Live music review: Halloween at Far Out Lounge with The Jesus and Mary Chain, Protomartyr and more

On a warm, humid Halloween evening last month, South Austin’s Far Out Lounge was nearly overflowing with show-goers as the venue hosted another impressive live-music presentation with The Jesus and Mary Chain, Protomartyr, Austin acts; Daiistarr, Holy Wave, Blushing, and Commercial Breaks rounded out the bill. DJ Tropicana Joe kept things moving between sets. It felt like Far Out kind of saved Halloween for psych rock fans in Austin.

DJ Tropicana Joe got things going in the late afternoon on the side stage, followed by a roughly half-an-hour set by Austin’s own Commercial Breaks to warm up the crowd, The fairly recently-formed quartet, consisting of David Rawlinson (vocals, guitar), Doran Rawlinson (drums, vocals), Ernesto Gutierrez III (bass, vocals), and Lucas Martins (vocals, guitar), put on a stow that energized the late afternoon crowd.

Daiistar followed on the main stage.  The Austin psych-rock band put on a display proving they are in a state of constant improvement of their onstage craft. On the heels of a successful release in 2023 on Fuzz Club Records with Good Time, produced by The Black Angels vocalist, Alex Maas, the Austin upstarts have recently been sharing new music coming in 2027. We’re looking forward to getting our hands on the indie-shoegazers next record.

Blushing then took to the side stage next. The Austin foursome, combining a refined live sound that could best be described as dreamwave-punk, put on a ripping performance that certainly earned more than a few fans. Our Editor along with our staff have been longtime fans of group who have gotten to perform with some big names along the way, appeared at Austin psych rock festival, Levitation, SXSW and toured the country.

Holy Wave consistently puts on great psych rock shows, and October 31, at Far Out Lounge was no exception. Their latest, I’m DADA out earlier this year on Suicide Squeeze Records is a revelation. This may sound odd, but it’s the least psych rock record the group has put out. The recording is exceptional and of course contains elements of the neo-psych sound the band is known for but the material pushes those sonic boundaries further than the band has previously. The result is pure gold for music listeners.

Protomartyr, the Detroit rock outfit consisting of Joe Casey (vocals), Rob Ahee (guitar), Alex Leonard(drums), Scott Davidson (bass and current touring guitarist/keyboardist), served as the perfect band to directly support  The Jesus and Mary Chain.
With a beautifully-blended art-garage-punk sound and stage presence, and many crossover fans, the quintet put on a sonic and visual spectacle, dazzling the costume-adorned crowd. The band adhered to a blend of their recognizable hits, and numbers from their latest LP release, and one of the years finest, Hotel Usona.   

After an entertaining costume contest, Scottish rock legends, The Jesus and Mary Chain, headlined the evening festivities.  Playing an important role in the lives of so many alternative rock fans for so long, their following remains fiercely committed. The palpable energy resonated throughout the crowded outdoor venue was apparent.

Jim Reid (lead vocals and guitar) leaned into the mic throughout the catchy, melodic set. The band’s signature feedback-driven  instrumentation was conducted by Jim’s sibling Wiliam Reid (lead guitar and backing vocals) along with Scott Von Ryper (bass), Justin Welch (drums), and Mark Crozer (guitar and bass). JAMC put on a performance that will be fondly remembered by every fan in attendance of the 2026 Halloween show at The Far Out Lounge and Stage.

The Jesus and Mary Chain Setlist:

Jamcod
April Skies
Happy When It Rains
All Things Must Pass
UV Ray
Some Candy Talking
Cracking Up
Head On
Halfway To Crazy
In A Hole
Sometimes Always
Darklands
Just Like Honey
Blues From A Gun
I Hate Rock ’n’ Roll
Reverence

The Far Out Lounge has not only become an Austin Halloween staple, but a live-music attraction for the Cap City.  Many of the patrons in attendance travelled from outside Austin and in some cases, outside the state to attend the South Austin venue’s spooktacular showcase. Their efforts were well worth it in our estimation.

All photos by Troy Gonzales

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