STEPH DEROSA: TONS OF MUSIC, MISS MY FRIENDS >>>

The floor was just as hard as it was last night to sleep on, but the music here in Austin is worth every weary bone.

I headed out today ready to stroll around 6th Street and sweat away the 92 degree day.  I’ve mastered the bus system, and know exactly where to hop off and start my day.  The first person I run into is Eddie Spaghetti at the Cedar Door.  He has the crowd singing and flipping him off.  What a great performance by a great guy.

Eventually I find myself drawn toward the sound of the Bleedin’ Bleedins playing in the Friends Bar.  Berklee College of Music is hosting this venue, and all of the artists are either alumni or students.  Bleedin’ Bleedins happens to be the staff members of Berklee, and this makes me admire their charm that much more.  The fun they are having on stage makes it fun to watch.  As every performance should be, right?

Madi Diaz steps up on stage next, a Berklee alumni.  Who can resist a girl with a banjo?

I stumble into Spill where I catch Cochino, a rock band with a very small hint of old school punk.  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but parts of their sound are reminiscent of The Cure.  I’d like for someone else to listen and tell me what it is I hear because it’s killing me.

Kirkland is tearin’ up the stage at the Dizzy Rooster, and the crowd loves it. I really enjoyed their sound, and their stage presence.  This is one of those kind of bands my friends and I were talking about where you hear them first live, you really like them, but you are afraid their studio CD will not do them justice.  So you don’t buy it.

I know I’ve said it before: Live music is the tell-all as to whether a band truly has talent. 

As you walk by Agave, you have to pass through the crowd of people on the street gathered to hear Rocket, an all-girl punk band.  The stage is located next to open windows, and the lead singer is toying with the crowd, both inside and outside of the venue.  I step in to take more pics and she totally poses for me.  I love it.  And I love this band. Yay girl-punk!

All of this is terrible fun, yet it makes me miss my friends at home, and makes me really wish they were here.  KAke and BanditoBetty would be the best partners in crime right now.  Also, its Bandito’s birthday today â€" Happy Birthday, lady!