Live music review: legendary Austin act Soulhat played holiday show at Continental Club
On December 26, legendary Austin rock outfit, Soulhat, performed in front of a packed audience for their annual holiday concert at the Live Music Capital’s oldest rock venue, Continental Club. After 36 years since forming, the Austin mainstays returned to the venue that most reflects Austin’s past with multiple residencies by longtime city players while simultaneously looking into it’s future with select newer acts.
The band has put on semi-annual shows in Austin for the past few years, one in the Summer, and another around Christmas. Austin music staple, Antone’s, has housed the event for some time, but this go around was set in another classic Austin venue, the South Congress institution, Continental Club.
With the show set to begin at 10 p.m., and doors opening at 9, the long line of dedicated fans, and those just wanting to check out some good live music, stretched down the block well before the band took stage. The excitement was evident from their longtime supporters.
Since the early-90’s days of the Black Cat Lounge, Soulhat has remained a cornerstone of Austin music lore. Guitarists and vocalists Kevin McKinney and Bill Cassis, teamed up with bassist Brian Walsh and drummer Barry E. “Frosty” Smith in 1990, and by 1993, the rock quartet had a number of well-known hits, landing on the Billboard charts. After Frosty’s unfortunate passing in 2017, Conrad Choucroun, from another cornerstone of 90’s Austin music culture, Banana Blender Surprise, took over on the drums for the Soulhat.
From the opening number, “Here,” it was apparent that the band’s chemistry was not lacking, and that they would deliver a tight show.The four-piece continued with “Holy Cow” and “Build,” Their unique blend of Southern rock, funk, and blues was prominently placed on display.
From the start of the performance, fans danced. sang along, and raised their drinks in appreciation to see the classic Austin rock outfit play another set in their fourth decade. The four-piece continued with “Holy Cow” and “Build.” The former track appears on Soulhat’s debut album from 1993 Outdebox (Epic Records).
The show was very loud – in the best way possible. The vigor with which they played juxtaposed nicely with the charm of the venue. Continental looks unapologetically like a prototypical rock club complete with a red velvet curtain behind the stage. Loud guitars continued after the band’s first break of the night, when the played the classic, fan-favorite, “Prayin’ for Rain”. Toward the end of the set, Soulhat performed their most recognizable song, ‘Bone Crusher.” The song appeared on the group’s follow-up to their first record, Good To Be Gone which came out in 1994. It reached #25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.
In the past, the band’s set would end at around 12:30, but this time around, Soulhat delivered hit after hit for three hours, in a set that incorporated two intermissions, playing until 1:30 am. The setlist was extensive and offered everything the crowd could have wished for. A true holiday treat.
This was one hell of a show.
Soulhat Setlist:
All photos by Brian Hillsman
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