Austin has seen its share of promising musicians, and our first weekend of semifinal shows really showcased some of the finest! Friday night started off slow as far as attendance, but without question the music was hot! Andy MacIntyre & Primal Groove fired things off with authority. The slick, soulful blues rock they gave us was smokin’. The guitar and vocals played a game of cat and mouse, and the bass and drums dug a groove so deep you can sleep in it. The Clay Jeffrey Band kept the groove rolling with some seriously talented acoustic work. The set swung from sultry blues to awe-inspiring ballads, and Clay kept it all together with a good sense of humor and an outstanding backing band. Our third band of the night, Label Me This, livened things up with an energetic rock ‘n’ roll set. The sounds were full of hooks and the steadily increasing crowd at The Parish got on their feet and into the rock show. Two Timin’ Three… er, Two Timin’ Four now… They’ve grown exponentially since the first show, and the new sound with the addition of a drummer and electric guitars really sets them apart. The sound was solid rockabilly with a flash of early rock. Their style and stage presence was right in time with the sound, taking the crowd on a trip back to the early era of rock before it was adulterated by psychedelic drugs and free love… but I digress. Oh, my gentle Jesus… Bus Stop Stallions really stepped up to the plate tonight (it helps when the whole fucking band is in town)! The stage presence from the lead vocalist was unmatched so far tonight, and the horns sailed over the band like a big brass eagle. The keys were exceptional, and the band was outstanding. Great set of funky, happy, soulful music. Soul is back in a big way with these guys leading the charge! RX Family closed the night in style, throwing down some solid rap with full backing from an outstanding band. The beats were tight, the vocals were on point, and the sax added just the right amount of spice to make it tasty. Definitely a tight band! Emergenza vets acaseofmondays started things off with a bang, hitting an eclectic rock apex. The vocals were solid and they grabbed the crowd off the bat and held on for twenty-five minutes. The stage presence from the band was great! In Another Life followed, with a powerful set of original hard rock. This three-piece filled the stage and the room with a solid sound! Despite the Loss rocked the house with great energy and a powerful performance. The singer took us from crazy screams to melodic interjections that rounded out the band’s sound perfectly. Solid set from a tight band! Foolhardy took the stage next, and in spite of their drummer leaving the stage halfway through the night, they played an outstanding set of original music. The Illustrated Band took the stage next, putting up a great show with a three piece acoustic set with the upright bass, acoustic guitar and keys. These guys are outstanding; check out the CD for more incredible music! Haydn Vitera tore things up next, with a solid set of original Texas rock. The lead electric violin was superb, and the band definitely made their mark on the crowd at The Parish! Turbo Thunder Lizards tore things up next with an outstanding set of original hard-rock. This set was full of surprises, but kept the crowd at The Parish entertained to the umpteenth degree! Excellent job! Kinetik tore things up and ended the night on a rock-solid note! The set was stellar, full of highs and lows taking us on a ride through rock’s best. They definitely tore it up! I can’t wait for next week’s bands to finish out the semi-final round. Get your rockin’ selves down to The Parish May 3-5. See you there!