Say “I Do” to War Bride
Interview takes place on October 8, 2026 at Francisco Studios in Houston, TX.
“War Bride is what you get when you can't pick a genre, and you don't want to anyway! Punk, metal, blues—it’s music you can shake your ass to. Only a year old, War Bride is already making serious waves in the Houston punk scene. Armed with an unapologetic message of standing up for trans rights, a firm middle finger to fragile abusive men, and an overarching life philosophy of "shut the fuck up and let's party" - Summer Watkins
High summer may have technically ended in Texas by October 8th, but the blazing sun showed little mercy to the participants of this year’s Burnout Houston at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. The Burnout Houston brings together car and motorcycle enthusiasts and local Texas music for an annual party like no other. The bill for 2026 includes the local band War Bride. Self-described as “genre-fluid,” War Bride blends elements of punk, rockabilly, blues, and hardcore into their original songs. In the face of the scorching heat, they delivered a loud, sweaty, captivating set. Their driving wall of sound blasted out over classic cars, rat rods, and choppers filling the open-air venue. Guitar riffs, drum grooves and bass lines are cut by vocals with a gritty, melodic bite. Each song balances attitude with sharp lyricism. Although the set was shortened due to high temps, this performance showcased the unadulterated energy that makes War Bride a standout act in the Houston punk scene.
War Bride is the brainchild of Summer Watkins, vocalist and co-owner/operator of Trip Six HTX. In late 2023, Watkins approached friend and guitarist Greg Loyacano with a confession; “I want to start a punk band." They started working on the project in early 2024 with drummer Patrick Ryan but immediately took a hiatus. Later that year, War Bride’s lineup was finalized with Gill Lira on bass. Combined, the musicians have decades of experience playing in local staples like Toxic Origin, Tricie and the Phantom Punks, The Cops, and Killhearts. Their collaboration accelerated by the end of 2024, with Watkins bringing a collection of song ideas to Lira, Loyacano, and Ryan. The four-piece began performing their original music for audiences in 2025.
Prior to working with her new bandmates, Watkins was told her method of writing songs is “wrong and weird,” but the three seasoned veterans instantly clicked with her unusual approach to songcraft. Watkins composes lyrics and presents them to the band a capella. She provides the heart and soul of the song, then Lira, Loyacano, and Ryan build the rest by finding the notes and chords that go with it. This synergetic magic is on full display during their live sets—where bluesy intro riffs can quickly explode into hardcore punk-rock stompers. The song “Skull” showcases a crowd-favorite secret weapon: the kazoo. "We call it the kazoo solo!" Greg said. "She jumps out with a kazoo and people are like, 'What the fuck is that?!' It’s a great hook, and it goes great with that song because the song is so wild."
Playing beloved venues like The End, 1810 Ojieman, Bad Astronaut, Black Magic Social Club, and Trip Six (which Summer operates), the band feels a deep connection to Houston's music community. While the number of bands and live music venues in Houston has exploded since Covid, the punk scene itself remains relatively small. Many area musicians are a part of more than one band, sometimes even several, and, despite the city’s massive population, the fanbase is very tight-knit. Loyacano notes that going to shows feels like "meeting up with your friends" where you can always expect to see familiar faces. Loyacano explains that going to shows and supporting other bands keeps artists visible, helps build reciprocal relationships, and ensures everyone stays connected to get future gigs. War Bride has received a warm reception from local concertgoers and they encourage everyone to extend that same energy to out-of-town acts too.
Photo by Robert Espinosa @click_and_destroyhtx Photo by Robert Espinosa @click_and_destroyhtx Photo by Robert Espinosa @click_and_destroyhtx Photo by Robert Espinosa @click_and_destroyhtx
War Bride is currently recording their debut album. With drum tracking completed and guitar, bass, and vocal tracking underway, fans can expect a full album release by the end of the year. While it’s exciting to be able to listen to their music at the push of a button, it’s best enjoyed live. If you have not been lucky enough to see them perform, check out David Clark’s videos of songs “Boiz” and “Strap” recorded at the Orange Show on his Youtube channel @spacecitymusic713. War Bride are also embarking on a short Texas tour in November with San Antonio's Fea and Austin's Boof. Don’t miss their Houston date on 11/12/26 at The End! Whether you're there for the human rights advocacy, the genre-blending riffs, or simply to lose your mind to a kazoo solo, one thing is clear: War Bride is here to throw a party, and you're invited!
Story by Heather Steward
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