Check it out.

Video by Troy Larson Creative with Tim Boyd and Ernest Cooper

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It’s a Friday night and you walk into Wichita Falls’ marquee hotspot for live music to hear a high-energy multi-genre band performing all the danceable shizz you love. It’s everything from covers of “Cake by the Ocean” by pop act DNCE, the classic rock “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs, Jason Aldean’s “Dust on the Bottle,” to standout original music from their debut album “In Our Own Little World.”

It’s the kind of music that has the ladies dancing in the aisles, hands waving in the air, and if you’re new to the act, you’re like, “who is this?”

The answer is Local Zero, a Wichita Falls variety band that you can catch playing the Iron Horse Pub a couple times every year, led by soulful dual lead vocalists Jason Reeder and Jennica Lambert.

We saw them last Friday at the Pub and Local Zero did not disappoint. Judging from the stage banter, Lambert in particular was feeling spicy, and the band’s outstanding ensemble that consists of guitarist Barry Faulkner, bassist Danny Craig, and drummer Erik Coronado, happily indulged her energy.

Those who’ve seen Local Zero before come out in numbers every time they play, and this occasion was a heavy turnout, too.

You might smell smoke, but rest assured the club is not on fire. It’s just Local Zero.

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Wichita Falls country rock quintet Baylor Rose played their debut as a headline act at the Iron Horse Pub last weekend, and considering the assembled talent and energetic performance, this group left no doubt they belong at the top of any bill.

Baylor Rose consists of Bryson Lawrence, Angel Perez, and Mike Hardison, all three of whom are members of Blank Labels (a band that went on hiatus after their bassist, Mackie Divine, departed for life in Europe) plus noted singer/songwriters Zack Crow and Jay Burnam. Baylor Rose is undoubtedly a Texoma supergroup of unmatched strength.

This performance included original music from each act’s catalog, including bangers from Zack Crow and “Every Time They Talk” from Jay Burnam, plus covers that spanned genres, from country hits by artists like Travis Tritt, to timeless country rock classics from groups like The Eagles and John Mellencamp.

There were fantastic guest appearances by singer Jeanette Perry, Wichita Falls country standout Clint Vines, and a powerful ensemble performance of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” led by James Cook, too.

We’re putting Baylor Rose on our list of groups to see often, and we’d recommend you do the same.

Have you seen Baylor Rose yet? Tell us about it in the comments.

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It could be argued that the true measure of respect for a performer is how many other performers come out to see them play. If true, Vernon’s Last Drag announced their arrival on the Wichita Falls scene with an explosive debut at the Iron Horse Pub. Members of The Kept, Strange Lucy, Escape Goats, Hellen Bach, and many more showed up to watch Last Drag blow the doors open as the opening act for Baylor Rose, and everybody seemed to go away convinced—Last Drag slaps.

We saw Last Drag for the first time in the summer of 2025, at an outdoor gig at Vernon Parts, and we were immediately impressed with this trio of young performers playing alternative and punk numbers from the turn-of-the-millennium… Green Day, Yellowcard, Blink 182, STP and more.

Last Drag’s show brings tremendous energy, propulsive, guitar-driven hooks, and a double vocalist performance from guitarist Alvin Guerrero and bassist Kavian Montoya. All the while, skinsman Parker Flynn keeps time with powerful drumming that might just knock some cymbals loose. We saw that happen, but Last Drag didn’t miss a beat.

If you have good memories associated with the music that was popular a few years on either side of 2000, Last Drag is a band you don’t want to miss in a live setting.

Have you seen Last Drag? What did you think? Tell us in the comments.

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With a bang, the City of Wichita Falls concluded its 2025 Concert in the Park series with an appearance by the band that must be the best Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute in the country, Texas Flood.

Led by Tommy Katona, a Hungarian transplant who moved to Texas in 2007, Texas Flood absolutely nails Stevie Ray Vaughan, and we heard the same comment from several people in the audience on this night. “I can’t believe how much he sounds like Stevie.”

As amazing as Tommy’s vocal likeness is, his six-string chops are even more incredible. All night, he treated the audience to bluesy, soulful guitar theatrics on a Stratocaster that looked just like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s original. We’d seen Texas Flood before, but this was the first time we’d really been able to sit down and enjoy the show, and we were completely blown away.

