6 Acts To Look Forward To At Hi How Are You Day 2020

The third annual Hi How Are You Day is showcasing some big names in memoriam of the late Daniel Johnston.

Written by Samantha Paradiso

Every year, the Hi, How Are You (HHAY) Project produces a full lineup of live music on Jan. 22, the birthday of the late musician Daniel Johnston. The initiative was created not only to commemorate Johnston’s work, but also to promote awareness for mental health. Johnston, though highly successful as a musician, struggled severely with mental illness throughout his life. The HHAY Project was created to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness and to begin new conversations around the topic. Inspired by Johnston’s cherished mural “Jeremiah The Innocent,” HHAY Day founders Tom Gimbel and Courtney Blanton partnered with the artist’s family back in 2018 and created the concert

Hi How Are You Day 2020, held at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, features some exciting acts this year. But if you’re unable to attend, not to fret! Streaming website Stingray Qello will post a live stream of the event, in addition to a “Poetry on the Plaza” event hosted at the Harry Ransom Center at 12 PM on the same day, where musicians Tunde Adebimpe, Ethan Azarian, and Kendra Sells will interpret a selection of Johnston’s poetry and music as a tribute to the artist.

Cage The Elephant

The indie rock band comprised of seven members has garnered a large fanbase since its conception in 2006. The group’s 2019 release Social Cues explores different styles of rock and a variety of moods, channeling the soundtracks of the prolific John Carpenter’s horror flicks. The album’s lyricism also reflects a complicated and sorrowful period in frontman Matt Shultz’s life as he grappled with a divorce and the loss of two of his friends to suicide. Sharing similar interests with the HHAY Project in destigmatizing mental health, it only makes sense that the group is headlining this event.

Jason Falkner

Despite the musician’s classical origins, LA native Jason Falkner has been active in the pop scene since the 80s and has participated in numerous projects within the genre, juggling his roles as a songwriter and guitarist. Falkner has served as a member and guest musician to quite a few bands, including Jellyfish, The Three O’Clock, and The Grays, but has now transitioned to focusing on his solo career. Despite this shift, Falkner has made significant contributions to other artists’ work, including his production of Daniel Johnston’s Is And Always Was in 2009.

Dan Luke and the Raid

Dan Luke and the Raid are a newer band, but they show much promise. The Kentucky rocking trio released their debut album Out of the Blue in 2019, including their standout hit “Fool.” Self-described as a “coming-of-age crisis,” the group’s debut album unabashedly exhibits the gritty and unpleasant aspects of adulthood, matching the raw energy of the event’s other acts. For those looking to discover their next favorite band, their set is a must-see.

White Denim

Austinite indie rock combo White Denim’s music is influenced by a flurry of genres, including psychedelic rock, dub, soul, and funk. Active since 2005, the group’s latest release In Person is a 2019 live album comprised of 23 songs spanning over an hour. Aficionados of the live music capital of the world, White Denim describes their music as “fully capable of setting someone’s stuff aflame” with the following lyric as proof: “wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom.” Sarcasm aside, there’s some truth in their statement — the band’s reluctance to take themselves too seriously paired with their acceptance of art in its rawest, messiest displays allows them to “spark true rock & roll exhilaration.”

Katie Schecter

Though originally from New York, country singer Katie Schecter has made her way into the Nashville music scene, with her music described as having a “songbird style.” “Scheci” recorded her latest EP, Katie Schecter, with artists like Nick Bockrath of Cage the Elephant, whom she’s also engaged to. Schecter is no stranger to the Austin music scene, as she recently was a featured performer at the 2019 South by Southwest Festival.

Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio

Tunde Adebimpe has dabbled in numerous artistic professions throughout his career, including animation, acting, and directing. As the lead singer of TV on the Radio, Adebimpe has released an impressive volume of albums with the band. Serving as not only musicians but visual artists, TV on the Radio experiments with various genres like post-punk and electronic in their music. The band attributes their eclectic sound to their vast array of musical interests, citing Prince’s Purple Rain and the Pixies to name a couple. Although Adebimpe will be performing solo the night of, those who attend can expect a performance that lives up to the band’s reputation.

Though a great opportunity to check out some music, HHAY Day encourages all to check in on loved ones as well and ask the question inscripted in Johnston’s forever iconic mural: “Hi, How Are You?”

Visit the Hi, How Are You Project for more information and to buy tickets.