Come and Take It Live – March 19
Y’know… I didn’t expect the most stressful part of the night to be parking, but that’s exactly how this show started.
It was my first time at Come and Take It Live, and before I even made it inside, I was already circling the block trying to figure out where to leave my car. Between the scammy QR code lots charging $10 an hour (which, for some reason, routed my payment to a guy named Juan?) and a sold-out show happening right next door at Emo’s, the entire area was packed. Lines wrapped around buildings, lots were full, and the whole thing felt rough before the music even started.
Protip: If you’re going to head out to catch a show at Come and Take It Live… uber or carpool. Emo’s also has a helpful parking guide on their website in case you wind up confused where to leave your car without getting towed or booted. But yeah, fair warning, this area is notorious for scams and tow trucks so just… good luck y’all.
Anyway, by the time I finally made it in I had already missed the first act, Chernobyl (which I was genuinely bummed about) but the energy inside the venue immediately made up for it.
Come and Take It Live has a smaller, more intimate feel than I expected. The kind of space where you’re never too far from the stage, and where the crowd becomes part of the performance whether you planned on it or not. Just be careful not to get stuck behind one of the half dozen wooden pillars around the floor.
Vilamoura
The first band I caught (and easily my favorite of the night) was Vilamoura, a local Pflugerville band named after the street the members all grew up on.
They played a quick 5-song set, including Morning Star, a song they collaborated on with Notions, and from the first song the crowd was pretty damn locked in. Since the venue itself was smaller, it felt like the music was reverberating through your ribcage. There was a constant mosh low pressure pit coming and going through out the set — not overly aggressive, but enough to keep the energy up and the crowd moving the entire time. I made quick friends with the people dancing beside me and overall, hella good fun dancing along despite not knowing any of their songs beforehand.
Josh’s screams stood out immediately and you could tell how naturally they fit into the metal scene. I found out later that they often work and tour with Notions so I highly recommend fitting these two into your show rotation if you see them coming out near your city.
What really stuck with me though wasn’t just the set, it was what happened after. I went over to grab merch and asked (half-jokingly) if they had any leftover setlists. Instead of brushing it off, Josh offered to handwrite one for me and had the whole band sign it. It was such a simple gesture, but it genuinely meant a lot. We ended up chatting for a bit, and he mentioned they play downtown Austin pretty regularly — about twice a month to be exact.
They’ve got that mix of talent and heart that makes you an instant fan. Hoping I get to interview them after another one of their shows!
Catsclaw
Next up was Catsclaw, coming in all the way from Omaha — and they brought the chaos in the best way.
This was probably the rowdiest set of the night. The crowd was ready for them, and they knew exactly how to work it. Their energy translated instantly, and the pit picked up in both size and intensity.
They had really solid crowd control, you know, the kind where you can tell they’ve done this a lot and they leaned fully into the heavier, more aggressive side of the lineup. It felt loud, fast, and unapologetic. Unfortunately for me and the people next to me, someone dropped beer from the top balcony… but honestly, I quickly let that go as I kept headbanging to the music. James Morgan was fun to watch, had a scream to die for, and all was pretty damn good by the end of the set. I was honestly sad to see them exit the stage.
Notions
By the time Notions hit the stage, the crowd was fully warmed up, and they took full advantage of it.
The frontman (Kalan Beal) has this super magnetic energy that pulls you in right away. He felt really connected to the crowd, constantly engaging and tying songs back to things like video games (Elden Ring references definitely landed for me). It made the whole set feel more personal and fun, even with the heavier sound.
They played tracks like METAL GEAR, YUGAMI, and MASK, and the crowd response was huge. The pit got noticeably harder here, and at one point we even had a guitarist crowd surfing, which just added to the chaos.
Out of all the sets, this one probably had the strongest crowd interaction — people weren’t just watching, they were in it. Kalan was in it. The damn guitarist was literally in it at one point. They bodyslammed a homie off the stage for overstaying his welcome (the guy crowdsurfed up, then stayed a lil too long up there.) Should you see them? Yes (at least once) to see if you vibe with this mix of metal and rap/R&B.
Volumes
Closing out the night was Volumes, coming in from LA. As the headliner of this tour they were out on the road promoting their latest album, Mirror Touch, which has received some pretty mixed reviews.
There was a small hiccup during their set… at one point we lost a microphone to the depths of the pit, but they handled it well and kept things moving without killing the momentum. I heard there was some tension between members on stage but I didn’t really notice until I heard the crowd murmuring out back after the set.
Their set leaned a little more melodic compared to the earlier bands, especially with songs off their latest album. I know their newer sound has been a bit divisive (some people love it, some don’t), but hearing it live gave it a different kind of weight. Michael Barr and Myke Terry hyped the hell out of the crowd and I enjoyed how they handled the crowd’s enthusiasm.
For me, Sidewinder and Bottom Dollar stood out the most — those were the moments where everything clicked and the crowd really settled into the music. It felt less chaotic and more immersive, which made for a strong close to a very high-energy night.
Final Thoughts, My Dudes
Even with the rough start (and questionable parking situation) this ended up being one of those shows that reminds you why local scenes matter so much.
A mix of local and touring bands, a venue that keeps things intimate, and moments that go beyond the music — like a handwritten setlist or a crowd fully losing it at the just the right moment — all came together to make the night feel memorable.
If anything, this show felt like a snapshot of what makes the Austin scene special right now: community, energy, and a lot of heart.
Just… seriously. Figure out your parking situation ahead of time. I don’t want you to get booted and pay a dude $100 to release your car. (Or you can carry a crowbar in your trunk and peel the thing off yourself…. but that’s on y’all.)