Katona’s SRV pantomime would be nothing without a great band, and Texas Flood has it, with bassist Steve Buckner and drummer Travis Montoya. Together, these three musicians made sure this show would hold Wichita Falls over ‘til concerts in the park start up again in April. In the meantime, go see Texas Flood any chance you get.

Have you seen Texas Flood? Tell us about it in the comments.

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New Wichita Falls vocal trio B-Side staged their public debut with a performance at Hook and Ladder Coffees and Wine last weekend, and it went off like there are some amazing performances to come.

B-Side is comprised of Lelani Lei and Melissa Williams (both of Escape Goats and Jagged Little Band,) and Brandt Holmes (New Realm, The Fleeting Romance). Together they form a great vocal combo with sweet and beautifully-intertwined three-part harmonies.

A full-house gathered at Hook and Ladder for B-Side, who performed a great selection of radio hits from groups like Matchbox Twenty, Fleetwood Mac, and Tonic, which makes it perhaps more surprising that some of the best songs we noticed were B-Sidified versions of Brandt Holmes’ original music.

Seated in a comfortable chair with a flatbread and some excellent wine, it occurred to us that B-Side perfectly straddles the fence between dinner music to accompany nice conversation with friends, and an engaging performance from which you can’t tear your attention away. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a long career for this trio.

Were you there for the debut of B-Side? Tell us about it in the comments.

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TheFUSE has been fanboying Wichita Falls punk/emo trio Basics for a couple years now, but it had been way too long since we’d seen them. So, we decided to follow them from one unique spot to the next on successive nights, and in the process we got bonus music from Joy Drive and Garry Walden.

For the last After Hours Art Walk of 2025, we walked down to Deviance Skate Supply, where Basics was playing a set on the sidewalk. This marked our first chance to see the band with their current drummer Jono Hardman, and we thought Jono brought something extra to the band—a hard-hitting locked-in groove, felt primarily when guitarist/frontman Austin Rupe and bassist Trevor Teague break down into heavy riffing guitar breaks.

How good are Basics? As we were leaving, we ran into a friend who was just arriving. He said he could hear them from down the block, and he had to come see who it was because “they sounded too good to be just anybody.” When he discovered it was Basics, he said “that explains it.”

The following night, Basics were on the bill again, this time headlining at Wichita Falls most chill underground venue, a private backyard amphitheater called Birdman’s Nest. As a bonus, Joy Drive and Garry Walden were also performing.

The Birdman’s Nest Facebook page says “Our events are private and free. To be able to attend our events you gotta know someone that knows someone or something... WE ARE NOT A CULT!”

After an excellent acoustic set by Garry Walden [Ladybird, Mind Funeral], we got our first look and listen to Joy Drive, a Wichita Falls-based band that describes themselves as post-grunge. Joy Drive is comprised of Nathan Whisnand on bass and vocals, Nathan Banks, guitar and vocals, and drummer Logan Davidson, and we thought they were very promising, incorporating elements of hardcore and noise to create their own reckless sound.

Amongst the crowd of 40 or 50, there we several birthdays happening, including for show organizer Jay, so we all gathered around a table of pizza and cake for a rendition of Happy Birthday.

Basics headlined the night and not only played some of their better known singles from their catalog, they played a couple of brand new bangers that haven’t been recorded yet.

Have you been to a show by these performers? Been to Birdman’s Nest? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Another successful Burn Shop Block Party and Triple Steak Cookoff to benefit the Wichita Falls Fire and Police Associations is in the books, and once again, a rousing success. The 2025 celebration was a two day affair which started on Friday night with a kickoff concert by Wichita Falls’ outstanding funk rock band Downtown Royalty.

For day two partygoers, the main attraction is an incredible steak dinner with sides and all the fixins, with the steaks supplied by McBride’s steakhouse.

Cooks from all over the country also gathered for the three steak cookoffs and competed for a chance to go to the national competition. There were trophies, and photos, and cooking tricks in abundance.

Punch and Whiskey returned for the second straight year and opened the Saturday show with an excellent country set.

After the sun went down, Texoma’s all-90s cover band Escape Goats took the stage and led the healthy crowd through a set of singalong songs led by dual lead vocalists Lelani and Melissa.

Concluding the night, a headline country rock performance by Denton’s Kody West.

Mark your calendar. The Burn Shop Block Party will be back in 2026, in the final weekend of September. Follow the Block Party page.

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We just got a chance to catch a full-band show by The Hattons last Friday night at The Iron Horse Pub, and it was a fantastic set of country and rock songs, both original and covers. Now it’s time to hit the road.

