In the backyard of an unassuming house just off UTSA Blvd, an unconventional music venue comes to life. This past Friday marks the fourth show hosted by Musicians of Business this semester. With a dirt dance floor and a tiny porch as a stage, they have fostered a reputation for putting on an unbelievable show. With five vendors selling a breadth of items from keychains and bumper stickers to char-grilled hotdogs plus a great lineup of local bands, this weekend’s show promises to be a standout.
The indie-folk band, Orca, opens the evening, warming up the crowd with their smooth pop style. The band plays songs from their debut album, “Sirens,” as well as their recently released single, “Rumors.” While they are a fairly new band, their performance shows the maturity of a seasoned group.
The second band to take the limelight was betweenmeandthebirds, a current staple for MOB shows, having played at three out of four shows hosted this fall. This alt-rock group punches way above their weight class, outputting a sound many in the scene would, and should, envy.
Beware of Dog, the host of the evening follows with tight performances from each band member. Their performance alternates between traditional shoegaze and a hardcore-influenced sound, with each song sounding fresh. Normally, up-tempo songs of theirs like “IDC” would whip the crowd up into a frenzy, but tonight it would take a little more than that.
To close the night, Vintage Pictures takes the stage, and immediately there is something different. A self-described “melting pot of sounds,” Vintage Pictures mixes pop-punk with Latin rock to create a distinctive sound. The crowd becomes energized as the lead guitarist launches the band into their first song, “Bandito” with a Latin-inspired solo. Pretty soon people start moshing and dancing enjoying the impressive show Vintage Pictures put on. As they reach the end of their set, the crowd erupts in cries for an “ENCORE.” The band relents and plays two more songs with the last culminating in a crowd-wide conga line.
As the show wound down, people mill about the vendors making last-minute purchases and socializing with new and old friends. Yet another successful MOB show in the books, showcasing incredible bands and bringing an incredible atmosphere makes this one of the most interesting and exciting places to see local music near campus.
