The Uptown Bums began painting their faces as a joke, but the rock band's gag soon became a gimmicky part of its energetic performances.
A band clad in shiny clothing and glitter rubbed the Bums the wrong way in Milwaukee, Wisc., on its last tour. In a fit of drunken inspiration, the Bums painted their faces in response.
Nobody's disliked it. People kind of think it's funny
said Casey Casstevens, a guitarist and vocalist for the band. It's usually just kind of a lighthearted thing that we do.
The band will bring their painted faces and upbeat music to The Union, 18 W. Union St., tonight for a show set to begin at 8 p.m.
The Uptown Bums, which hasn't put out any albums, is comprised of four friends from Denton, Texas, a town about 30 miles north of Dallas. Casstevens is joined by Bryan Hancock (bass), Stephen Svacina (guitar and vocals) and Troy Tabner (drums).
The quartet's music is kind of like rock 'n' roll according to Svacina. It can even be different from song to song.
Casstevens and Svacina are students at the University of North Texas, taking advantage of their winter break to take the band on a tour that began in Denton, traveled to New York City and is now working its way back south.
As the Texans drove north for the winter, they've dealt with an unfamiliar entity - snow.
It's really cool to see the snow but it's kind of scary because I don't want to die in it (while driving)
Svacina said.
After battling through the snow and other elements, The Uptown Bums provide an energetic, entertaining show.
We're pretty tight
but we try to be energetic
Svacina said, speaking about the band's performances. It's like a sloppy band tried to play really tight
because we don't really care if we hit everything right.
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Culture
Adam Wagner
