You’d be surprised by how much music is in Corpus Christi. Don’t think there is? I attended a Sept. 23 concert at Studio B that can prove you wrong.
I spent that evening at a show that had a whopping six bands perform at the small venue. These bands came from all over Texas, and sported a wide variety of sounds. Let me tell you about who I saw.
UNDONE
Hailing from Corpus, only one of two bands on the bill from this city, Undone is a five-piece band that has undergone an evolution.
I’ve had the pleasure of being in concerts they’ve played, and in that time Undone was a ‘90s pop-punk/alternative rock cover band. After this set, I can very confidently say that is not who they are anymore.
Undone has evolved into a nu metal act, with lower tunings and heavy screams populating their set. I was taken aback by how well the band had taken to this sound, as I never would have guessed this direction based on what I had seen of them before.
Admittedly nu metal isn’t really a genre I listen to often, but I was really enjoying it in this set. I think it was my being able to visibly see the band’s passion, their love for the music they were now making and playing.
JARYN
Hailing from San Antonio, Jaryn is an incredibly unique two-piece project started by singer Jaryn Morales. I call them unique because they play music the likes of which I have rarely ever heard: aggrotech, an aggressive form of electronic body music, or EBM.
This genre is a product of the ‘90s German underground scene, and is best known for heavy, distorted vocals, synth-led programmed music, and dark or depressing lyrical content. Jaryn puts a spin on the genre by adding a live drummer into the mix, a factor that significantly ups the danceability of their music.
To say this duo surprised me is an understatement. These two have exposed me to a whole new dimension of music, and I can’t thank them enough for it. It’s not every day that I get to engage with a completely new form of music, so hearing these two was a very welcome change of pace.
As I mentioned before, aggrotech is notable for its aggression, and I think Jaryn definitely gnashed some teeth onstage. There’s a very interesting quality in Morales’ performance, which consists of him walking back and forth delivering very confrontational lyrics, which is combined with a near refusal to look at the crowd.
The drummer played very well-used electronic music beats, combined with the occasional metal-style breakdown or two that’s not exactly characteristic of the genre but really there’s not any one genre that I know of that fits this act well.
For any curious readers, this act has put out several songs you can listen to online, though I preferred the live experience. Admittedly, I have a feeling that watching Jaryn was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and I’m glad I got to see them. I do really hope they come back to town one day, I’d be incredibly curious to be given this experience yet again.
ROSE
Hailing from San Antonio, Rose is a four-piece shoegaze-esque group that is not afraid to lash out at the listener. If Jaryn gnashed its teeth onstage, Rose pounced on the crowd with reckless abandon.
I mainly say that because frontman Rose Mainer wasn’t onstage for the majority of the performance. Instead, Mainer was standing in the crowd, singing towards the rest of the band. There was an interesting dichotomy between Mainer’s sung and bassist Jaryn Morales’ screamed vocals that brought a very dark, gloomy mood to their music.
Rose scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. Something moody and dark, yet still filled with some sort of beating heart. Traditionally, I find that bands in this style always keep some sort of emotional distance, though I didn’t see that here. They were not afraid to be alive and feeling and show that as well.
This band was a very interesting act. For those that are interested, they have released several recordings on Spotify and Apple Music. They are definitely something worthwhile for someone who’s looking to keep some edge while needing something more downtempo.
LOVED IN RETURN
Hailing from Kingsville, Loved in Return is a melodic punk quartet that has built up an incredibly positive reputation in the Corpus scene over the last year. That is for good reason, as this band is always a worthwhile watch.
It’s been a few months since I saw them, so being able to watch them in their element again was a welcome return. The band brought numerous original songs to the table, all with a little slant away from the conventions of their genres.
Getting to hear guitarists Elijah Thamaravelil and RJ Morales’ interplay again was true music to my ears. I admire how this band breathes new life into their decades-old genres by adding a distinctly modern feel into their hardcore-esque sounds. It’s alive, it’s active, and it’s frantic.
They’ve also finally released some music! Their debut single, “Nothing Anymore,” is now on all streaming platforms. For those seeking a modern take on punk, having a more twinkly and start-stopping slant to it, you should listen to the single.
ANIMAL MOOD
The final act of the night, and the second Corpus group, Animal Mood is a four-piece garage rock/indie rock quartet with some Latin flair thrown into the mix. Vibrant and energetic, this performance marked the band’s return after a few months of absence (well, some of that time was devoted to recording more music).
Despite all the changes in sound and lineup, notably ditching the second guitarist and replacing it with a keyboardist, Animal Mood has remained as steadily energetic and wild as they were since I started watching their sets.
The danceability found in their earlier songs has been upped in their newer songs, sporting somehow more catchy melodies than they’ve had before. Frontman Jose Del Toro’s penchant for left-of-center lyrics, the artsy and flowery descriptions that sometimes aren’t super direct have remained the same and I can live with that.
There has been a very natural progression of the band’s style and sound, and I feel that was very present in their set. Different versions of their released songs were present, along with re-tooled versions of their classics and a good cover or two as well. I’m glad to see them back in their element, and that they’re on the way to releasing new music.
XOE HAZE
Hailing from Austin, Xoe Haze is a three-piece band with a very eclectic mix of shoegaze, alt-metal, and trip hop. I feel their music sits in a very odd middle ground between metal and rock, and it leans between them both on numerous occasions. It pulls in rap influences (note their use of dark synths and sampling) sometimes as well!
I found their music very interesting, as the trio provided a soundscape rarely seen in Corpus. Moody and atmospheric in equal measure, I admired the band’s no-nonsense approach to the set. They got up there, and they kept playing until it was done.
Nothing more, nothing less.
They were likely the only band of the night to have people moshing to their work. I think they brought something special to the table, especially in a set packed with so much eccentricity already. If you’re interested, I think you should check out their recordings posted on Spotify and Apple Music.
After having seen all six bands, I went home with a very interesting feeling. I had been a part of something rather spectacular, a true grab-bag of Texas musicians.
Concerts the likes of these are a rare presence in Corpus Christi, and I’m glad I came to see this one in particular.
