📍 3Ten @ ACL Live — August 23, 2025
Written by: Krysta Ayers
I recently saw a meme that read something like, Men should put down the podcast mics and start forming bands again—and I’m here to report that the bands are being formed again. How lucky are we?
One such band is Austin-based Vision Arcade, which played a show on Saturday and shared the bill with fellow local bands, Rococo Disco and Flight by Nothing. In a great aural production, we were reminded why attending the local shows is always a good decision.
With a start, Vision Arcade declared the return of rock ‘n’ roll like we were in an early-aughts teen drama with a surprise musical guest (The O.C.’s Bait Shop had The Walkman, One Tree Hill’s TRIC Nightclub had Fall Out Boy…). And with their own twist on the genre, the four-member band—Max Robison (guitar), Rory Kendall (vocals + guitar), Connor Torres (drums), Evan Brock (bass)—is amplifying everything that is right with the rock genre at this moment.
Playing the show to launch their very first vinyl release (a compilation of their best singles), Vision Arcade had a setlist that spanned their career, highlighted the best of their talents, and gave me frisson (a beautiful phenomenon where your body physically reacts to music to give you chills/goosebumps).
In a musical haze, I witnessed as the band played “Spaceman,” “Youthful Heart,” and “Crazed.” Their sound hinted at The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, with a little bit of the upbeat and infectious melodies of The Vaccines.
When the band played “Lay Alone” from their 2024 EP Crazed, Rory’s voice moved down an octave for a sultry delivery of the question, “Why don’t you come grab me? / Afraid you’ll stab me?” Connor added punchy drum fills. Evan, on stage in sunglasses, kept the groove cool, and Max’s and Rory’s guitars played high-energy, funky hooks. With “I’m Gone,” Rory plucked his guitar with Willie Nelson’s brand of twang and sang about driving out of Austin. It was a slow shift in pace that head-bopped with every dramatic thump of the beating kick drum. And while these tracks might not be mentioned in the correct order (my phone notes are only semi-decipherable), each track solidified the band as a group to watch out for.
The eponymous “Crazed” gave Max space to play along his guitar neck, and the wails behind the chorus gave us a sweet introduction to the power and control he displayed for the rest of the show. What a delight to see this live, as well as 2023’s “Hey Honey,” (an immediate favorite), which provided a guitar solo from Max that hyped up the crowd. The way each member played off of each other for that song, while Rory, with keen vocal control, pleaded for his Manic Pixie Dream Girl to love him and “come break my heart,” was impeccable.
Whether it was Evan’s bass controlling new sections or keeping time of the song with a steady groove, or Max and Connor using their instruments to give the songs their dynamic characteristics, or Rory wielding his vocal range…they made space for rock ‘n’ roll to breathe and be fun again.
I’m so glad the guys are forming bands again.
Go listen to Vision Arcade.