The music was so heavy it squeezed all of the whimsy out of my frolic.

Warm light photos for those who hate lights that are greater than 5000 kelvin

photo of one of the bass players (they have two) from swiss.

pic of the skratz bass player smoking a dart, a slang term for ‘cigarrete’.

pic of skratz vocalist screaming into the mic and striking an expressive pose.

same things as before, but a different pose.

pic of skratz guitarist/keyboarding playing on a midi keybaord.

pic of skratz vocalist screaming into the void and the void screams back.

pic of skratz bassist and keyboardist/guitarist.

pic of bone leech front man on the floor in a dramatic pose. bro is fighting for his life.

noisy pic of throatpiss vocalist being a menace.

cool silhouette of an anonymous crowd member idk who.

---

Enter the diy venue. There is definitely asbestos in the walls. I asked one of the bands if they knew where the toilet was when I arrived. They replied “there isn’t one.” Another replied “the world is your toilet” or something like that. I ended up taking a leak in a bush when it was pitch black out. I was scarred absolutely stiff because I was afraid someone was going to find me. There were holes in the dry wall surrounding the stage. Likely from rowdy pit people, angered Kyles, the bands, gun shots & shotguns blasts, a sledge hammer, or possibly a combination of any of those things. An hour in I was drenched in my sweat and the sweat of several others. One of the band members opened a window and let winter in. Although that was short lived much like a Texas “fall”. The crowd was unruley, energetic and visceral. They were infected by the energy of each performing band. It spread like a cancer, self replicating and growing more and more vicious with each act.

Some might think that this kind of environment is “unappealing”. Yeah I suppose those people can have their opinions, but I can assure you that all of this is very intentional. The people that own the place, who booked the bands, and set up the venue very much want things to be this way from now and until the end of time. This is what the community enjoys. All parties involved live and breathe DIY. They create their own spaces, platform their own bands, build community from nothing, and make the most of what they already have. There is something truly magical about it all. It’s very raw. It’s important.

The record companies and the fascist apologist pop artists/“indie” artist would love nothing more than to sell this kind of experience, but they can’t and they won’t. They are not capable of it. They would charge 1000 times more and you would only have a fraction of the fun if you’re lucky. Meanwhile shows like these cost a fraction of a fraction of an ACL ticket and you’ll have the time of your life on a random Sunday in the middle of a Texas August.

Support your local DIY venue. Come as you are. Be kind, respectful and authentic and you will be welcomed into a community with the most talented, interesting and real people you will ever meet.

Oh yeah, and the bands

I could talk about them, but you should really just go listen to them.

Swiss

• insta: @swissband
• stream: bandcamp

Skratz

• insta: @skratzband
• stream: bandcamp

Bone Leech

• insta: @bone.leech
• stream: bandcamp

Throat Piss

• insta: @throatpiss
• stream: bandcamp