Though arguments could certainly be made elsewhere, (lookin’ at you Mexican food and greenbelt) we music-lovers know that what truly gives Austin its magic is its never-ending supply of spectacular, local music. Acts like Spoon, Shakey Graves, Iron and Wine, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Janis Joplin and countless others got their starts in our little big town. That’s why it’s so important to keep a finger on the pulse of rising bands in Austin – after all, who knows where they could end up someday?
With that being said, allow me to introduce you to Mohawk Bends – an Austin-based alternative indie rock band, formed earlier this year, that’s already sending waves through the live music scene with their swaggering surf-rock vibes. I stopped by their first real gig at Stubb’s last Thursday and was blown away by their confidence on stage and flawless organization, their energy translating to an amped and dancing crowd. The group opened with their debut single, “Plaster Cast,” before seguing into a six-song set, with front man Chris Michael interacting comfortably with the crowd between songs as other members tuned and readjusted, clearly a ritual the group had practiced a thousand times. If you didn’t know this was their first show, there’s no way you could tell just by looking.
When I asked Mohawk Bends about their inception, drummer Alex La Fuente shared that the guys were “already friends through the music scene, and kind of talked about it before, and one day it just became a reality.” “Right after the [2018] New Year, we got in a room and… walked out with a couple of songs and said ‘okay we’re onto something with this,’” added front man Chris Michael. The guys also shared with me their secret to such a confident stage presence, attributing it to the chemistry between them. “We connected from day one,” said bassist Jonathan More, with Michael agreeing that it was an “immediate thing” and is “sometimes hard to believe it’s only been six or seven months.” Same here.
Their sound, first and foremost, is fun, youthful, fresh and genuine – full of unexpected guitar harmonies, fearless vocal styles and an authentic, unpretentious approach to the difficult genre. Greatly appreciated by the crowd was the band’s smart utilization of mounting tension during verses, which allowed for moments of big, harmonious release that brought undeniable energy to the room. Perhaps most refreshing was seeing a young band that loves what they’re doing and are playing for themselves as much as, if not more than, the crowd – with the guys having such a ball on stage, at times it felt more like a jam session we all were peeking in on, rather than a first gig that needed to impress.
The group will be curating a full-length album over the next week and hope to release more music to streaming platforms sometime in the Fall of this year.
Until then, watch them perform their debut single “Plaster Cast” below:
Congratulations to Mohawk Bends for nailing your first show, this Austin music-lover knows you’re destined for greatness and can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.
