Backstory:
Born amidst the creative and vibrant music scene of Austin, Texas, Self-Reliant Toe emerged in 2015. The band is made up of five childhood friends – John ‘JJ’ Dawson (lead vocals), Marcus ‘Markey’ Jennings (lead guitar), Austin ‘Ace’ Klien (bass), Thomas ‘Tommy Gun’ Gunnerson (drums), and Adam ‘The Brain’ Brainard (keyboards). They started jamming together in high school, then took a hiatus to attend different colleges, only to reunite and form Self-Reliant Toe after graduation. Their name is a nod to their independent spirit and their dogged determination to make music on their own terms.
Genre:
Alternative Rock
Title:
“Succulent Mirage”
Full Song Lyrics:
(Verse 1)
[G] Wandering the desert of my [D] heart,
[Em] Seeking an oasis in this [C] parched part,
[G] Met a succulent mirage on my [D] way,
[Em] That’s when I knew I’d found my [C] place to stay.
(Chorus)
[G] Oh, the succulent mirage, [D] It’s an illusion,
[Em] Painted by my mind, In vivid [C] confusion,
[G] It’s the sweetest deception, [D] a desirable invention,
[Em] I’m lost in this desert, with my [C] succulent mirage.
(Verse 2)
[G] Trapped in the sands of time, [D] waiting for rain,
[Em] The succulent mirage, [C] eases the pain,
[G] It’s unreal, it’s untrue, [D] but it’s my salvation,
[Em] In the emptiness, it’s my [C] imagination.
(Chorus)
[G] Oh, the succulent mirage, [D] It’s an illusion,
[Em] Painted by my mind, In vivid [C] confusion,
[G] It’s the sweetest deception, [D] a desirable invention,
[Em] I’m lost in this desert, with my [C] succulent mirage.
Favorite Fan:
Their favorite fan is Lisa ‘Loudmouth’ Armstrong, a high school teacher from their hometown. In her own words, “Self-Reliant Toe is more than just a band to me. Their music has seen me through the darkest and brightest days of my life. Their raw, energetic sound mixed with thought-provoking lyrics speaks to my soul. When I listen to ‘Succulent Mirage’, I feel understood, I feel seen. It’s like they’ve put my deepest feelings to music. They are truly the voice of our generation.” Lisa has been known to follow the band on tour during her summer breaks, and she is a familiar and much-loved figure at their gigs.