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February 27, 2026

Alex Maas: “Honey Bee” [The Hole Story]

By: Taylor Wallace

The Hole Story is a new series from KUTX. Taped live on the front stage of Hole in the Wall – we’ve invited artists to not just perform, but also share the inspiration, meaning, or backstory behind each one. 

Opened in 1974, Hole in the Wall is one of Austin’s most legendary dive bars. It’s a launchpad for generations of Texas songwriters. It also happens to be right across the street from the KUTX Studios.

Season one features stories and sets from Shinyribs, Paige Renée Berry (Half Dream), Jonathan Terrell, Grace Sorensen, Hayes Carll, Carrie Fussell (BRUCE, Calliope Musicals), and Alex Maas (The Black Angels). Watch more episodes on the KUTX YouTube Channel here.


For the final episode of this season’s The Hole Story, we welcome Alex Maas – the voice behind The Black Angels, and one of the original founders of Austin Psych Fest (alongside Rob Fitzpatrick, and Oswald James, and Black Angels guitarist – Christian Bland).

In this set from Hole in the Wall, Alex shares the personal stories behind the songs he brought to our stage – including a new piece written with help from his young son and the presence of his newborn daughter. It’s a glimpse into how becoming a parent has influenced his songwriting in unexpected and tender ways.

With The Black Angels preparing to celebrate 20 years of their debut album Passover by performing it front-to-back at Austin Psych Fest on May 9, this episode arrives at the perfect moment to revisit the roots, inspirations, and evolution of Alex’s songwriting.


Episodes

December 4, 2025

Grocery Bag: “Watching TV”

Austin quartet Grocery Bag had a banger year, being handpicked to open for Osees and Frankie & the Witch Fingers and a stellar, dare I say breakout set at Levitation. That show put them in the crosshairs of Australian psych-rock group Psychedlic Porn Crumpets, who they will be supporting for a whopping 22 dates on […]

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December 2, 2025

Next of Kin: “Jekyll & Hyde” [Live in Studio 1A]

To say Next of Kin have had a successful year would be an understatement. After almost two years of anticipation, our April Artist of the Month released their debut Ep Homemaker in May, punctuated by two sold-out shows at the Continental Club. Since then, they’ve made their ACL Fest debut, modeled for Austin FC’s Live […]

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December 1, 2025

Gus Baldwin & The Sketch: “Itch” (Live in Studio 1A)

Every December, we celebrate the year’s class of 11 Artists of the Month by filling your airwaves, throwing back to Studio 1A’s and My KUTX DJ sets, and giving the year a proper Austin music sendoff. We’ll also be revisiting some of the Studio 1A songs here on Song of the Day, which means you […]

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November 26, 2025

Stephen Doster w/ the #9 Orchestra: “Goodness”

f you’ve been in Austin for any amount of time, and especially if you’ve called Austin home for a decade or few, you’re no doubt familiar with the #9 Orchestra, a group of musicians from a myriad of backgrounds who come together at least once a year to perform the songs of the Beatles and […]

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November 20, 2025

Judy Blank: “Cosmic Kids” (ft. SUSTO)

Growing up in the Netherlands, Judy Blank fostered an early love for classic American cinema. She’s married that love with her stamp of DIY-indie eclecticism, sometimes leaning more Americana (something she honed during her brief time as a Nashvillian) and sometimes dreamy indie-pop, but always poetic, seemingly effortless, and marked with that signature Dutch wit and brutal […]

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November 19, 2025

Matthew Payne: “Down In the Valley”

Singer-songwriter Matthew Payne‘s poetic Americana is salt of the Earth, evocative of both his Dripping Springs upbringing and nearly two decades as an English and creative writing teacher here in Austin. And with a stage roster that includes Hole In the Wall, Saxon Pub, and the Cactus Cafe, he truly is Austin Americana timelessness personified. […]

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November 18, 2025

Sweet Limb: “Who’s This”

While one taste may be in the name, the latest from Austin’s Sweet Limb is savory and brimming with umami. Historically, Sweet Limb founder Chris Robinson has performed with a band, but his new EP The Pastel Noise is all him, venturing into more experimental sounds and introspective lyrics, making the new direction more than […]

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November 17, 2025

The Goods: “April Fools”

Oakland underground music veteran Rob Good has been hard at work with his jangly, power pop trio The Goods, blending shimmery British Invasion-style energy with a bit of 90’s indie pop flair to create something simultaneously nostalgic and new. The follow-up to their 2023 debut EP is the full album Don’t Spoil the Fun. The […]

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