Where Is My Mind?

     The sixth annual Bud Light River City Rockfest returns to San Antonio’s AT&T Center grounds September 22 with a largely dull lineup, save for Nine Inch Nails and few select others. One of the most important and influential industrial bands of the late 80’s to now, Nine Inch Nails is set to headline the awfully named festival alongside bores Stone Temple Pilots and Bush, two acts well past the “beat a dead horse to life” phase who should have bowed out gracefully at the peaks of their career, or at least when key members were still alive (Pilots).   The only other acts that can possibly save this massive disappointment are Suicidal Tendencies, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Primus.          This lineup is upsetting for many reasons, mainly because Nine Inch Nails will likely play to a number of crickets. See, these types of festivals are meant to showcase an eclectic variety for many to enjoy, but when paired up with Hellyeah, Drowning Pool and Yelawolf, it’s a huge

     On the road in support of their ninth studio album Concrete and Gold, Foo Fighters brought their massively successful Concrete and Gold Tour to Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, sans interactive success and with much head scratching. Playing a bloated, near three-hour set list of excessive jams, mid-show covers and onstage banter, even bandleader Dave Grohl’s personable humor and storytelling could not save the sinking ship, which was largely in trouble four songs in, save for some key moments. The incredibly talented band, rounded out by guitarists Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear, keyboardist Rami Jaffee, bassist Nate Mendel and drummer Taylor Hawkins delivered plenty of recognizable hits along with some deep cuts, but the only shining moments were when they connected with the sold-out crowd of about 12,000 during actual song pieces that weren’t superfluous jams eating into the clock, causing the title track "Saint Cecilia" from the EP of the same name to be excluded from

     Brooklyn noise misfits A Place To Bury Strangers recently released their fifth album, Pinned , and the result is a stripped back, goth-colored, industrialized punk piece. The band, known for turning up the audio excess (insert Spinal Tap’s famous “These go to eleven” line all throughout), disassembled their sound and stayed within the bounds of 10. The outcome is a growth from the experimentation done on 2015’s Transfixiation, a quirky yet excellent effort. While listeners are still treated to short, aggressive clamor, the subtlety of Pinned ’s noise rock is compelling and fantastic. New drummer Lia Simone Braswell (formerly of Le Butcherettes) works the kit with exceptional prowess and occasionally adds rich vocal accompaniment to Oliver Ackermann’s distinct baritone and fuzzed out, swirly guitar work, lending a chilling essence to the music. Dion Lunadon’s heavily distorted melodic bass lines remain solid and drives the band’s sound into greater sonic territory with a Peter Hook

     San Antonio dark country/psychobilly band The Grim Folks have been taking the San Antonio music scene by storm, albeit in their own way. Not one to mix in with the rest, The Grim Folks deliver a fresh and exciting sound in a city obsessed with metal and Mexican regional music. It’s not to say they don’t fit the bill; simply, they aren’t the typical band you would expect to come across. That, however, is a damn good thing. At home with the punk and goth crowds, The Grim Folks play macabre songs inspired from “roots” Americana full of dark humor and superstitious folklore with an undisguised energy. They aren’t exclusive to particular crowds; they have a loose and inviting vibe anyone can enjoy.      “When it comes to writing lyrics, my influence is inspired by horror movies I watched as a kid or stories of the supernatural, “said Nathan Quintanilla, the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist. “That enticing feeling I get when seeing or hearing these things is what I try to shape i

With spring already here and summer fast approaching, the concert market will be packed with a multitude of shows for all audiences. Here is a small, immediate, and personal guide to what I think are the hot tickets before summer comes through.   Taco Fest (April 14, La Villita Historic Arts Village) The Maverick Music Festival is dead this year and its replacement is the Taco Fest, which will occupy the grounds of the vibrant La Villita. The day will be alive with over 30 taco vendors and multiple stages featuring over 20 national, regional, and local acts with hard-hitting favorites such as Pinata Protest, Girl In A Coma, and Femina-X. San Antonio loves its music and tacos, so why not partake in both at once?   The Soft Moon (April 21, Paper Tiger) Oakland darkwave band The Soft Moon brings their industrial post-punk to the small room of the Paper Tiger in support of their excellent fourth album, Criminal, and that is just the perfect intimacy needed for a band lik