While on their U.S. tour, rock band The Criticals left a lasting impression after popping into Austin, TX, Antone’s Nightclub.
The Criticals are a Nashville-based rock band. The band was originally formed in 2018 by lead singer Parker Forbes and lead guitarist Cole Shugart. Other members of the band include musicians David Meadows (bass), Augustus Carroll (guitar), Caleb Hughes (drums), and Henry Craighenson (guitar). The band has been described as a classic indie rock band. Artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Strokes have been noted as influences in reviews. Their band name also doesn’t stray too far from that of those listed. The group performed at Austin City Limits in 2024 and has returned to the city to perform their new album. Their most recent album, self-titled, was released in September 2025.
Opening for The Criticals is new wave rock band New Translations from Nashville, TN. Recently, they have been making waves, having performed at the 2025 Bonnaroo Festival. They have also worked with bigger artists such as Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Michigander. In February, they released their debut album, Vacation.
During their set, they performed their songs “Lovebomb” from Vacations (2024) and “Potions” from their 2023 EP The Business. The band is led by the powerful vocalist Oliver Pierce. They threw it back and performed what Pierce said was their first song written together, “Sheila” (2018). They closed their set with their love song “The Wallflowers” from their 2021 EP high waisted. The song included an incredible synth solo that left a lasting memory.
The Criticals opened their moody set with their song “Keep Me High,” the opening track from The Criticals. The crowd lit up as soon as they recognized the next song as “Good Lookin,” a song that originally came from their 2019 debut EP Mimosa Hygiene. The song has been rerecorded and added to their newest album. They shocked the crowd when their song “Adoringly Drunk” blended into the intro of “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails. The sultry song was amplified by the darkness and intensity of the band’s performance. Afterwards, lead singer Forbes announced that the band had already been working on their next album and introduced “Junk TV” as a new unreleased song.The guys made sure to keep the setlist diverse and performed deep cuts such as “Clever Girl” from the Front Door Confrontations (2023) and “Absinthe,” originally from the Habits to Break EP, which they featured on their new album. They also performed new songs “Finger” and “Reba.” During “High Life Clinic,” a group of teenage boys towards the back of the crowd started their own mini mosh pit.
To sum up the show, The Criticals absolutely know how to keep an audience engaged. Undoubtedly, they left them wanting more. Austin fans can only hope the prodigious band will be back soon.
THE CRITICALSWebsite Facebook X