This weekend, The Hattons are taking special guest Baylor Rose to represent Wichita Falls country at Filthy McNasty’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Ben and Bailey Hatton, plus their full band, with special guest Baylor Rose. That’s a country lineup you don’t want to miss. If you’re planning for the weekend, how about a roadtrip to Filthy McNasty’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards?

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Seymour’s Brass Skulls made a return appearance in Wichita Falls with a gig at the Iron Horse Pub, and just as they did in previous live spots, they brought energy and musical skill that rivals some of the best traveling bands from across Texoma. The Skulls are the reigning winners of Wichita Falls’ 2025 Freedom Fest Battle of the Bands, and catching one of their gigs clearly shows why. This band has talent, top to bottom.

Brass Skulls has gone through some lineup changes since we first saw them, and now boasts a triple guitar attack. However, guitarist Clint Chandler was unable to be with them on this night, leaving the eminently capable guitar duo of Roger Smithson and Terry Easter to handle six-string duties. Husband and wife team Dave and Sam Navarro (drums and bass, respectively,) with lead vocalist Landon Green, headlined the night with a blistering set of hard rock covers and originals, and left every live rock fan fulfilled.

It always helps when the headliner has a powerhouse opening act.

Special guests Blood & Rust opened the night, led by Angel Hunter, a veteran of the Wichita Falls metal scene (Skinhook) who recently returned to the stage after years away, and she had her own cheering section of enthusiastic fans.

Blood & Rust also features a husband and wife duo, with Angel’s husband and multi-instrumentalist Jaymes Jager (Dirt, Escape Goats) on drums, plus lead guitarist Hank Relic, Jacob Howard on rhythm, and Matt Wolf on bass. Together, they bludgeoned the walls of the Iron Horse with metal originals and cover tunes.

At last check, Angel’s other band Skinhook, was scheduled to unleash the beast at Wichita Falls Brewing Company on November 1st. Don’t miss that.

Were you at this gig? Tells us your thoughts in the comments.

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We wrote about A.A. Bottom recently as they rose from the ashes of the untimely passing of their beloved frontman, Dean Faulkner, and it was fantastic to see them back in action. What made their return even better, though, was seeing them again, just weeks later, in perfect weather at Bud Daniel Park. It was a big show that drew more than 300 adoring A.A. Bottom fans.

Please enjoy these photos of A.A. Bottom performing live at Bud Daniel Park, presented by City of Wichita Falls Parks & Recreation.

There are several more shows coming before the end of the 2025 season, from artists like Motowne Alex & the Nightview Band, Show Down, and Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute Texas Flood. Get the dates here.

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Without an injection of fresh energy, any scene is endangered—at risk of death by stagnation. So, it is with great joy that we embrace new artists, especially those of the younger generation, like 15-year-old Decker Rumfelt.

We first saw Decker performing outside the Downtown Farmer’s Market at Art Walk in the spring of 2025, and since then, he’s played a couple other well-received gigs around Wichita Falls. This particular performance, however, was our real introduction to the artist Decker Rumfelt, a singer/songwriter performing his unique versions of cover songs from artists like Coldplay, Third Eye Blind and others.

As enjoyable as his covers are, it is our opinion that Rumfelt’s strong suit is his original music. It’s catchy, memorable, and seems effortlessly honest—a trait you notice right up front on his debut streaming single “Silly Fool.”

Decker Rumfelt has been writing his own songs for about 2 years, and his youthful voice calls to mind everything from young Wayne Newton, to indie songwriter Passenger, and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol. Although he has not yet recorded it, we were particularly taken by Rumfelt’s performance of his song “Bittersweet,” and we can’t wait to hear more from him on the streaming front.

When asked how he got started, Rumfelt said “I would say the moment that got me started was my father showing me music. My parents divorce hit me hard like it did every other kid,“ Decker said, “but music saved my life. My dad showed me his old cd’s in this 2002 Toyota and I just fell in love with it.”

As for his life as an instrumentalist, making his own music, Rumfelt told us “I begged for a guitar and my dad and his girlfriend finally said yes but it wasn’t fancy, it would hardly stay in tune, I’m pretty sure it was $40. After I got it though, I couldn’t put it down. I played it for hours upon hours every single day. I ended up learning a lot of Coldplay and saved up to get a nicer guitar. Music is my life! I would do music even if it meant I was homeless. It’s gotten me through every day, the good ones and the bad. It’s always there when I need it, I’m never gonna stop.”

