Alt-country band The Droptines took the stage Friday night, April 3rd to celebrate the release of their sophomore album Drought Flower at 3Ten in downtown Austin, TX. 3Ten is the street level venue that spills out on to Willie Nelson Blvd. beneath the iconic Moody Theater where Austin City Limits is taped. Since The Droptines are one of the fastest-rising bands in town, the place was packed with revelers to celebrate the new album.
Primary songwriter and frontman Connor Arthur basically sang the band’s full repertoire during the 90-minue set, including all the songs from the new album, as well as the ones from their debut, self-titled album from 2024, and a couple off their 2022 EP 4 More (see set list at bottom).
Though Connor Arthur is most certainly the creative centerpiece of this band, seeing them perform live underscores that they are a “band,” and how important drummer Johnny Sheets, and bass player Dillon Sampson are to this project.
In fact, you get the distinct impression hanging around The Droptines enough that if it wasn’t for the assertiveness and vision of Dillon Sampson seeing The Droptines as a very legitimate concern with national implications, you get these sense they wouldn’t be where they are today. Like Paul English to Willie Nelson, or Richie Albright to Waylon Jennings, Sampson plays a bigger role than just the bass player.
Guitarist Donnchadh “Donny” Sampson from Ireland is the band’s newest member. With his rather Stoic stage presence and dark eyes, Sampson instills The Droptines with an air of mystery, while also bringing a level of creative vision to the music that’s really helped take it to the next level.
Steel guitarist and guitarist Tony Rincon is the guy that helps keep The Droptines grounded in enough country roots to keep them within the purview of country music, while also offering another texture to important lead parts.
And with Dillon Sampson being from Oklahoma, Johnny Sheets from Louisiana, and Donny Sampson from Ireland, The Droptines really do represent the crossroads of culture emblematic of Austin music, brought to bear on Hill Country native Connor Arthur’s songs.
They were also joined by singer Anna Rodriguez for a song, and the way she sucked faced with drummer Johnny Sheets before exiting the stage, it’s pretty obvious something is going on there. “Someone’s getting laid tonight,” Connor Arthur said—some of the few words he spoke during the set, except to thank everyone for showing up, and supporting them and the new album.
The release of Drought Flower isn’t just a big moment for The Droptines, who feel like they’re riding a serious level of momentum that might take them out of venues like 3Ten in Austin sooner than later. It’s also a big moment for the music industry trying to secure roots in Austin proper as opposed to Nashville always siphoning away talent from the city and the state.
As one of the signees to Big Loud Texas, The Droptines represent homegrown talent being supported locally to then find the foundation to expand to a national audience. Big Loud Texas co-founder and producer for Drought Flower Jon Randall was in the audience, as was the label’s Vice President, and previous Texas Music Office head Brendon Anthony.
But most importantly, many Droptines fans who’ve been with them from the beginning were there to celebrate the sophomore lift for the local band who feels destined to be one of the next big things from Texas.
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SET LIST:
1. Tarantino
2. New Girl
3. Trash Talk
4. Shape of My Name
5. Calling All Cars
6. Forget Again
7. Things I Ain’t Got
8. Take Too Much
9. Brucesteen Springs
10. The Salesman
11. Raining Where You Are
12. Grand Canyon
13. Army Green
14. Hyna
15. Something Special
16. Mamaw
17. Moonbug
18. Whatever It Is
19. Old Tricks
20. Banger
21. What Ate My Friend
22. Bill Of Sale
23. Town Near You
24. Silhouette
25. Snowed In
26. Tombstone
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