The Rise of West 22nd: Austin’s All-Student Indie Rock Band Takes the Stage at ACL
Austin is buzzing with excitement, especially with the Austin City Limits Music Festival in full swing. This year, the festival has added a unique twist that no one quite saw coming: a band completely made up of current students from the University of Texas. Meet West 22nd, a lively indie rock group that has captured the hearts of many in just a short span of time.
As you stroll through the press tent, it’s almost impossible to miss them. For one, they’re a group of college guys—usually a rarity at the ACL Fest. Secondly, you might catch a glimpse of them indulging in a good-natured moment, like punching holes in cans of water to chug them in classic college fashion. Their manager, Conner Kanaly, who is also a fellow UT student, quips, “Let college students into the press lounge, and this is what happens!”
In its 22 years, ACL has never seen a full band comprised entirely of current UT students, making West 22nd a special act this year. The band features Gabe Acevedo on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, Logan Madsen as the lead vocalist, Jet Beck on bass, Jeremy Ancheta on lead guitar, and Douglas Blatt on drums. Their name stems from West Campus’s enchanting street where they first began practicing music together in a cozy apartment.
From Jamming to Performing
The group’s first performance happened at a fraternity near campus just a week after their initial jam session in the fall of 2022. “We were leaving practice the day before, and I thought, ‘I think we gotta cancel the show, we’re not ready,'” Acevedo recalled. But they decided to go for it anyway. “They invited us back a couple times, and we just grew from there.”
Fast forward to now, and it’s impressive to see how far they’ve come. Last year alone, Madsen shared, they played an astounding 55 shows right in Austin, as well as in cities like Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, and Atlanta—which included selling out some venues with a capacity of 300. Their first single, “Sunburn,” has achieved near 2 million plays on Spotify. Not too shabby for a band that’s just starting out!
Success Measured by Connection
But while streaming numbers are impressive, Ancheta emphasized that what they value most is the connection they build with fans. “Honestly, a lot of that stuff, I’ll hear from someone else. Like, my parents will tell me about it,” he said. “What we really care about is seeing fans in the front row singing our verses, or when we’re booked to play ACL, and people are excited to hear our new songs.” That connection with the audience is, in their eyes, what true success looks like.
The band is currently in the process of recording their first album, with plans for a release in April. The excitement doesn’t stop there, as West 22nd is also gearing up for their very first headline tour across America this upcoming summer, dreaming of being a part of more festivals, and hoping to continue spreading their music far and wide.
Historic Firsts and Future Dreams
As they take the stage at ACL, West 22nd is blissfully unaware that they’re making history as the festival’s first all-UT student band. “Austin’s such a big music city, and ACL Fest has been going on for so long,” Beck said. “It’s fantastic. It’s a great feeling. Someone had to be the first.”
West 22nd is set to perform on ACL Fest Weekend One this Sunday at 1:30 PM in the Tito’s Handmade Vodka tent. So, if you’re around, make sure to drop by and catch these talented young musicians as they continue their remarkable journey. You might just find yourself singing along!
