by Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Amarillo native Will Rhodes thought he’d gotten away from playing rock music, but he found the lure was just too strong.
Now, he’s found a renewed sense of purpose with his Austin band Sounds del Mar, which will return to Amarillo for a 10 p.m. Saturday show with Mike & The Moonpies at Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Rhodes and three of his bandmates had found success in Austin as sound engineers (Rhodes, in fact, was on a break from working with the South by Southwest music festival when he called) and didn’t envision a return to the stage themselves. (The fourth is an Austin entrepreneur and restaurant owner.)
“But we were sitting around watching a band, remembering when we used to play music – pondered on that as we were watching this particular band,” Rhodes said. “It’s easy to get wrapped up in a sound engineering job because you’re making money.
“I never imagined that at 43, I would be back in full touring mode, traveling the country and playing in a band again,” Rhodes said. “It just clicked really well.”
Sounds del Mar will release a new album by summer and just released its single, “New Breed of Wow.”
Rhodes said he’s particularly happy about playing in his hometown with one of his favorite Austin bands: “It’ll be an Austin show happening in Amarillo – rowdy and fun.”
The Moonpies had a weekly gig at Rhodes’ old stomping grounds, Club Deville.
“I’m not a real big fan of where country music has particularly gone in the last 10 years, and they take a lot from the classics that I like,” Rhodes said. “I tell people around Austin this as well, but I truly believe that bands like them and (alt-country star) Sturgill Simpson are possibly the bands that could save country music.”
Cover charge is $8.
