Synthetamine

Synthetamine is the musical entity of one Robert Thayer, a Texas-born, classically-trained, street-wisened, battle-hardened veteran of the School of Indie.  He's been in several different bands (Lower Class Brats, JoeRockHead, Red Church), but now flies solo in electronica/dance/DJ venues such as Headhunters, Red-Eyed Fly, and Carousel Lounge.

Thayer started pounding the piano at 9, but nowadays his weapon of choice is the synthesizer (hence the title of his act), with the wont (and chops) to play more than one at a time:

Though the latest release, "Radio Ghost", is tucked away neatly into the electronica/dance corners of our genre-loving indie music world, it's something of an oddity there; occasionally veering away, Crystal Method-like, into guitar-riffing rock (give a listen to DNA, track 10, below), or funk grooves (Confinement, track 9); most of the tracks featuring dense melodic lines, full-on chord progressions, and blazing keyboard arpeggios.

But let's not misrepresent here:  Synthetamine's tracks are imminently danceable, and you'll find yourself bobbing your head, driving a little faster, and enjoying one of our more frenetic partners in indie.  


Find (and enjoy) Synthetamine on Facebook, ReverbNation, and at home base.

The Future Process

The Future Process is another Florida-to-Austin transplant, with origins going as far west as LA.  Though, technically, it's arguable that Rizer and Co. were recruited (more or less) to the Austin electronic/industrial scene by the talent already here, rather than being drawn by the number of venues.

Whatever.  Doesn't matter what brung 'em; Rizer, Melissa Riotgurl and crew bring forth a conspicuous sound; full of electro-grunge industrial punk; ringing with 80's New Wave power snare + synth + lacerating guitars, Cars-like; the whole melding into a hefty, melodically-voluminous, yet imminently-danceable, sound.  Let's call it shock therapy for the ears; an absolutely addictive treatment. 

The latest scuttlebutt has them cranking on the followup to Sex Babylon America, but the ETA is... TBD.  As part of The Grid, you can catch them in Austin at the Red Eyed Fly or Plush.  Or cruise down to San Antonio to catch them at Click's.  

Here's a quintessential TFP song, Jonny Dethwish: 



Here's another track from their latest:



You can find The Future Process on ReverbNation, Facebook, and MySpace.