Wonky Power, Parker Luis and The Lazy Bit Collective

If memory serves, it was The Strokes Open Mic night. I had moved to the west side of town and was looking for a break from the casual evenings after work. Wonky Power had always been down the street from the Canal Street Apartments but was so unobtrusive, I never noticed it till I saw the social media posts.

While in college, we had done an interview with a band known as Bang Bangs. The segment itself was Big Words with Andre Habet, and we interviewed the crew at Andre's multi room rental house. Who would have thought that members from the band would still be influencing the Houston Music Scene, operating/playing/owning Wonky Power records.

Earlier in the week, I had jumped the gun and arrived at the event a few days earlier than expected. Blame it on the mindless droning of a corporate workday, or maybe it was the anxiety that was hitting me that week. I'm not too sure, but I arrived after fighting rush hour traffic, ready to piss like a racehorse, that tasty Dr. Pepper I drank. I walked past the open doors and a few guys that were walking out and used the portapotty to the side. I stepped out and one of the guys I recognized as a member of the Bang Bangz. It was Vic.

"Hey dude, we're not open... the shows next week" to paraphrase.

"Ah wow, sorry my minds been elsewhere..." I hopped back in my car and had Moontower for dinner. Same great taste, but a fraction of the size it used to be and a lot more yuppies...used to just be social rejects. Story for another time.

Fast-forward a week later... the atmosphere was calm, lo-key and almost family feeling. The group of people visiting was small, but there was a little bit of everything for everyone. Small drink area, small stage, giant speakers ready to blow out your ears, a curb people could sit down on right outside the music area.

I bumped into Mario and said hello. We didn't have much to say to each other given the interview was 3-4 years prior, but I was always respectful of people and their presence, so I had no choice but to say strike up small talk.

One of the local politicians was trying to cover a song from The Strokes, "Someday". The evening was humid, I mean man this is Houston and it was getting steamy. Someone was serving drinks, and I was taken aback... "Parker Luis? Is that you?" He winked at me and I told my girlfriend "Hey that's the guy with the album." We went on to the main stage and saw Vic take control of the speakers. The intensity of the speakers plowed through you with its deep base and while the environment was enjoyable, we waited for the set to end and headed back to the west side. We wanted to stay longer, but we were transitioning out of the scene and had responsibilities to adhere to the next day (after all, this was a Tuesday).

We headed back to the house and finished the night with the Jack we picked up down the street from Wonky (this time they gave me tacos with the meat), but the power was exercised, and we were entranced by the music. The Houston Music scene lives on and the headliners are Wonky.

---

Post Your Thoughts about the Houston Music Scene the Forum @Local Music