Encore?

M-W online defines the word encore as "a demand for repetition or reappearance made by an audience."  Sounds to me like the owners of the new Austin music venue, Encore (611 Red River St), missed the mark when they were naming their new bar.  I ventured out to the locale for the first time last Friday, and I can tell you, there will be no demand for repetition coming from me...and you can count me out for reappearance at this venue.

I bought VIP tickets for the Simple Massive Release - to check out one of my new favorite bands - The Rocketboys.  I should have known something was slightly off when the bartender working the VIP bar was pouring our free beer with 1/2 glass full of head (too much pump, not enough pour from that keg).  I was willing to overlook that - the beer was "free" with the extra $15 spent on VIP tix - and the bartender was a sweetie, so we can move on to the real issue.  About 3 songs into the Rocketboys' set, the power on the speakers went out, thus interrupting the show for at least 30 minutes (we left after 30 minutes because my fiance had to work the following morning, and there didn't appear to be much progress on the speaker situation).

Although I was super disappointed in this lame ass venue, what little I did hear from the Rocketboys was great.  Lucky for me, these guys are located in Austin now, so odds are in my favor that I'll have an opportunity to see them again.  If you haven't checked out their music yet, it's a must have album for 2010.  "Like Ice In Water" is currently my favorite.  If you are a member to Paste digital downloads, you can get a copy of their album for free.  If not, check it here: 20,000 Ghosts

With that, I'm signing off.