This gig took place at XIM Clothing & Art (recently renamed from The Lab). Rumfelt’s father James was in attendance with his girlfriend, and they are clearly big fans of the younger Rumfelt. We’d give additional kudos to them for supporting Decker’s artistry, despite an occasional lyrical curse word which might make another parent balk. Decker is clearly the kind of artist who deserves unconditional support in light of his talent, and he appears to get it.

Follow Decker Rumfelt on Spotify, or wherever you stream music.

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There is a quote that says, “In order to rise from its own ashes, a phoenix first must burn.”

There is no denying that Wichita Falls band AA Bottom burned hot for decades across the Texoma music scene and became one of the premier names for party rock, under the driving influence of Dean Faulkner and Jason Brown. It was an understandably devastating blow then, when Dean Faulkner suddenly passed away, in January, 2025.

The question of what might happen to AA Bottom lingered on the minds of Texoma music lovers. We had been robbed of one of our beloved local musicians. Would AA Bottom survive?

We asked Jason Brown if there was a moment when he thought AA Bottom might be done.

“Yes,” Brown said. “It was the first time I cried and thought ‘What the fuck am I gonna do?’”

If AA Bottom had ended right there, Texoma music fans would have understood. Dean Faulkner was an integral part of the group, as a vocalist and guitarist, but also as the wisecracking frontman with a magnetic personality. Nobody could replace Dean Faulkner.

There were rumbles, however, that AA Bottom was not done. A local artist, known as the singer for another group, was reportedly under strong consideration. That was Nolan Cannedy, lead vocalist for Man the Machine.

We asked Jason Brown, “What was the turning point? When did you know things were going to be alright?”

He responded simply. “Nolan’s first rehearsal.”

AA Bottom rose from the ashes on July 26th, 2025, with Nolan Cannedy on vocals, and a lineup that seemed, to our judgement, refreshed and invigorated. At a sold out show at the Iron Horse Pub, guitarists Jason Brown and Colby Schwartz traded blazing licks all night, with keyboardist Mike Estep occasionally picking up a six-string of his own to augment the sound. Bassist Buddy Suggs, looking even more svelte and healthy than the last time we saw him, held down the bottom-end, perfectly locked in with The Beast, Kenny Ochoa on drums.

Having seen Cannedy sing with modern rock outfit Man the Machine multiple times, it was an eye-opening experience listening to him handle music from the previous generation. Cannedy’s blues chops are outstanding, and we thought he meshed with the AA Bottom sound in a way we could not have anticipated. Nobody could replace Dean Faulkner, but Cannedy has certainly succeeded him with aplomb.

The setlist included selections from groups like the Allman Brothers, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, Blackberry Smoke, ZZ Top, and AC/DC… the music you would expect from an AA Bottom show. There were moments in the show when Cannedy paused to acknowledge the memory of the departed Faulkner, and the crowd respected the moment, then embraced the renewed energy when the show went on.

Make no mistake, AA Bottom is back.

Were you there? Tell us about it in the comments.

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It’s a tale as old as Texas. On a tiny stage, a cracked stool and a lone microphone wait like old friends, the way they always have, ready to catch another midnight confession. Singer-songwriters drift in and out of the place like restless ghosts—half poets, half gamblers—trading verses for tips and applause that feel like lifelines.

It was a night like that when we caught three country troubadours in the loft at Iron Society Salon in downtown Wichita Falls—Clint Vines, Colton Sanders and Jay Burnam.

Clint Vines treated us to favorites from his catalog, including Oil City Hell, Train Station, Outlaw, and While the Gettin’ Was Good, and as many times as we’ve seen Clint perform, this was the first time that we realized his delivery can sometimes emulate the legendary Man in Black himself, particularly when he sings a verse in his lower register.

Colton Sanders told the crowd it was his first ever stop in Wichita Falls, and we were glad we got to see him. Colton is a solo artist, but also associated with Izzy Dead, and he played selections from the repertoire of both catalogues. It’s heartfelt original music and we took particular note of Hole in My Chest as a standout track.

Wichita Falls’ own Jay Burnam performed tracks from his streaming release Social Skeletons, including the always crowd-pleasing Every Time They Talk. Jay’s vocal chops are undeniable, and his voice so powerful, he spends a lot of time backing away from the mic and just singing into the room.

