations in the country.

Thursday – July 18

First up was The Black Angels’ Red River haunt, The 13th Floor. Austin gothic rock trio Daymares kicked off the festivities, showing the local post-punk act coming dressed up in clean-cut, matching gray suits for the occasion. Hints of The Cure, Oasis, Nine Inch Nails, and other means of musical darkness were employed to set the stage for the noisy antics of the following two leather-studded punk acts that would help kickstart the weekend with diesel-laced intensity.

Austin local favorite Exotic Fruitica came next, who are gearing up to release their first full-length album. Since dropping their debut EP, Cruel, the Austin noisemakers have honed their compositions, showing songwriting team Jon French and Aaron Gilligan’s artistic output growing as their partnership has stretched many regions. The noise-punk wizards have been smashing out tune after tune that provoke more ear-piercing bangers that stress simplicity and blistering fury that only gets heavier with each new tune the Austin act commits to tape.

Austin proto-punkers Narrow Haunts closed the 13th Floor showcase with joyful punk rock absurdity from frontman Nick Motrenec’s eccentric stage presence that captivated the packed-to-the-gills Red River club, allowing for all-over the bar antics that showed Montrenec’s dedication to his Keith Morris-induced craft.

Elecrtro-pop extraordinaires Holy Wire at Elysium closed out Thursday night’s programming, showing an assortment of decades worth of synth-ridden influences. Frontman Alain Paradis’s self-proclaimed brand of “Nihilistic Cold-Wave” produces introspective cuts that both hit you and sit with you, and the gothic vibes of 13th Floor’s next-door neighbor made for a fitting closing to the first night of the RRCD’s festival weekend.

Friday – July 19

For Friday night’s array of ear-shattering goodness, shoegaze and 90s alternative berzerkers Prehuman kicked things off at smaller-than-small catty corner 7th St-Red River live music staple Chess Club. Since the addition of shoegaze queen Lauren Lakis and Exotic Fruitica guitarist Charlie Cruz, Prehuman’s live sound has never sounded fuller, adding to the dreamy soundscapes sculpted by frontwoman Ginny Thornton’s Kim Deal-esque drawl which adds a garage rock edge to the fuzzy sensibilities of the group, making for an ideal kickoff for the rock and roll mayhem to take place at the sub-100 person joint for Friday evening. Prehuman also just released their debut singles via Bleached Records.

Local hard hitters Borzoi took the reins next, showcasing their flammable concoction of post-punk, noise-punk, hardcore, and frequent dives into Death-By-Audio-esque distortion wars.

After taking a brief foot race to the boujee, but not too boujee two-stage hut Cheer Up Charlies, emogaze three-piece Proun tugged at our heartstrings with a math rock, Midwest Emo-esque attack. Singer Jamie Weed and bassist Dante Zatto embrace each other’s played melodies with harmonious engagement, allowing for songs loud and soft to be accompanied by a masterclass of technical ability produced by Weed’s lifelong journey in music that spans the multi-genre expertise her musical path has transpired.

After heading to the inside stage, Austin fans were treated to the ethereal compositions of Denton art-pop act Lorelei K. The North Texas artist was joined by Civil Audio producer Michael Briggs, whose instrumental beats and backing vocals added a whole new layer to the river of elegant sounds that filled the at-capacity indoor space on the second night of Hot Summer merriment.

When returning to Chess Club, the packed room had one thing in mind: all the hits from local power pop act, TV’s Daniel. Frontman Daniel Fried is the definition of a charismatic frontman, taking every opportunity to tell the audience they were there to deliver all the hits they could for the midnight performance. Opening the set was their debut album single, “Face Down In The Ditch (of Love).” Drummer Chris Prorock has been a familiar face in Austin beyond being one of the happiest (and best) bartenders in the Red River area. Prorock also drums in the butchershop-ready punk act, Tear Dungeon. We hear that the bloodied Austin mainstay is about to embark on a massive tour in the Fall. Fried’s banter is nothing short of powerful and engaging, telling his audience at every turn precisely who he is and the musical greatness he’s proved to be capable of. No, seriously, check out all his bands, including Mugger, Bad Sports, and Lost Balloons.

Capping things off for this writer’s festival experience occurred next door at Swan Dive. 1 am at Swan Dive can be a bit of a shitshow. Since the departure of star booker Shaun Dickerson from the Red River venue, there’s been a noticeable shortage of rock and roll at the late-night music destination. Upon getting past the protein powdered security staff, Subpar Snatch was due to deliver their pepped-up punk rock for a last-call crowd.

The Austin punk band, performing in their power trio glory, played to the Lone Star-binging audience with utmost intensity, giving one hell of a sendoff to the last ones standing for the festival Friday night fever. Frontwoman Jessica Lauren Scott made the unsuspecting Barabella-infused crowd their riot girl wonderland, manifesting audible praise as the venue petered out into the 3 a.m. dance club mayhem as the programming ended for the night. The Red River Cultural District rages on, and it’s up to Central Texas music fans and beyond to keep it alive and well for many years to come.

Featured photo by @levijpg courtesy of Red River Cultural District