South Austin Jug Band @ Last Concert Cafe

Friday, June 27 found Eggs and me at one of our favorite Houston venues, Last Concert Cafe. We walked through the restaurant and into the outdoor stage area to find the majority of the picnic tables arranged in two long lines. Rows of people neatly perched on the benches while hula hoopers took advantage of the empty space in the middle. But musical guests South Austin Jug Band were the main focus, and they adroitly fulfilled our expectations.

Continue reading after the jump

Newgrass stylings are readily available in South Austin Jug Band's repertoire, but much of their work - particularly their more recent material - draws heavily from alt/country influences. Both genres fit the band well, and they seemed to effortlessly maintain the audience's attention throughout their performance. We were especially pleased to hear their version of Beck's "Jack-Ass," which had impressed Eggs at their Wakarusa set.

Their musical prowess combined with their talented songwriting and easygoing stage manner made for a relaxing, thoroughly enjoyable night. Whether you want to unwind and absorb the scene or freak out in the sand, SUJB's music is the perfect match.

We look forward to seeing South Austin Jug Band again in the near future - and we'll post a more in-depth review of the show then, too. They've got US tour dates scheduled through the end of the summer, and they'll be appearing at ACL this year as well. Check their official website for details.

View more photos from the show at our Flickr gallery
We also have more videos on our YouTube channel

Carpe ientaculum.

--Cereal