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Dune. TX
Tasty Melon Records
Release date: In stores now

Grade: B-

By Christine McCreary
Daily Cougar Staff

With the release of its second full-length CD Machowagon, local band Dune.TX is paving the way for other acts to follow, as it takes its sound on tour.

Dune.TX is made up of Chris Sacco on vocals and guitar, Tim Herrmann on drums and Rusty Guess on bass.

The band was born in the Spring of '94 shortly after Sacco placed an ad which read, "looking for groovy players." Herrmann and Guess quickly replied, and the rest is history as the three continue to play together six years later. 

In the last few years the band has opened for such nationally-known acts as the Rev. Horton Heat, Better Than Ezra and the Goo Goo Dolls. Dune.TX, with a groovy psychedelic style all its own, creates a tightly-woven sound that is infused with groovy pop. 

At times the sound of this band is reminiscent of the sound of Sugar Shack, or perhaps Austin's El Flaco.

The band's musical influences included such groups as the Flaming Lips, Tripping Daisy, Jimi Hendrix, Superdrag and Astrud Gilberto, all of which seem to share in that peace, love, laid-back attitude Dune.TX portrays on Machowagon.

With lyrics such as, "I thought you knew/ I'm groovified/kinda live/ groovy like Willona/ from the show Good Times," featured on the album's title track "Machowagon," it's no surprise that this band's Web site is covered in a psychedelic tie-dye background which includes flashing mushrooms that look like they are dancing if you play the CD while watching them. Experience it yourself at www.dunetx.com.

Another note-worthy track on this album is "Flowers" which describes the ultimate hippie-chick with flowers in her hair, as Sacco sings: "It's kinda like being in love."

Machowagon is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!

Dune.TX will be playing on Saturday at Emo's -- the Manglers will open. The cost of the show is $1, (you can't do better than that.) Emo's is located at 2700 Albany.