The night of Monday, October 13 was a music-filled one at The Mink/Backroom in Houston. The small venue played host to four genre-spanning bands: Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, David Vandervelde, Judgement Day and Wild Moccasins.

Read about the night, see photos and watch videos after the jump

I entered the upstairs venue area at the Mink's Backroom about halfway through the Wild Moccasins' set. I'd just seen this Houston-based indie-pop quintet a couple of days prior at the Westheimer Block Party, but I was happy to have the opportunity to catch them again in a different setting. Wild Moccasins always bring a youthful energy to their live shows, making them truly captivating to watch. I felt that this set was an improvement over their block party performance, with their instrumentation and vocals tighter and more on point. I especially enjoyed the infectiousness of "Fruit Tea," a new song that will be included on an upcoming album. It's been fun to watch these five musicians develop over the past several months, and I look forward to seeing how they grow as artists. Keep your eye on this band - Wild Moccasins are just getting started.

(Note: It was dark. I hate using flash (it's rude!). My pictures suck. Sorry.)

Judgement Day blew me away. Eggs and I saw violinist Anton Patzner and cellist Lewis Patzner back Mates of State in June, but we weren't at all prepared for what they brought to the table in their own right. You don't normally look at a cellist and a violinist and think, "Perhaps I should wear earplugs to avoid damaging my hearing." But in this case, earplugs wouldn't have been a bad idea. Accompanied by drummer Jon Bush, the Patzner brothers ripped out eardrum-shattering string metal with more gusto than I previously believed possible. Seriously, these dudes killed it - theirs was one of the most unique and impressive sets that I've witnessed in recent memory. You could almost feel the energy behind each stroke of their bows. Their intensity was also apparent in their movements onstage; it seemed as though they were so wrapped up in their own passionate music that it was impossible for them to stand still. Fun to listen to, fun to watch...I'd definitely recommend that you see this trio live if you're in the mood to experience something different. Maybe they'll open for acoustic metal duo Rodrigo y Gabriela someday soon - that would be a divine match-up, indeed.

Nashville-based singer/songwriter David Vandervelde was up next. Backed by a bassist and a drummer, Vandervelde churned out buttery rock flavored with hints of blues, Southern rock and, occasionally, country influences. It might be easy to write it off as stoner-rock, but Vandervelde's music manages to rise above that label. His sound ranges from dark to sunny; some songs were drenched in dreamy reverb, while others featured moody, extended guitar solos (check out "Lyin' in Bed"). Overall, the trio submitted a strong, enjoyable set, though I think that their presence was a bit overshadowed by the earlier frenzied performance of Judgement Day.

Headliners Margot & the Nuclear So and So's didn't exactly fit on the Mink's tiny stage. With an array of instruments strewn across the stage, there was little room for anyone to walk around - or even sit in chairs, for that matter. A few members of the chamber pop band were crammed in among the equipment and instruments on the floor; one member even made good use of a suitcase in front of him, turning it into a makeshift drum. Even with the limited space, Judgement Day's Anton and Lewis Patzner still managed to squeeze themselves onstage as well. The collective's set was filled progressive folksy material and pretty boy/girl vocals from guitarist Richard Edwards and keyboardist Emily Watkins. It was pleasant to listen to, but I have to admit that my attention began to drift about midway through the set, and we opted to leave a few songs early. I felt like the set lacked energy and was therefore not as engaging as it could have been, but I suspect that this wouldn't have been the case had the band been playing on a bigger stage that allowed them to actually, y'know, move. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to see them in a more suitable venue in the near future.

You can watch more videos from the show on our YouTube channel.

Band tour dates and links:

Wild Moccasins show dates
10/31 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington
11/4 Houston, TX - TBA (w/ The Terrordactyls)
11/5 Denton, TX - J and J's Pizza (w/ The Terrordactyls & Fishboy)
11/7 Austin, TX - Club 1808 (w/ Woozy Helmet, Mothfight, Young Mammals and Diagonals)
11/8 La Porte, TX - Fairmont Park Church (w/ Lisa's Sons & Science Monsters Galore)
11/15 Houston, TX - ArtStorm (w/ Woozy Helmet & Diagonals)
11/23 Houston, TX - Via Colori

Wild Moccasins Myspace

Judgement Day tour dates
10/20 Pittsburgh, PA - The Mouse Trap
10/21 New York City, NY - CMJ
10/22 New York City, NY - CMJ
10/23 New York City, NY - Delancy (CMJ Showcase)
10/27 St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
10/28 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
10/30 Orlando, FL - The Social
10/31 Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
11/1 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
11/2 Richmond, VA - The Downstairs Lounge, Canal Club
11/4 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
11/5 Providence, RI - The Living Room
11/6 Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Line
11/7 New York City, NY - Highline Ballroom
11/8 Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
11/9 Philadelphia, PA - The Theatre of Living Arts
11/11 Rochester, NY - Water Street Music Hall
11/12 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
11/13 Chicago, IL - Metro
11/14 Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall
11/15 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave II
11/17 Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
11/18 Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
11/19 St. Louis, MO - Fubar
11/20 Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
11/21 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
11/22 Salt Lake City, UT - Avalon Theatre

Judgement Day official website
Judgement Day Myspace

David Vandervelde tour dates
10/18 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley Theatre 10/19 Columbus, OH - Skully’s Music Diner
10/22 Louisville, KY - Headliners
10/23 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
10/25 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree
10/26 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe
10/27 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
10/28 Houston, TX - Walter’s On Washington

David Vandervelde Myspace

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's tour dates
10/22 New York City, New York - Bowery Ballroom
10/31 Madison, Wisconsin - Der Rathskeller
11/1 Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Turner Hall
11/2 Omaha, Nebraska - Slowdown
11/3 Des Moines, Iowa - Vaudeville Mews
11/4 Columbia, Missouri - Mojo’s
11/5 Nashville, Tennessee - Exit/In
11/7 Atlanta, Georgia - The Earl
11/8 Tallahassee, Florida - The Engine Room
11/9 Tampa, Florida - Crowbar
11/10 Orlando, Florida - The Social
11/11 Jacksonville, Florida - Jack Rabbits
11/12 Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina - Village Tavern
11/14 Providence, Rhode Island - Jake’s Bar & Grille
11/15 New London, Connecticut - Cro’s Nest, Connecticut College
11/17 Cambridge, Massachusetts - TT The Bear’s Place
11/18 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - First Unitarian Church
11/21 Pontiac, Michigan - The Pike Room at The Crofoot
11/22 Chicago, Illinois - Bottom Lounge
12/11 Cleveland, Ohio - Beachland Ballroom
12/13 Newport, Kentucky - The Southgate House

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's official website
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Myspace

--Cereal