From Hyperpop Glitch to Powerviolence Grit: Austin's Underground Undercurrents This Week

Austin’s sonic underground is shifting, trading standard indie templates for glitchy maximalism and breakneck BPMs. Over at the Scoot Inn, hyperpop titan Underscores and PC Music maestro Umru are set to weaponize distorted bass and bubblegum melodies, riding the high of Underscores' critically acclaimed conceptual depth. Meanwhile, Argentine instigators CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso are bringing their chaotic, experimental pop and raw Latin hip-hop to the Moody Amphitheater, offering a dizzying live performance that feels less like a concert and more like a neon-hued fever dream.

For those who prefer their catharsis laced with complex fretwork, Mohawk plays host to a masterclass in emotional math rock and midwest emo. Florida's Pool Kids are the real draw here, delivering dizzying, polyrhythmic drum patterns and hyper-precise guitar taps that elevate their confessional lyricism far beyond standard indie rock. Sharing the stage with veterans Tigers Jaw, they represent the absolute peak of the modern emo revival—highly technical, fiercely energetic, and utterly devastating live.

If you want to completely discard melody for pure, unadulterated grit, get to 13th Floor on Thursday. The venue is hosting a volatile three-way collision of powerviolence from Stares, psychedelic acid rock from The Paisleys, and the blistering hardcore punk of No Love. It’s a claustrophobic, beer-soaked lineup engineered for maximum hearing damage and relentless pit action. Pick your poison, but don't sleep on these left-of-the-dial bookings.