On Saturday September 21st, rapper-gone-rocker Sueco took the stage at Empire Garage in Austin, Texas.
LA-native Sueco had his first major breakthrough with his 2019 single “fast.” The hit trap single got the attention of Atlantic Records, whom he signed with shortly after the track took off. His EP, MISCREANT, followed soon after, dropping in September 2019. While the album did well, Sueco set his sights on a new genre in 2021 when he released the single “Paralyzed.” The song got significant traction on TikTok, and suddenly people were seeing Sueco in a whole new light. Sueco put his raspy, emotive voice to good use as he explored his heavy pop-punk side, and success followed the singer’s new endeavors.
His second album, It Was Fun While It Lasted, dropped in March of 2022 and truly showcased Sueco’s genre-bending abilities. The 12-track collection included pop-punk, hard rock, and hip-hop influences and featured artists such as Travis Barker and Arizona Zervas. Sueco has only continued to follow his gut with music, and he released his first single as an independent artist, “Drama Queen,” in March of this year. That track, along with the popular single “Outta My Head,” appeared on his latest album, Attempted Lover, which dropped in July of this year, with much praise following.
About a month after the release of Attempted Lover, Sueco announced his 2024 North American tour. Fans were ecstatic to see the singer returning to the stage, and tickets sold quickly. A week into the tour kicking off at the beginning of September, Sueco brought the show to Austin’s Empire Garage. The crowd filled up the outdoor stage, waiting patiently for Sueco, with many fans trying to get as close as they could.
Around 9:30 PM, the singer took the stage with the intense “Bathroom Floor,” and the crowd roared upon his arrival. Sueco’s set was one filled with intense emotions and energy. From screaming his heart out on “Outta My Head” to people waving their phone lights to the stripped down “452AM,” the singer truly had songs to match every mood, and took the crowd on along for a personal journey through his life. Any artist that can ride a surfboard through a crowd one moment and sing painfully raw, moving lyrics the next, is one that is doing something special—and special is what Sueco does best.
I am a photographer and live music lover based in Austin and raised in Houston. I recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, where I studied Marketing and co-led the photo team at Afterglow ATX. I feel most at home where people are moshing, thrifting, or sipping coffee. My favorite artists include The Maine, Pierce The Veil, 5SOS (+ Luke's solo work), Waterparks, MCR, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles.
