House of Rock featured three bands that put on a good show
The House of Rock located in Corpus Christi is a hot spot for bands big and small to stop and perform for their fans. That is what bands Surfer Girl, Ballyhoo and Hirie did on Saturday night, Nov. 5. I was able to experience this show alongside my little brother and father and I can speak for them when I say the show was an amazing experience start to finish.
The opening act was Los Angeles-based reggae band named Surfer Girl, which blew my mind away. Though all three bands were the same genre each band brought their own styles and inspirations into their sounds. Surfer Girl was a mix of mellow and slow songs with a few fast-paced tracks to keep the crowd pumped up. I felt more classic reggae vibes from this group and they did not disappoint. The way the group performed on stage, not just with their instruments, but the way they moved along to their music and had huge smiles on their faces. These guys were a wonderful way to open the night and now I have some of their music in my playlists.
The next group was the oldest of the three bands, having been active since 1995, this Maryland-based band called Ballyhoo took the stage next. This band had a different vibe from the opener, being a lot more punk inspired when playing their reggae music. Some even bigger differences are that the band did not have a bass player, only a backing track, and had a synth player instead.
It really did not make much of a difference but personally I really enjoy the bass when there is a player present, though that does not make them any less talented. They did a wonderful job keeping the crowd moving and played their hearts out from the moment they walked onto the stage to the moment they left.
Finally, the band I had been waiting for, Hirie. This group is an amazing mixture of reggae and ska music that fills my soul. The great part about ska music is that there are additional instruments that one might not consider when they think of popular music. Hirie has the standard bass and guitar, but alongside that they have a trumpet, trombone and didgeridoo sound. Of course, this was not my first-time seeing Hirie live. I had seen them open for Sublime with Rome and the Dirty Heads. Seeing them tour and have bands open for them now makes me happy that more people are listening to their music. After the show I was even able to meet and hangout with the bass guitarist, Andy Flores. I was able to ask him about what he thought about the show and city. “Corpus Christi always brings the vibes. I’m a huge Selena fan so I feel the spirit; it’s special,” he said.
All three bands were incredible, and I was not let down one bit and I am glad I was able to experience it alongside my family as well.
