Good live music in Waco can seem hard to find in a city that often feels like a road bump between the thriving music industry of Austin and the big names and big shows in Dallas.
But Wes Butler, event coordinator at Common Grounds, is convinced that Waco is something special on its own.
“I can confidently say that Common Grounds has the most unique venue in the state of Texas.” Butler said. “I was told by the drummer of Jars of Clay that when bands see that they’re coming to Common Grounds, they get excited. When the sun goes down, the lights come on and you’re under trees, it’s just magic.”
Jars of Clay was at Common Grounds in early December as a part of their Christmas tour. Their presence in Waco drew hundreds to Common Grounds for the show.
“Yes, there’s magic that happens in our backyard,” Butler said.
The next few weeks, as usual, will bring waves of great local talent along with national-touring acts to the Common Grounds stage. Gungor, winner of last year’s Dove Award for best live performance album, highlights the early spring schedule with a show on March 17.
“We bring in bands that people want to see and bands that people need to be listening to,” Butler said. “If you can’t find good music in Waco, then you’re not looking for it.”
Butler believes that good music in Waco is a given, but he also sees a lot of potential for Waco music with the construction of the new Baylor football stadium.
“The way that Waco’s growing gives a lot of energy to our local music and entertainment,” Butler said. “All we need is another industry in the city that could bring in more jobs and a better economy, and we’ll see the music scene explode, and that’s only a matter of time.”
Butler’s comments on Waco’s music scene may seem a bit romantic, but Jericha Price, lead guitarist of a local Waco band called The B-Movie Victims, thinks similarly of Waco’s growing musical talent.
“The musicians in Waco are just more willing to collaborate than those in Austin or Dallas,” Price said.
The B-Movie Victims have played multiple venues in Waco, from True Love and Quaker Steak & Lube to Junction 84. But even with that successful performance record, Price started out playing at open-mic-nights throughout the city.
“There’s a lot of good stuff everywhere in town, and people just need to be more open-minded,” Price said.
Both Butler and Price hold a positive outlook on the city’s current musical state and are looking forward to its growth, naysayers aside. More new venues and even Baylor's McLane Family Stadium could create more opportunities for bands to amp up in Waco.
“Yeah, I definitely could see that happening," Price said. "It would be great for other bands too, as it would mean more places for gigs.”
Waco has a crop of ambitious bands playing at a variety of places. We'll do our best to keep everyone up-to-date on upcoming shows. For more live music info, check out Common Grounds' website, check chisholmcrossing.com or pick up a Waco Weekly.
One more bite: The photo with this blog features Jericha Price of The B-Movie Victims. Check out their event schedule on their Facebook page.
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