The Local Music Lookout: The Warplanes, Jam Therapy and The Two Lips

By Ryan Lacerda
Music Journalist

From bluesy folk-rock to grunge, we have our three local bands of the week for you once again. Listen to KTSW 89.9 to hear these excellent musicians’ hard-labored efforts. For exclusive info on their bands and shows, tune into the Local Music show at KTSW 89.9 from 8-10 p.m. every Monday.

The Warplanes

Founded in January 2010, Austin-based band The Warplanes channels blues rock with touches of folk, soul, and psychedelia. Isaac James Routh, Aric Garcia, Andrew Dalton, Luke Dalton, and Jelly Ellington make up the band. Instantly recognizable by his perfect pitch and smooth yet powerful vocal style, Isaac J. Routh is the frontman on lead vocals and guitar. Luke Dalton is the group multi-instrumentalist on  keys, percussion, guitar, and vocals. Jelly Ellington creates catchy melody one after another on lead guitar. Andrew Dalton is on the bass and Aric Garcia plays drums, percussion, and vocals.

Their recent 2015 EP release Epigenesis features the song “Gemini”, which lyrically revolves around the idea of the split personality and the struggle that someone can have when trying to rid themselves from a person or situation of control. It’s about an environment that someone can create that is full of both negatives and positives which ultimately has a dominating effect on their (for lack of a better term) victim. Gemini tries to portray the effects of a volatile relationship between two people.

Recommended if you like: America, Kansas, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Bandcamp: https://thewarplanes.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWarplanes/?fref=ts
Official Website: http://www.thewarplanes.net

Upcoming Shows:

Oct 22   End Hip End It Festival   Houston, TX

Jam Therapy

Jam Therapy is a classic rock blast to the past. Although they formed in Florida, they relocated to Austin two years ago and have been here ever since. Jam Therapy is composed of Garrett Brown on lead vocals and guitar, Alejandro “Bob” Rios on lead guitar and vocals, Chase Morgan on bass and vocals and Matt May on drums and vocals. Yes, they all sing – a smart trend I see becoming increasingly popular in today’s challenging, cluttered music scene.

Their fresh EP release, Tongue and Groove, features their jamming single “Get Up (Get Down)”, which is about the struggle we all face with personal motivation and chasing our deepest desires. Forcing yourself to put in the work to get where you want to go in life. That’s why Rios slays the guitar solo with amazing speed and dexterity. It symbolizes finally having the courage and victory of following your passions and defeating your innermost obstacles.

RIYL: Led Zeppelin, Styx, The Eagles, Kansas, Mountain, Queen.

Bandcamp: https://jamtherapy.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamTherapy/

Upcoming Shows:

Oct. 15   Stay Gold   Austin, TX

RIYL: Led Zeppelin, Styx, The Eagles, Kansas, Mountain, Queen.

The Two Lips

The Two Lips are a San Marcos native band that plays grunge and garage rock. I haven’t heard a grunge band make some noticeable noise on the scene in a long time, so I’m excited that they’ve reignited the torch for other bands to hopefully follow suit. The Two Lips are composed of Stephen Scholz on guitar and lead vocals, Ashley Graves on bass and vocals and Connor Oakley on drums and vocals, continuing the all-members-sing trend I commented on earlier. The latter two are actually a couple.

“Nothing” off their January 2016 release, Care, showcases some heavy encompassing guitar chords with stout bass and pounding drums. It’s about feeling like nothing you do is enough for someone. It’s vengeful and ventilatory. To produce their new single “Repeat”, they worked with Britt Daniel, the frontman from Austin-based band Spoon, at the renowned Converse Rubber Tracks pop-up 12th St. Sound Studio, which has housed the fantastic productions of prominent artists such as the Foo Fighters, Gloriana, Lady Antebellum and Jason Boland.

Bandcamp: https://thetwolips.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTwoLips/?fref=ts
Official Website: http://www.thetwolips.com

Upcoming Shows:

Oct. 14    KIVA Lounge and Bar   San Marcos, TX
Oct. 28    Swan Dive   Austin, TX

RIYL: Nirvana, Fuzz, CFM, JEFF the Brotherhood, Black Sabbath.