Happy music is a good thing, really.
From the Dallas-based Gazelles to Brownsville natives The Citys, the bands at the “Goodbar Strikes Back!” show at McAllen’s Creative Incubator seem to endorse that philosophy. In a world filled with commercialism and aggressive, angst-ridden tunes, these bands present alternatives. Music can be fun, and you should have fun listening to it.
“We always say that we have a good time, that we make fun, happy, sunshine indie music,” said Adam Bertholdi, lead vocalist and founder of Gazelles. “My job is to get people to come out, and tell them, ‘Hey, this is a good time.’ (At shows) we catch people dancing to our music, and it’s really cool.”
Gazelles, which herald from Dallas, is one of two acts on the show’s roster not from the Rio Grande Valley (the other is Dear Panda, a one-man project out of Austin). According to Bertholdi — whose line-up includes Rachel Wilkinson on keyboard, Jason Faries on drums and Ronald Giehart on bass — his band is still in a stage of growth, having morphed from a solo endeavor to a quartet with big goals. The music they play has also changed as Bertholdi has gotten older, from angsty teenage tunes to natural indie pop.
“I’m pretty content with saying I’m kind of a mama’s boy,” Bertholdi said. “I’m a sensitive guy out there playing music. You know, growing up on pop punk and punk rock and then getting into the indie thing, the music would be so focused on some issues. As a teenager growing up, it was all about girls, but nowadays it’s not that. It’s not so much about me any more. It’s about everything, life as a whole.”
Spontaneous and simple seems to be key adjectives for Gazelles and the other bands scheduled to appear. The Brownsville-based The Citys have been together since July 2006, said bassist Raul Altamirano, and their song-writing process has remained straightforward.
“The easiest way to describe it is, whenever we write music, we try to keep it as natural as possible,” he said. “We never push to write anything that sounds like The Citys, we never go into a practice thinking that. We always let it come to us. If anything, it’s real natural.”
Patrons to today’s concert can expect a good show, the bands said: local favorites The December Drive will grace the stage along with newer alt-pop bands Apple in the Tree and Young Maths.
McAllen is a good scene for young groups, Bertholdi said, with enthusiastic concert attendees.
“McAllen always shows us a good time,” he said. “With all the food and all the culture, we like visiting.”
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Goodbar Strikes Back! Show
Featuring: Gazelles, Dear Panda, The December Drive, The Citys, Apple in the Tree and The Young Maths
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, May 25
WHERE: The McAllen Creative Incubator, 1001 S. 16th St., McAllen
COST: $5 at the door
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Kate Lohnes covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4427. For this and other local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.
