Local ‘almost punk band’ Big Bill performs live at Mohawk Austin supporting NYC’s Gustaf at Mohawk Austin

Austin-based ‘almost punk’ band Big Bill is slated to perform live on Monday, May 13, at Mohawk Austin located at 912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701, supporting fierce punk group Gustaf, hailing from New York City along with local band Tied Up. The music will kick off at 8 p.m. and the show is open to all ages. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased in advance here. 

Influenced by the deadpan irreverence of The Monks and Talking Heads, Big Bill is known for their darkly comic, nervy take on punk rock. Formed in 2011 by the Braden brothers, Eric and Cody, Big Bill has always embraced the “all are welcome” vibe of punk circa the early 1980s, as embodied by Austin legends like Big Boys and The Dicks. From the get-go, Big Bill stunned Austin audiences and won a dedicated following via their high-energy live performances, pricking at the brain with absurd, imagistic lyrics while pummeling the body with chaotic drums and throat-slicing guitar riffs. 

Though their brain-altering live show remains a huge part of their DNA, Big Bill's music has evolved across many lineup changes—the current group being Eric Braden on vocals, Alan Lauer on bass, Alex Riegelman on guitar, and Jeff Olson on drums—stretching from the rawest, weirdest punk into shades of country, new wave and even quasi-classic rock. Even as the band's ambition grows, that Outsider Art element to their music lives on.