Bright Light Social Hour is poised to bring their signature sound to X Games Austin 2015 (Credit: Jim Wall via Flickr CC)
BMX and half pipes. Roaring super trucks and speeding motorcycles. Skateboarders flipping double grabs and 360’s against the Austin skyline. Entering its second year at Circuit of the Americas, X Games Austin brings the best of extreme sports to local fans and visitors to our city.
But X Games isn’t all flips and tricks. It’s actually become one of the best music events of the year. While big names like Metallica and Nicki Minaj have been grabbing headlines, KUTX is showcasing some of the best local talent Austin has to offer.
Here’s your complete list of ATX bands and acts set to rock X Games Austin this year.
Note: All Austin bands are playing the Sound Factory Stage. Each band has a YouTube link so you can check out their sound. Some music may be NSFW.
FRIDAY / June 5, 2015
A Giant Dog is ready to rock X Games 2015 (Credit: Steven Michael Rudd)
A Giant Dog – 11:30
This female fronted ATX favorite opens X Games Music with their energetic take on guitar driven garage rock. With a searing sound and big sing along lyrics, A Giant Dog is the perfect start to a music filled weekend.
Recommended Tracks: “Chatterteeth,” “The Grand,” “Cowboy”
Phranchyze – 12:30
Representing ATX hip hop can be a daunting task, but South Austin based rapper Phranchyze promises to spit fire on the Sound Factory Stage. Chilled out production with honest, introspective lyrics.
Recommended Tracks: “Oreo,” “Middle Men,” “Snotnose”
Sip Sip – 1:30
A multi-instrumental blend of 80’s synth and mid 90’s ska horn lines, Sip Sip’s sound is big, fun and varied. Throw in the occasional verse from MC’s Cap’N Kirk and HBZ and you have a rollicking X Games party.
Recommended Tracks: “Check This Sh*t Out,” “I Don’t Wanna Die in Texas,” “Continental Breakfast,” “Cold Sore Wars”
Golden Dawn Arkestra – 2:30
Ahhh, how to describe Golden Dawn Arkestra. Take the jazz fusion compositions of Chuck Mangione, mash it up in afro-cuban rhythms and give it an extraterrestrial backstory. That’ll get you halfway there. Impossibly imaginative and multi-layered.
Recommended Tracks: “Masakayil,” “Dimensions,” “Osaka”
Bright Light Social Hour – 3:30
ATX legend Bright Light Social Hour close out the Austin-centric portion of Friday’s X Games with their brand of trippy, psyche-pop. Melding catchy hooks, danceable arrangements and lead singer Jack O’Brien’s soulful yet expressive vocals, Bright Light Social Hour is an electric addition to Friday’s already awesome lineup.
Recommended Tracks: “Infinite Cities,” “Back And Forth,” “Detroit”
The Digital Wild is a must watch band at this year’s X Games Austin
SATURDAY, June 6, 2015
Residual Kid – 11:30
Relative newbies to the Austin music scene, these grunge influenced teenagers kick Saturday off in style. Full of youthful aggression distilled into tight song structures, these middle school phenoms have a sound that goes beyond their years. Plus they skateboard. How perfect is that?
Recommended Tracks: “Faces,” “Friend”
Zeale’s thoughtful rhymes and killer flow will be a welcome addition to X Games 2015 (Credit: Zeale)
The Digital Wild – 12:30
Sultry, seductive and beautifully hypnotizing, these ATX upstarts have quickly made a name for themselves thanks to their spine tingling blend of new jack soul, airy electronica and straight forward indie pop. One of my favorite artists playing this weekend, they are not to be missed.
Recommended Tracks: “Riskin’,” “Mirrors,” “Just Like You”
Zeale – 1:30
With a lightning sharp delivery and dense lyrics, Zeale layers his lines over soaring, rock inspired back tracks. Reminiscent of Linkin Park rhymes with an Imagine Dragons thunder, this ATX hip hop original is guaranteed to impress X Games Austin.
Recommended Tracks: “Invisible Prisons,” “Spin”
Walker Lukens – 2:30
With a sound that varies from 70’s style Zeppelin riffs to Motown inspired soul to guitar ticking folk, Walker Lukens defies classification. What binds his tunes together is an expert sense of musicianship and songwriting that makes every song seem at home with the other.
Recommended Tracks: “Every Night,” “The Night I Was Kissed by Patti Smith,” “Drunk Logic”
Ume – 3:30
Scorching yet hauntingly beautiful, Ume is the headliner appetizer that should be a main course. Fueled by driving drum beats and propelled by front woman Lauren Larson’s punky yet pretty vocals, Ume’s hard rock sound is the perfect backdrop to the X Games action.
Recommended Tracks: “Run Wild,” “Rubicon,” “Barricade”
Ume’s driving, powerful music will rock the socks off the Sound Factory Stage (Credit: BB Gun Press)
SUNDAY, June 7, 2015
Flesh Lights – 12:30
Pumping out high fi garage rock, Flesh Lights harkens back to the days of 80’s punk with deceptively simple arrangements delivered with high adrenaline. Fits right in with BMX bikes on the half pipe and skateboard tricks.
Recommended Tracks: “I’m a Monk,” “I Am Romance,” “Crush on You”
Residual Kid’s explosive energy will blow the doors off the Sound Factory Stage (Credit: Residual Kid)
The Blind Pets – 1:30
So long as bands like The Blind Pets exist, hard driving rock and roll will never die. Featuring big drums, crunchy guitars and Joshua Logan’s in your face vocals, these ATX rockers will bring their signature edge and swagger to the Sound Factory stage.
Recommended Tracks: “Arizona Warning,” “Fever,” “Smashed”
The Happen-Ins – 2:30
Funky and loose with a killer vibe, The Happen-Ins run the gambit from R&B soul to pop-rock during the course of their two albums. Regardless of the style, expect a heaping helping of good times during their X Games set.
Recommended Tracks: “Let You Go,” “Die,” “Ruby Red Lips,” “Be Yer Fool”
A. Sinclair – 3:30
Recently divorced from his old band, Frank Smith, singer/songwriter A. Sinclair is back in the saddle with his exceptionally well crafted brand of drive focused indie rock. Layered, dramatic ear candy, Sinclair’s latest effort will be the perfect end to a weekend of bikes, boards and extreme sports mayhem.
Recommended Tracks: “How Many Ways,” “Shiny Things,” “Pretty Girls in Pretty Tights”
X Games 2015 is taking place from June 5-7, 2015 at Circuit of the Americas. Tickets can be purchased here.
@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:
Who are you looking forward to seeing at X Games?
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