Who, or what, is Big Bill?

Big Bill is a rock band from Austin, Texas. Founded upon the songwriting of brothers Eric and Cody Braden, Big Bill immediately earned a rave cult following with their crawling-up-the-walls raw energy and idiosyncratic, endlessly catchy punk songs. They played their first show in 2012 and their lineup and sound have evolved many times. The lineup now consists of Eric Braden on vocals, Alan Lauer on bass, Alex Riegelman on guitar, and Jeff Olson on drums.

What does Big Bill sound like?

Great question! In some ways this is not an easy one to answer. Generally, Big Bill pairs propulsive music coupled with a singularly weird point of view (in this case via the sped/up Buddy Holly vocals of primary singer/songwriter Eric Braden.) Their songs can evoke the weirdo punk of Dead Milkmen and Devo, the self-aware new wave of The B-52’s and Talking Heads, or, especially as their sound has matured, the strange softness of The Clean and even Elliott Smith.

Where did the name come from?

Actually, there’s a whole comic strip to explain that. Suffice it to say, none of us are named Bill.

Is Big Bill more of a “studio band” or a “live band”?

Both! The joyful chaos of their live shows has always been Big Bill’s calling card and was the source of most of their early acclaim. Through their many shows at Austin venues like Trailer Space Records (site of their first show), Cheer Up Charlie’s, Hole in the Wall, The Mohawk, and especially Hotel Vegas, Big Bill’s 100% commitment style of performance earned them a rabid cult following. Early recordings were done in the punk tradition, quickly laid down to tape in hot garages. With each release, the band grew more confident experimenting in the studio, and more interested in creating finely crafted masterpieces — culminating in LP #3, Strawberry Seed.

What’s the deal with Strawberry Seed?

Strawberry Seed marks the first Big Bill release made without founding guitarist/co-vocalist/songwriter (and Eric’s brother) Cody Braden, and Eric and co. has filled the gap with a clutch of songs which both evoke their more bizarro past (“Poverty of Wires,” “Throw It Away”) as well as a newly mature sound, with songs like “Clean Feeling” and “Crinkle the Wrapper” evoking deep feelings and contemplative moments. On songs like “Beautiful Angels of the City,” they somehow stretch across both sides of that coin–giving the emotionally vulnerable wisdom that only true tricksters can conjure. Check it out here.

How can I keep up with Big Bill?

That’s an easy one. Follow them on social media, and put your email in the box at the bottom of this page to receive important updates via email. You’ll only receive the most important of updates.