Austin: Dexter and the Moonrocks at Emo’s
Dexter and the Moonrocks play Emo’s in Austin on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, at 8:00 PM, with tickets starting at $150. The West Texas band’s rapid rise has made it one of the hottest tickets in Texas this fall; it also plays Dallas on Halloween night, see our listing for Dexter and the Moonrocks at The Bomb Factory.
The band comes from Throckmorton, a small ranching town about 70 miles northeast of Abilene. Singer James Tuffs started the group in 2021 with cousins Ryan and Ty Anderson, and drummer Ryan Fox joined later that year. They call their sound “Western space grunge,” a mix of alternative rock, indie rock and Texas country, and an early viral TikTok clip of the band playing on a couch spread the word far beyond West Texas.
After signing with Severance Records, an imprint of Big Loud, the band posted a string of hits. “Sad in Carolina” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in 2024, “Ritalin” went top 10 there in 2025, and “Freakin’ Out” became their breakthrough, reaching No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going platinum. They made their late-night TV debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in August 2026.
Get your Dexter and the Moonrocks tickets on TicketNetwork
The show follows the Oct. 2, 2026, release of the band’s debut full-length album, “Friends That I Don’t Like,” which includes “Freakin’ Out,” “If You Could Talk” and “12 Steps,” a collaboration with fellow Texas band Treaty Oak Revival. Emo’s moved from Red River Street to East Riverside Drive in 2011 and now hosts touring rock bands in a larger room with a general admission floor. See more shows on the Emo’s venue page on Texas Music Map.
Doors typically open an hour before showtime. Emo’s is at 2015 East Riverside Drive, with on-site and nearby paid parking. Friday shows here fill up fast, so arrive early for a spot near the stage.