Austin Sound

Fresh out of the gate after forming earlier this year, the Happen-Ins have been grooving into the local scene with a rollicking retro vibe, swaggering country rock that follows in the harmonizing roots of the Band, Flying Burrito Brothers, and the Rolling Stones. In other words, the quartet dusts up some stellar originals that sound infectiously familiar but with their own contemporary pop twists. Their sound is no surprise given the make-up of the band, which includes former Deadringer Sean Faires, psych-folker John Michael Dayspring, The Belleville Outfit’s Jonathon Konya on percussion, and former Lomita frontman and recent pedal steel extraordinaire, Ricky Ray Jackson. The group is working out some recordings at this moment, and you can download one of their first demos below, but we can’t imagine a better lineup to see them play with than this Friday, May 1 at the Scoot Inn with Brothers and Sisters, the Black, J.C. & Company, and Karrie Hopper.

Profile: The Happen-Ins

Year Formed:

2009

Members/Instruments played:

Ricky Ray Jackson: Guitar, VOX, Bass,Pedal Steel; John Michael: Bass, VOX, Guitar; Sean Faires: Guitar, Bass, VOX ; Jonathon Konya: Drums, VOX

Former Bands/Side Projects:

Lomita, Brothers and Sisters, The Dedringers, Deadman, and Hayes Carll.

Albums (Year of Release and label):

In the studio this week working on one.

Influences:

Black Music and its better imitators.

Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:

“You guys look like Led Zeppelin”, I don’t know if they’d ever seen a rock show before.

Favorite local bands:

Li’l Cap’n Travis, Shotgun Party, Brothers and Sisters, Deadman and many others.

Favorite local venue:

The Scoot Inn

Upcoming shows scheduled:

Apr 30 Moose Lodge with Cause for Applause
May 1st @ the Scoot Inn w/ Brothers and Sisters

Some of your favorite albums from the past year:

Crème Soda

Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:

The Rolling Stones

Austin Sound questions:
How exactly did the band come together?

We just happened into it.

Is Happen-In a verb or a noun, and how exactly would define it?

It’s a pun.

Song Introduction:

“Just the Way It Always Was”
A decent imitation of black imitators we think people will like . Its about not wanting to go back to the place you grew up. We think people will like that.

Sound Off:

The Happen-Ins are busy working up plans and tunes for their first record. In tiny extra bedrooms across austin, heart beat skipping rythm and wretched fuzz are waking up neighbors while we hash things out. Police dispatched to the areas have not returned and are suspected as being held captive by our hypnotic dance numbers. Dogs vocal chords have been damaged as they try to keep up with our lonesome howls. Entire species of termites have been wiped out unable to escape our wall shaking fervor. Cell Phone Interference has been reported near Happen-Ins residencies as their electric moods spread from house to house.
Could this be the end of drab as we know it?
likely so.

Mp3:
Just the Way It Always Was

Website:
Myspace