Austin: Slothrust at Historic Scoot Inn
Slothrust brings its grunge-indebted, jazz-inflected rock to the Historic Scoot Inn on Wednesday, November 11, touring behind their Dystopian Theatre run. Doors are at 6 PM, with tickets starting around $57.
Formed in 2012 while its members were students at Sarah Lawrence College outside New York City, Slothrust built its sound around frontwoman Leah Wellbaum’s technically sharp, jazz-trained guitar playing and lyrics that swing between dark humor and real vulnerability. The trio’s catalog — from 2014’s Of Course You Do through 2021’s Parallel Timeline — has drawn comparisons to ’90s alt-rock and grunge while staying melodically stranger and more unpredictable than most bands working in that lane, a reputation that’s made them a favorite on the festival and club circuit alike. Wellbaum’s riffs regularly detour into odd time signatures and jazz chord voicings that reward close listening even in a packed room.
The Scoot Inn’s patio stage, with its laid-back East Austin crowd and string-lit back lot, gives a band like Slothrust room to stretch out the dynamic shifts that define their live show — quiet, off-kilter verses that explode into heavier choruses without much warning. It’s the kind of room where a band’s idiosyncrasies come through clearly rather than getting flattened by a bigger stage, and the outdoor setting lends itself well to a band that thrives on loud dynamic shifts.
Wellbaum has also built a side career as a visual artist and has spoken often about drawing equally from jazz, grunge, and classic rock influences, a mix that keeps Slothrust’s records from settling into any single easy genre tag. The band has toured steadily behind each new release, building a reputation as one of indie rock’s more reliably surprising live acts. East Austin visitors can extend the night at Hotel Vegas, a short walk from the Scoot Inn.
Doors are at 6 PM for this show. The venue is mostly outdoors, so dress for the weather and arrive early for a good spot near the stage.