Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
New bands and new albums are as ubiquitous as wildflowers. Or is that allergens? No matter: The air is alive with new local music right now. 1986: Fans of Grand Champeen, Prescott Curlywolf, GBV, and Dinosaur Jr take heed: this spanking-new local trio is ripe for adoption. One listen to the hyperactive guitars and melancholy sentiments of their upcoming 10-song debut and you'll know why. - Austin Chronicle
Packaged in a plain cardboard wrapper, 1986's well-oiled take on Rust Belt indie rock & droll blows up like a burning bag of microwave popcorn. The debut's rough-hewed production captures the raw vibe of a rehearsal-room tape, but the local band's music is more sharply articulated than that aesthetic would normally indicate. You can hear strategic touches of glam, punk, and psychedelia here and there, but the only axiom 1986 is truly beholden to is the noble pursuit of a perfect rock song. The Austin quartet flirts with glory in the driving warble of "I Know." The nervous energy dynamic of "It's Too Bad" will tighten a few stomach muscles, and the Twin Tone barroom rave-up "Mechanical Dreams" is capable of moving more than a few beers. Cully Symington's Keith Moon-style workout on "Narcotic" is enough to get him short-listed as one of River City's best rock drummers. Nashville songwriter Bobby Bare Jr. co-wrote "Comatose," a desolate soundscape that effectively showcases the band's breadth. While the 10-song disc oozes integrity, the one thing 1986 doesn't deliver here is the aforementioned killer track that won't leave your head for days. If they maintain their solid stellar trajectory, it's only a matter of time. - Austin Chronicle
Discography
Self-Released EP called "Nuclear Cover"
Self-Released LP called "1987"
Tracks "Narcotic" and "Holiday" and "Better When You're Stoned" are currently being played on many college and mainstream radio stations nationwide.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
1986 is the name of a band from Austin who after a year of trying to come up with a name, somehow settled with this. There is no real meaning behind the particular year chosen. We would like to keep it open to interpretation. Some say it was the worste year in music, others say it's the year the Challenger blew up. Even more say it was a cool book written by some Orwell dude; but later that person is exposed as an idiot because he clearly never read the book or else he would've remembered the title. But mostly people say 1986 is the name of a band that doesn't subscribe to trends and regularly delivers great rock shows to people who enjoy hearing really good songs.
Recently completing their freshman effort produced by Mark Deutrom of the Melvins (the producer behind the legendary Ozma and Gluey Porch Treatments records) and mixed by Thom Monahan (Pernice Bros, SilverJews, Beachwood Sparks, Devendra Bandhart), 1986 seems--well--promising. Also featured on the record is the song, Comatose, co-written by the Nashville songster, Bobby Bare, Jr.
With influences ranging everywhere from the 13th Floor Elevators to Dinosaur Jr, and the Clash to Built to Spill, 1986 refuses to confine itself to one genre. This has alowed the band to play with a variety of great national acts like Metric, Alejandro Escovedo, Local H, Marshall Crenshaw, The High Strung, The Capitol Years, Bobby Bare, Jr., and many more. The band has also collaborated in the studio on their first EP with members of the Butthole Surfers, Friends of Dean Martinez, and Giant Sand.
1986 is currently being played on 93.7 KLBJ in Austin, 90.7 KUSF in San Fransisco, 91.7 KTRU in Houston, and on Andy Langer's (Esquire, Rolling Stone, Austin Chronicle) radio show, "The Next Big Thing" on 101X also in Austin. 1986 has also made regular musical contributions to MTV shows like "Road Rules" and "The Osbournes." Not to bad for a band who has only existed for six months.
They were recently honored by rock legend and psychadelic pioneer, Roky Erickson, when he mentioned 1986 in a recent interview with Texas Music Monthly as one of his favorite local acts in Austin.
1986 has played at some of the most respected venues in the country including the Continental Club, Emo's, Stubb's, Spaceland, and many more.
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