Austin's Migrant Kids to premiere locally-shot music video at Old No. 2

Bryan O'Flynn (left), Miguel Ojeda (middle) and John Zakoor (right) are the trio that makes up Psych Jungle Rock group Migrant Kids. The band will be in town tonight to premiere their newest music video, "Thread", which was shot and edited by local media collective SledgeTV less Bryan O'Flynn (left), Miguel Ojeda (middle) and John Zakoor (right) are the trio that makes up Psych Jungle Rock group Migrant Kids. The band will be in town tonight to premiere their newest music video, ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Austin's Migrant Kids to premiere locally-shot music video at Old No. 2 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Tonight, for one night only, alternative rock trio Migrant Kids will play at every Austin indie band’s best kept secret: local venue, Old No. 2, 313 W. Village Blvd.

In addition to being one of the last shows on their tour, the band will be premiering their video for their song, “Thread,” at the show.

The video for the song which Miguel Ojeda, one-third of Migrant Kids, said is about a “relationship you shouldn’t be in,” was shot on-location in downtown Laredo, the morning after they played a show last summer at On the Rocks Tavern.

“It was beautiful. It was historic. There are lots of opportunities for that type of thing in Laredo,” Ojeda said. “Even in Austin, to get a permit for filming in a public space would be a pain. It’s cool that in Laredo we can just do it without jumping through any hoops.”

The band played in San Agustin Plaza for the video shot and produced by local media collective, SledgeTV. The impromptu concert in the plaza drew in spectators, shown in the video, and Ojeda said those were some of his favorite shots.

Ojeda, his cousin, John Zakoor and Bryan O’Flynn round out the trio that was named Best New Band for 2014/2015 by the Austin Chronicle and won the Austin Music Foundation’s title of Artist of the Month this past year.

The trio excels in creating deep, layered soundscapes incorporating post-rock riffs with a bevy of reverb, delay and effects drawn from stompboxes at their feet.

Their sound is further layered with exquisite drum fills that keep music moving, harmonized vocals and synthesizer arrangements that complete an enticing sound that the band self-identifies as Psych Jungle Rock.

Despite being well-established in Austin after moving there just about five years ago, the trio said they were drawn to Laredo due to its bicultural ambience — a feeling that brings Ojeda and Zakoor memories of their upbringing in a small town in Michigan. As migrant workers, their families moved from place to place during their childhood, and giving the band their name.

“Being from small towns, you hate the place where you’re from,” Zakoor said. “Growing up, because you don’t have access to a lot of cultural hubs, you don’t have cool bands going to your town. ...You know, there was no Latin Arcade Fire, or people that look like you doing cool sh-t. ...In Laredo, you see it in the kids’ eyes when they watch us play. You know they’re thinking, ‘Hey, I can do that too.”

Ojeda said he was taken aback when after their first-ever show in Laredo at Second Chance Records, 2919 N. Arkansas, a barbecue was held in their honor. “Holy Sh-t! That’s how they’re welcoming us? ...The city has influenced our writing. There’s a buzz happening there, and people don’t realize it. ...Laredo seems to hate Laredo. I don’t think people here are lazy, I think they just don’t know where to start,” Ojeda said. “There’s a weird disconnect. Laredo is not Mexico, but it’s not the U.S. either. It’s this weird in-between world. We’re stuck in the middle of these two culture clashes. ...Laredo is a way to put a name to what that feeling is.”

The band’s previous video for “Canvas of Me” featured shots of the band’s fanbase lip synching to the song in a montage. According to Zakoor, 80 percent of the fans who submitted video are from Laredo.

“We wanted to involve all the people that support us,” he said.

Migrant Kids first came into contact with SledgeTV through their show at Caffe Dolce.

“Chris (Contreras) and Val (Contreras) (co-owners of Caffe Dolce) have been huge advocates for creative collaboration,” Ojeda said. “We wouldn’t have met Rudy (Murillo, SledgeTV founder) if it weren’t for them… It’s amazing how alll these people are wanting to help. They believe in their scene, in their art, in their city.”

Murillo did a live recording of the band playing at Caffe Dolce and included it on their “Making Noise” series.

“We thought, ‘Wow, this was on the fly?’ This is amazing,” Ojeda said.

And so, Migrant Kids decided to involve SledgeTV on their next project which would be the “Thread” music video.

“Coming to Laredo has been a whole self-discovery,” Ojeda said. “We just figured we owed it to Laredo to premiere our video here, so that they can see it before anyone else gets to see it.”

The video will not be available for immediate streaming following its Laredo premiere, the band said, as it will go to national press.

Migrant Kids will also go back to work, finishing up their sophomore EP. They plan to return to Laredo once it’s complete.

They will be giving away signed posters, guitar picks and other goodies at Friday’s show.

Tickets for the show are $8 and available online at http://blivepromotions.ticketleap.com/migrant-kids/.

Live Music

Migrant Kids & Hours Quiet

Friday, October 16, 9 p.m.

Old No. 2, 313 W Village