This was a powerful night of music, described by our friend Robert Williams as “intimate and soul-reaching.”

Later that night, just around the corner at the Iron Horse Pub, another group of singers and songwriters was ready to put on a show of their own.

It was an impromptu Song Swap at the Iron Horse Pub, featuring familiar faces. Matt Horany took time out from hosting open mic nights to perform his original songs on love and relationships and the travails that go along with them.

Herman Hardin and Anthony Taylor, the founding members of HermAnthony & the Side FX, performed several of their original songs which have become familiar singalongs for many of us, including Reaper and Reflections.

We were perhaps most surprised by Kona Kundert. Kona has a great voice, and seems to be stepping it up lately, with a confidence we haven’t seen before, and a love for the sounds of the 50s and 60s. Kona’s set was great.

With the hustle and bustle of life being what it is these days, a nice relaxing night of singer/songwriters was just what the doctor ordered. Have you seen any of these artists perform? Tell us about it in the comments.

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It Hurts to Be Dead returned to the stage in Wichita Falls with a gig at the Iron Horse pub that also featured three other bands — Basics and Darstar, whom we did not make it in time to see, and Ex-Regrets.

Headliners It Hurts to Be Dead never fail to impress with their refined-but-edgy punk rock, and their stage show is always lively. They treated the crowd to fan favorites from their catalog, including one of ours — Mollie Marie — and new songs they’ve been workshopping which will surely be coming to streaming before long.

We’ve said before, one of the most impressive live shows we’ve seen was It Hurts to Be Dead’s Dystopian Graffiti EP-release party, and after seeing IHTBD a half-dozen times, one of the reasons why has become clear.

The respect and energy the crowd shows to this band is rare. Few sit. Most stand, right up front, and that show of respect says something. People recognize talent, effort and dedication when they see it, and fans give their spirit back to performers that pour it out onstage. It Hurts to Be Dead draws them to the front, faces beaming, bodies moving, and hands in the air. If we haven’t said it enough, we urge music-loving people to catch It Hurts to Be Dead live every chance you get.

DFW’s Ex-Regrets made their second appearance at the Pub, featuring Zooki on vocals, Mikey Frenchtoast on guitar, bassist Dres Cifuentes, and standout drummer Stormi King.

Ex-Regrets Facebook page describes them as “the chaotic love child of Nirvana, The White Stripes and NOFX. Ex-Regrets blends RiotGrrrl, 90’s alternative, garage rock and pop punk into a raw genre-bending sound.” Based on our observations, every bit of that is true.

We were particularly impressed with Ex-Regrets’ energetic frontwoman Zooki, their attention to gang vocals, and the drumming of Stormi King. We look forward to seeing them again.

The other two bands on this bill, Basics and Darstar, are on our list of bands to capture live, and we plan to do so first chance we get.

Were you there for this show? Have you seen IHTBD and/or Ex-Regrets? Tell us about it in the comments.

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James Cook has been playing on the road a lot lately in support of his band’s newest streaming release, Texican Velvet, and it has been with great frustration that every time the FUSE has tried to catch this talented band in action, something seemed to come up. This occasion was no different.

Despite spending a 12-hour day covering another event, we couldn’t pass up the chance to catch the last bit of James’ set at the Iron Horse Pub, so we rushed over, camera in hand, and walked in just in time to watch this band light it up.

The band had a member we had never seen before on this particular night, Ross Backus on keys. Bassist Tim Maloney told us Ross is the keyboardist for the Jon Young Band out of Stephenville.

“Ross lives in Granbury, and has done a lot of shows with us as a utility player,” Maloney said. “Now he makes as many shows as he can with us.”

We were in the house for just minutes when Cook launched into Flat, Foolish and Despised, with Jason Brown’s distorted lap steel providing the build for the first minute, until Ricci Amador’s drums come in and wooooo… the audience came to life. Call it Americana, Red Dirt, whatever you like, but on this night it was electric dirt.

When was the last time you went to a James Cook show? Tell us about it in the comments.

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There’s not much we can say about Local Zero that hasn’t already been said. They’re an entertaining band from Wichita Falls, and they bring the heat every time. Two singers, Jason Reeder and Jennica Lambert, with the outstanding Barry Faulkner on guitar, rock solid Danny Craig on bass, and powerhouse drummer Erik Coronado.

