Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2007 > September > 14 > Entry
ACL: Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys/Sound & the Jury winners
I have seen the future of rock ‘n’ roll and, sorry Bruce Springsteen, it ain’t any longer you. Rather, it’s Brandon Kinder, the young lead singer of Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys, who took the Dell stage first thing this morning. Kinder managed the neat trick of plugging both the band’s forthcoming EP and their My Space page in the same sentence, before the band plunged into “Heartbeat.”
The six-piece band from Abilene were the ultimate winners — from among 600 entrants— of the “Sound and the Jury” talent search. Entrants could be “judged by a jury of fans, critics, wannabes, cousins, dogs…” according to an ACL press release. The six finalists competed onstage at Antone’s Wednesday night and the Rocketboys emerged triumphant, winning the chance to play for thousands, or at least two or three hundred, festival early birds.
Before going on, the band members stressed how important a strong online presence and a dedicated, wired-in fan base were to young bands everywhere. “I don’t think either one can replace the other,” said Kinder of touring vs. virtual promotion, “It’s so easy to make music on your own now, so live shows are what makes a band legit…”
That said, the Rocketboys made a strong showing, with original titles like “Secrets and Numbers,” “Old Dahlonega” and “Everything Ascending.” A locked-down rhythm section complemented a chiming twin-guitar attack, with harmony vocals, piano and even a tiny xylaphone for texture.
The contest, which was also sponsored by Dell, enabled the band to court a whole new segment of fans. “I just want the intensity that we put into our music to be conveyed,” one said. “What we look for is the connection to the audience. We care about our music and we want the audience to have the same good experience.”
(photo by Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
Follow Austin Music Source on Facebook and Twitter.
Permalink | | Categories: ACL Festival
