Today we’d like to introduce you to Konami Code.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We started the band seven years ago with one thing in mind: play the best dang 90s/2000s pop-rock Halloween house show this city has ever seen. It was going to be the first show for Konami Code, so the excitement was off the charts. Our venue was a friend’s old house in the north campus neighborhood. We were all set up and ready to shred when our bassist flipped his amp on and, suddenly, started jolting with electricity. In a desperate fit, he tried to hand his instrument over to our guitarist… who was then joined in the electrocution. The grounding in the old house apparently wasn’t up to the task of not killing us all. Thankfully, a friend in the audience noticed the unfolding catastrophe and unplugged the amp.
We all survived, but after cancelling the show before playing a single song, and making a hospital visit to confirm no one had been hurt (or gained a cool electricity-based superpower), we went on a “maybe this band was a terrible idea” hiatus. It took us 9 months to get back to show ready. Since then we’ve played over 50 shows around town and a few more house parties, but still been electrocuted only once on a magical, almost lethal night where the universe said “you guys really better love playing 90s/2000s covers if you guys want to do this”, turns out, we really do!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of our ongoing struggles is realizing that a song we love in rehearsal doesn’t always translate to a live crowd. We’ve learned that a song’s success can be highly venue-dependent. Over time, we’ve had to master the art of reading the room, being flexible with our setlist, and knowing exactly when to cut or add a track on the fly to keep the crowd engaged.
Beyond the stage itself, there is the logistical challenge of getting booked in the Austin music scene. As talented and experienced as we are collectively, we are a cover band in the “Live Music Capital of the World”, and we are one of many. The bar here is set incredibly high which means we never take a single gig for granted. Ultimately, that struggle keeps us sharp, and we are grateful every single time we get the opportunity to step on stage and rock out for an audience.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are so fortunate to be part of Austin’s incredible live music scene, but we definitely carve out our own lane by staying true to 90s and 2000s rock. There is a deep yearning for classic nostalgia right now, and we work tirelessly to make sure we don’t just “play” your favorite songs, we create an immersive experience that transports you back in time. We also love a good pop-punk twist, so we frequently sprinkle in modern hits to keep the energy high and slightly unpredictable.
Our female-fronted vocals help us stand out from other bands in this genre. It gives us more range and flexibility, allowing us to re-arrange tracks to fit our signature rock sound. Right now, we are immensely proud of our new rock cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” We just debuted it live, and you can check out the video right now on our YouTube channel.
We’re also very excited and proud to have recently partnered with Sienna Productions, a local, women-owned event production company, to break into the corporate and wedding circuits. We are thrilled to grow in that sector of the entertainment industry and bring Konami Code to entirely new audiences.
What makes you happy?
At our core, happiness is playing the songs we love, with the people we love, for the community we love. This iteration of the band is incredibly special; we share a unique bond, constantly pushing each other to be the best musicians we can be while genuinely loving the process of making music together. We feel incredibly lucky to share our passion with crowds across Austin.
Nothing brings us more joy than putting on a show that allows people to get lost in the pure enjoyment of live music. Seeing familiar faces returning show after show is an amazing bonus, but it is just as rewarding when newcomers stumble into a venue and leave telling us it’s the most fun they’ve had in a long time. When the crowd is dancing and singing along to every song, the whole room lights up and so do we!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/konamicodeatx
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konamicodeatx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/konamicodeATX/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KonamiCodeATX
- Other: https://www.siennaproductions.com/
