A frigid, rainy Saturday night didn’t deter a line around the block from wanting to glimpse the original lineup of Austin hardcore powerhouses Krum Bums months after their most recent lineup morphed into Starving Wolves. Max capacity reached early meant “one in, one out,” so many of the huddled masses outside missed veteran ATX punk favorites the Bulemics, advancing a forthcoming LP. Eastside Suicides, meanwhile, rocked New York Dolls-drenched rock & roll with a sneer, swagger, and power chords. The Krum Bums then destroyed. The original Dave Tejas, Tommy G, Javier Vigilante, Justin Hall, and Traedog lineup raged their ever-potent brew: rampaging drums, melodic lead guitar surfing thick and furious, and Tejas giving himself a tonsillectomy every second his mouth opened. Early anthems like “Sometimes” had the crowd frothing like they’d been thrown raw meat. By the time Tejas announced “We are Krum Bums!” they prompted more stage invasions per second than was likely lawful, the singer riding a huge bruiser’s shoulders while losing the mic somewhere in the pit. Ringing ears? Check. Bruised knees and elbows? Very tender. This is Austin hardcore.
Krum Bums, Eastside Suicides
Sidewinder, Jan. 2This article appears in January 8 • 2016.
