Only Beast * A Sundae Drive * Levees *Devil Killing Month

Rudyard’s presents Only Beast * A Sundae Drive * Levees *Devil Killing Month.

Only Beast (pictured, Houston, TX)
http://www.facebook.com/OnlyBeast

Sometimes people say things about Only Beast. Here are some of those things:

“Of course, one of the more impressive three pieces in Houston, Only Beast will bring their Sleater Kinney meets Yeah Yeah Yeahs sound to the show after Kirby. If you haven’t seen Only Beast, I’d seriously suggest catching them, as they have such a magnetic energy, that you’re mesmerized by their stage presence. Their singer Danielle Renèe might be one of the strongest vocalists in Houston that you’ll hear in a long time.” – David Garrick, Free Press Houston

“Houston’s Only Beast are a fascinating band, combining elements of post-punk, progressive rock, and goth rock into a sound all their own, with vocalist Danielle Renee wailing atop the mélange like a 21st century Siouxsie Sioux.” – Kelly Minnis, 979 Represent

“Only Beast has a great sound and are true professionals. This makes them a credit to Houston rock and any lineup they are on.” – Debrah Skelton, Red Publication

“I stumbled across Only Beast simply because of their name and instantly became enamored of their dynamic and incredible front woman Danielle Renee, and the sheer raw power of the rock and roll that comes pouring out of her throat. Let’s turn our attention now to another key ingredient […] drummer John Salinas. The man is like some sort of ordered chaos who beats up and down the sides of songs in a whirlwind of rhythm that always feels like its on the verge of falling apart, the way a death-defying trapeze act does. It never falls, though.” – Jef With One F, Houston Press

“Only Beast – friends have raved about ‘em for a while now […] their blues-tinged prog-rock is pretty damn mesmerizing, especially with frontwoman Danielle on the mic. Definitely going to have to hear more …” – Jeremy Hart, Space City Rock

“An explosive mix of stripped-down, no nonsense punk, melodic rock, and blues. Their live performances are sure to melt your face off, make your ears bleed, and give your musical soul the nitrous-oxide high it was looking for.”- Nathan Hudgins

“Anti-matter in leprous hands. They will summon demons and use them as coffee tables to prop their feet on.”- Stephan B. Wyatt

A Sundae Drive (Houston, TX)
http://www.facebook.com/asundaedrivemusic

For most of the band’s debut EP, You’re Gonna Get Me, it feels like A Sundae Drive just rolls hazily along, serene smiles across the band members’ faces as the music unwinds itself to whatever its eventual destination’s going to be. They nod and sway like they’ve done it forever, but they’re not dreampop (or shoegaze, or whatever you want to call it), not exactly, but they’ve taken pieces of that sound and made ‘em their own.

Take the driving bass at the start of “…And See the World,” for one example — it bumps its way speedily through, Britpop-style, but over the top there’re wavery, watery guitars that bring to mind Teenage Fanclub (or maybe Surfer Blood), as well as some sweetly drifting harmony vocals.

On the other end of the spectrum, “I’m a Poster” is right-angled and math-y, with defiant, J. Robbins-like vocals, spiraling guitars, and a jagged, almost stop-start structure. And despite the differences, it all sounds like the same band, which is no mean feat in itself. Then there’s “Buenos Aires, Manny Pacquiao,” a soft-voiced look backwards at childhood that makes me think of Austinites Meryll more than anything else; both bands craft songs that are intensely personal and reference events that happened when the singer was a kid but still feel utterly relevant to the listener, right here in the present. There’s also a resemblance to Copeland’s gently-rocking post-emo pop, both on “Buenos Aires” or on the steadily-building “So Sleep.”

What’s really interesting about the EP, though, is that A Sundae Drive sound like a pop band that doesn’t really realize it is a pop band. They’ve got all the indie-rock influences poking out from beneath their sleeves, sure, and it’s obvious they love a lot of sharper-edged stuff — the Pixies-esque guitar drone in the background on “Alone Bad, Friends Good” gives that away, not to mention that nice “walking” melody — but the actual songs they’re writing are warm and fuzzy ’round the edges, nodding in a friendly way when you walk in the door.

At the EP’s end, when the band turns down for the up-close, slow-stepping rumble of “I’m Gonna Miss You Like Crazy,” with the droney, half-distorted, Seam-like guitar line and frontman Zeek Garcia’s deliberate, quiet vocals whispering in my ear, it hits me: I really, really like this band. A Sundae Drive don’t need to bash you over the head with how good they are; they’d much rather stand in the corner, plug in, and play until your brain catches up to what your ears already know. – Space City Rock

Levees (San Antonio, TX)
http://leveesband.com/

“Levees is certainly a well-executed, professional-sounding record. It’s also an exceptional live band. Tight and dramatic.” -SA Current

“Levees’ music begs that dark part of the listener’s soul to come out and play… in the best way possible.” -Do210

Transported from the swamps of New Orleans to the deserts of San Antonio, Levees is a band grown from the creative landscape of brothers Kyle and Kody Anderson. These brothers have been sonically journeying together ever since they picked up their first guitars, and now their music draws inspiration from the two worlds they have lived in, combining the dark, ghostly blues of Louisiana with the southwestern spirit of Texas, making music that calls to mind a cross between the White Stripes and The Doors.

Kyle and Kody’s guitar work is enlivened by the driving drums of San Antonio native Skyler Ellis, a veteran of the local music scene, and the smooth bass work of Jeff Palacios. Although Levees is first and foremost a rock and roll band, the group draws its inspiration from an array of musicians spanning decades of time, hoping to combine their various influences into a unique sound that is both accessible and boundary-breaking.

Devil Killing Moth (Houston, TX)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Devil-Killing-Moth/327724827780

Based out of Houston, Texas, DKM is a 5-piece band that bring its own flare in the eclectic Houston music scene. From various backgrounds and upbringing, the collaboration of these guys have always put a stop on finding the best way to describe their sound. Listen to a couple of their songs from the last album “Once I Used to Dream” and see if you can pinpoint the sound. But whether there is a genre for DKM or not, its music still resounds in genuine message of believing that everyone is capable of great things.