Although San Antonio is well represented by musicians with Alamo City ties who take the stage all week at SXSW, the spectrum of sounds and overwhelming number of acts can be a little daunting. There’s been plenty to explore and appreciate during the ongoing music festival, including a healthy dose of good old 2-1-0 up in Austin.
Garrett T. Capps, San Antonio’s own self-proclaimed space cowguy, made it a point to bring his Alamo City friendliness and energy to SXSW this year, as he does with every performance.
“It always seems like there’s something exciting going on,” he told MySA ahead of the annual conference, which he describes as a fun opportunity. “It’s always something I look forward to, kind of like spring break.”
Although he’s nowhere near stopping with more shows planned before the festival wraps up this weekend, Capps threw a party so Austinites and visitors alike could get a dose of the San Antonio goodness that is Tex-Mex rock ‘n’ roll. Capps, a performer and event organizer, brought the People Are Beautiful party back to SXSW with a free, day-long concert at The White Horse on Wednesday, March 15.
San Antonio-based musician Garrett T. Capps performs during the 2022 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in The Park at Harlinsdale Farm on September 24, 2022 in Franklin, Tennessee.
Mickey Bernal/WireImage“I’ve gotten used to throwing my own party,” Capps says. “It’s kind of like a San Antonio, do-it-yourself mentality. I’m sure that has something to do with it.”
Performances featured the likes of Sunjammer, Jane Weaver, A Giant Dog, Carson McHone and Daniel Romano’s Outfit, a mix of international acts and friends of the alt-country variety. Capps, along with NASA Country, took the stage to showcase his defining “cosmic country gonzo honky tonk weirdo freak” tunes and remind them that San Antonio is the epicenter of all positivity.
“It’s my small contribution, but it’s a big deal to me,” says Capps.
That was certainly the case on Wednesday, March 15, the afternoon’s hour-long party. Even with technical difficulties about midway through the set, Capps and company got the crowd jamming and cheering. There was also a cheerful character that stuck out, reminding me of Jeff Lynn from the 1970s with his curly hair bouncing to the beat of the music as he rocked out.
I couldn’t help but notice other friendly people in my midst, the crowd generally seemed to be in good spirits as the band worked through the issues. Some were even encouraging as well as being patient. Honestly, it felt like the room was a bunch of friends chilling in the basement while the band just rocked out.
“Always darkest before the dawn,” shouted one man.
No doubt enjoying the friendly crowd, Capps succinctly summed up his set about halfway through, “What a fun time today is at the moment.”
Garrett T. Capps and NASA Country performed at the People Are Beautiful party at Austin country bar and music venue The White Horse on March 15.
Sarah Martinez for MySAIn between songs, I heard the chatter of other growing fans, with some trying to gauge Capps’ ultra-unique but completely San Antonio sound. Whether they were familiar with Capps or not, the audience appreciated the various flourishes in the music, especially the maracas and a sick guitar solo that wowed and shook the room, where you could smell the vibrant cloud of alcohol consumed with an aftertaste of marijuana.
“It was raw cool!” I heard another man tell his friends.
Even just around me I noticed a number of people singing along to the songs. When Capps announced the final song, “People Are Beautiful,” also the name of Capps’ 2022 album, which has become a consistent fixture on KUTX, the crowd, which had already been cheering throughout the set, booed and sang along with Capps, his energy and sings along, “Our love is irrefutable / Cosmic unfathomable / Certain facts are immutable / But people are beautiful.”
Now isn’t that the San Antonio way of thinking? Absolutely.
“I always have this kind of underdog mentality when it comes to representing San Antonio,” Capps says. “I’m just proud of San Antonio. That’s where I’m from. It’s just a fun and beautiful city to represent. San Antonio is unique.”
Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country will perform an official SXSW showcase, with support from Spaceflight Records, on Saturday, March 18 at The Creek and the Cave. You can also look up the band’s hometown show at Paper Tiger on March 24.
