Music Awards Showcase: Rockabilly, Texas Twang and Rock at The Mix

RAY TATTOOED BOY

The Hawks (of Holy Rosary), ready to present some new tunes

One-man band Joe Buck Yourself!, former guitarist for Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, is one bad motherfucker; The In & Outlaws are a bunch of hillbillies that can rock; Garrett T. Capps is another one-man machine that can either electrify you, embrace you with acoustic folk-country, or surprise you with the new rockabilly one-man show he’ll be performing at the Mix for this showcase; and the Hawks (of Holy Rosary), one of the most underrated, unpredictable and original local bands, who will play at least three new songs: “Shoes,” “Ticking Time Bomb” and “Charlie Horse.”

“They’re all great, can’t wait to play them at the Mix,” said keyboardist and backup vocalist Christine Roberts on Sunday, while she was driving back to San Antonio after camping out at UTOPiAfest. “I love playing at the Mix, I love playing on the floor, with the crowd around us, with that punk-rock vibe you get. You’re in people’s face and they’re in your face.”

This is the free night of the Music Awards—you don’t need a wristband to see it.

“I love that too,” said Roberts. “Free shows are the best shows to play.”

I got hooked on the Hawks when I saw them at Jack’s in February of last year, where every single member of the band proved to be a solid component. Roberts was no exception, and her stage presence, playing and singing are key reasons for the band’s appeal. She isn’t just “the girl who plays keys and sings choruses,” I felt then, and time proved me right: she’s been working on solo material with Roland Delacruz (Masters of Love, Cryin’ D.T. Buffkin & the Bad Breath), and on Friday (a day before the Mix showcase), she’ll be doing her first public appearance at Barriba Cantina’s happy hour at 5 p.m., with both of them playing guitar (she’ll do all the singing).

“I’m very excited about that,” said Roberts. “I’ve been working on these tunes that are very close to my heart, and [Delacruz] is an amazing musician who has helped me a lot, so we’ll see how it goes.”

So there you have it: the first-ever Christine Roberts show at Barriba Cantina (111 W Crockett) on Friday, and the full Hawks experience (and more) at the Mix on Saturday.