About this Event
Pulling together bar band swagger, honky-tonk stomp, and pop-rock smarts and vigor, Big State barnstormed the alternative country-rock scene in Austin in the beginning of 2016. The band immediately caught on at multiple venues as they quickly built a fanbase with their unique blend of Roots Rock, Alt-Country Americana and sweaty, high-octane sets. Within only 2 months the band was asked, and played, an Austin "music week" (SX) showcase. Big State is known for their good time, high energy shows, and their fan favorite song, Heck Yeah, Dang Right, never fails to bring the house down.
On June 9, 2017 Big State released their first full length album, Sure Thing. The 13 song album combined new songs as well as remixed and remastered songs from two EPs the band recorded in 2016, and found the band hitting their stride, as gated and chaotic as that stride may be. Sure Thing quickly found acceptance, receiving airplay on over 80 radio stations in the US, Canada, and Europe and hitting #131 on the AMA Americana chart as of the June 12 and #24 on the Roots Music Report Americana Top 50. The album also was named one on the top 100 Roots Rock albums of that year by Roots Music Report.
In September, 2018, Big State released their sophomore effort, "The Stuff of Legends", and found even broader acceptance. Again, the album received play on over 80 radio stations with similar charting success as their freshman album. What was different was pushing out to new countries (12 total), continents (Australia in addition to North America and Europe), as well as new, larger stations. In fact, the first play off the album actually coming from the legendary Whispering Bob Harris (The Old Grey Whistle Test television show) on Bob Harris Country on BBC radio
Finally re-emerging from the covid years, Big State set out the record and release a new album in 2023. In February of 23, Big State spent several days in studio at the legendary F.A.M.E recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. With 6 songs in the can and 6 more scheduled to record in July of 23, Big State is releasing a single from that first session in June of 23.
With a tip of the cap to their influencers such as Uncle Tupelo, Old 97's, and Slobberbone, Big State's songs are irreverent and entertaining, blending the biographical and pure fiction, and drawing from that story-telling gene that's inherently built into a Texan. The haywire result that is growing up and being a musician in Austin is evident, as the music is equal parts Willie and The Clash, that always present intersection of Country and Punk/Rock that exists in the Live Music Capital of the World.
Heck Yeah, Dang Right!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Saxon Pub 2023, 1320 S Lamar, Austin, United States
USD 10.00