Bands rehearse at Arthouse

Walking through huge glass doors at the Arthouse at the Jones Center, visitors step into modern looking room with a simple desk and a staircase to the right.

Up the stairs, visitors will see a stage with audience seating made from scaffolding, small water bottles hanging from the ceiling and a band rehearsing.

The band and the structure are all part of the current art installation at the Arthouse.

Grand Hudson, an English artist, is hosting his first installation Rehearsal at The Astoria in the United States at the Arthouse. Rehearsal at the Astoria is monumental sculpture inspired by London's music venue, the Astoria Theatre.

The Astoria music venue was first open in 1929 and demolished in 2009. Many musicians such as Madonna, U2, and The White Stripes, performed in the London establishment and now Austin bands are given the chance to vicariously live a part of music history.

Arthouse and Hudson seek 150 musicians and bands from different genres to perform during the timeline. Local bands such as Polydactyl Hemingway, Stereo is A Lie, Candi and the Strangers, English Teeth, and Mother Falcon, have recently rehearsed at Rehearsal at the Astoria and more artists, such as The Boxing Lesson and The Nouns, have recently been added to the rehearsal schedule.

"The Rehearsals at the Astoria has quite a legacy and we are honored to be a part of it," said Jaylinn Davidson, keyboardist from The Boxing Lesson. "We actually have a chance to set up facing each other like we do at home and rehearse for whoever happens to be listening."

The thing that makes Rehearsal at the Astoria so unique as a show performed at a venue is that it is seriously rehearsal only.

It's used only for two to three hours for the public, all music genres are accepted, basic instruments are available, and it's all for the sake of arts.

"I love this concept. I love that the institution of art and the institution of music meld together in this setting. In my opinion, the inspiration for whatever your brand of art is comes from the same place. At the Astoria, they are able to meet, shake hands, and play hide-and-go-seek except with instruments and scaffolding," said Davidson.

 For more info and a rehearsal schedule for Rehearsal at the Astoria visit arthousetexas.org. Bands are still able to apply for rehearsal time.