Austinist Show Preview: Rocky Votolato @ Stubb's
No one whips up a tear-jerking, emotionally-stirring acoustic song quite like Rocky Votolato. Whether he’s grieving in a melodic whisper or belting out a gruff, Americana chorus, Votolato always shoots his arrows swift and straight, landing with a ‘thud’ just to the left of your sternum. So, make sure and wear your armor to Stubb's Saturday night.
It’s a skill the Seattle-based musician developed through his decade-long stint as frontman for the indie group Waxwing and was further honed in his numerous solo albums. The release this year of his fifth solo full-length, The Brag & Cuss, finds Votolato making a musical shift away from the dynamic of last year’s Makers, his first CD for Barsuk. His vocals and songwriting are still tender and catchy, however, the newer tunes are with a full band instead of just him slumped over an acoustic guitar and exposed. Also, The Brag & Cuss features more of an alt-country sound than previous material. These days it seems that he’s traded in most of his indie/folk melodies, plucks and hard strums for ramblin’ twang, organ and even more harmonica. That being said, the banjo and heavy-hearted vocals on the Western track “Postcard from Kentucky” are highly addictive and mood-altering.
Follow the jump for more details and a chance to win tickets!
Rocky Votolato w/ The Great Depression, Portugal. The Man
Saturday, October 20th
Stubb's, Inside Stage [map]
Doors @ 9pm, Tix $10 advance, $12 DOS
This contest is closed - thanks for reading!
The Great Depression is an acoustic duo with rich, folky Americana harmonies and dusty and downtrodden, whiskey-soaked tunes. From the icy, desolate lands of Alaska comes Portugal. The Man, and in this lineup, they don’t quite fit the mold. Although, trying to make their quirky, artsy, indie-prog-whatever rock sound with high-pitched vocals fit snugly in a genre would be like blindfolding a two-year-old and handing he or she one of those shape puzzles to do. The result is a lot of bent angles and frustration. But, that also makes them a great add to any show. Who wants to stand there and watch opening acts that sound like a poor man's version of the headliner?
Rocky Votolato Official
Rocky Votolato MySpace
The Great Depression MySpace
Portugal. The Man MySpace
