Plague Vendor Sets A New Standard For Live Performances At Stubbs Austin TX

Sunday night at Stubb’s Austin was my third concert in a row and I was exhausted beyond all comprehension. It was a great weekend of music but when you factor in travel times back and forth to San Antonio and late nights with bands I wasn’t sure if I wasn’t going to survive. I had arranged an interview with Plague Vendor lead singer Brandon Blain so I couldn’t exactly skip out on the show. In all honesty, I just wanted to spend time with my friend Paxton who was covering the show for another magazine and he pushed me to power through my exhaustion for what he insisted would be “an amazing show”.

The night of music started with Go Fever, a killer local Austin band follow up with No Parents another excellent band. Both bands really rocked in their own respective ways and I could probably write more about their sets but this night was all about Plague Vendor. Since this night ended all I have been able to think about is the set of Plague Vendor.

As soon as these guys hit the stage it seemed as if the venue suddenly filled in with people. What once was a spacious and easily moveable dancefloor became a tight fit for even the slimmest of people. The stage was nothing but black lights, no-frills like fancy lazers or smoke machines would be needed. In what can only be compared to dropping a molotov cocktail on the entire venue they lit the place on fire as soon as the first few notes of “New Comedown” started. Imagine the type of music where you don’t even need to know the words of the songs, you simply are unable to stop dancing. Hyp to the Tism..if you know what I am talking about. This is the effect they had on the entire crowd for the remainder of the show.

It was controlled chaos…One moment you were dancing with a complete stranger, the next you were helping carry Brandon around the venue while he tried to make sure every single person there participated in the show. I mean, he wouldn’t even let the people standing in the rafters get away with not being involved, beckoning them down to the dancefloor so they could be apart of this musical tornado. To say this show was high energy would be a gross understatement. I have often heard of moments in music where a band just leaves it all on stage. I suppose the best comparison I could make is when you are watching a marathon and you know the runner is barely hanging on…but instead of just giving up they suddenly they kick it into another gear and collapse while crossing the finish line. Plague Vendor achieved the music equivalent of that Sunday night. I left that venue feeling a level of euphoria I haven’t felt in a very long time. Easily one of the best live shows I have ever seen. I repeat…HAVE EVER SEEN. Do whatever you can to see this band live and be sure to pick up their latest album By Night, It’s phenomenal. 10/10 would see again! Also, stay tuned for our exclusive interview! Coming soon!