Local Zero plays an eclectic mix of cover tunes, from classic seventies rock to surprising pop numbers (Prince) to modern country, all with a liberal dose of harmony vocals. They also have some really good original music that runs the gamut from touching ballads with soulful, powerful vocals, to funky rock compositions and classic rock-inspired things. It’s an entertaining show for the pickiest among us.

On this particular show, Hellen Bach opened the evening and treated us to their usual energetic set, with Larissa Brown belting it out in her trademark fashion, and bandmates Shane Perry, Randy Lamme and Chris “Animal” Hunt providing her soundtrack.

It really became a singers showcase on this night at the Pub, and we’re told this was the first time Local Zero and Hellen Bach have played on the bill together. Let’s hope they do it again soon.

Were you there? Tell us about it in the comments.

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It would not be a stretch to call Baylor Rose a Wichita Falls supergroup. Anyone who’s been paying attention to the music scene in Fallstown knows these names.

Bryson Lawrence, Mike Hardison, and Angel Perez of Blank Labels. Standout solo artist Zack Crow. Incredible songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jay Burnam. You’d be hard pressed to find a more talented group of musicians in a single Wichita Falls group.

So, perhaps it is with a sense of humility that this talented group played their first warmup gig in small town Vernon, Texas, the birthplace of Roy Orbison. As pointed out to us by Jay Burnam, it doesn’t matter how talented you are, how long you’ve been playing, or where you’ve been, somehow it always circles back to a summer night on a trailer for a crowd of a hundred people. And isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

Baylor Rose is just getting warmed up, and based on this first live gig, we’ve got excellent vocal harmonies in the offing, plus an exquisite blend of country and country-rock covers, plus original music from each members’ solo catalog. On this night, we heard the group do titles from Zack Crow’s repetoire, an electric version of Jay Burnam’s outstanding “Everytime They Talk,” and country covers that everybody could sing along to.

We’re told they might have another warmup gig or two, but Baylor Rose hit the ground running if you ask us. They’re already going 80 and on their way to 105. Fans of rockin’ country and homegrown Texoma talent should keep their eyes and ears open for Baylor Rose.

There were a number of other groups on this particular bill, and we wish we could have stayed to catch them all, but we had to resolve to catch The Flynn’s, Tylan Anzaldua and Southern Weather the next chance we get.

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Recently TheFUSE was invited to Vernon Parts Sports Bar & Grill, in Vernon, Texas, to check out the live debut of a new band, and we got an unexpected surprise—a performance by a great new Vernon punk band called Last Drag.

Last Drag is three-piece band comprised of Alvin Guerrero on guitar and vocals, bassist and backing vocalist Kavian Montoya, and drummer Parker Flynn.

Last Drag performs mostly early-2000s punk music and we were impressed with their musicianship and the attention they pay to backing vocals and harmonies. Listening to Last Drag’s set on a steamy night in June was a lot like listening to the radio circa 2003. They performed a cover of Yellowcard’s “Ocean Avenue” that we found particularly cool.

Last Drag was recently selected to perform at the Texas State Summit on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Vernon, and we’re told they have a gig at The Deep End in Wichita Falls coming soon. Based on what we saw, we would call Last Drag a breakout artist. This young group is one to watch on the Texoma music scene.

Have you seen Last Drag? Tell us about it in the comments.

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In Texoma, we have a limited window of weather perfection for outdoor shows. It’s too cold in our two and a half months of winter, and in the summer we frequently postpone outdoor musical performances because it’s just too darn hot. However, if we catch that sweet spot in the spring or fall, outdoor gigs can be magical.

It was that kind of occasion that we caught Escape Goats, in our opinion Texoma’s best all-90s party rock band, on the beer garden stage at Wichita Falls Brewing Company in downtown Wichita Falls.

The beer garden has existed for awhile now, but it really hit stride in the past year when they did away with the food truck that used to be parked out there, and built a stage for live performances. On this particular night, Escape Goats lit it up, and it was a near-capacity crowd.

An Escape Goats set consists of every great 90s song you can think of, from a broad selection of groups like the B52s, Temple of the Dog, Alanis Morrisette, Dishwalla, and tons of others. Drummer Robert Williams told me before this particular show that they had nine new songs ready to go. The Goats work hard at making each show a delight.

Perfect weather, food from the Progress Pizza kitchen, the outdoor bar was going, and the Escape Goats playing singalong music. It couldn’t be more magical.

Were you there? Tell us about it in the comments.

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