Badflower
Haute Spot, Cedar Park Austin, TX
May 21, 2021
Photography by Michael Mullenix
Kicking off the weekend, a fist-pumping summer of rock commenced at the Haute Spot in Cedar Park with the arrival of Badflower. Central Texas’ most dedicated headbangers packed the new venue as the band made their way to the stage and launched into their new rebellious anthem, “Fuck The World.”
From there it was a solid, packed hour of the band’s critical work, primarily centered around their only full-length album to date of OK, I’m Sick. Standout hits such as Promise Me, Die, x ANA x, and The Jester were instant smashes and testament to why this album made the band such a breakout success. Watching their set, it is sometimes easy to forget that rock ‘n’ roll can really be this captivating without any gimmicks or tricks. A couple of guys armed with nothing more than some guitars and talent playing this loud had an audience standing, cheering, and singing along to mind-melting hits like “Drop Dead.” Though clearly harking back to the more Grunge-laced sounds of the ’90s, the seeds of Badflower have blossomed into their own, combining more modern punk sensibilities into the heated single “30,” or the jazz-infused “Mother Mary.” Ultimately at the end of the evening, it was time to send the crowd home with one last slammer, “Ghost”, receiving a standing ovation from the backyard crowd of the Haute Spot.
