Thunderosa

Thunderosa has been called many things, but sedate is not one of them. The Austin, Texas, band’s aggressive blend of rock and punk has a Texas twang and relentless energy. AJ Mancabelli, Thunderosa’s frontman and songwriter, describes the band as “arena rock at dive bar prices” and the “soundtrack to an ass-whuppin’.”

Fans of southern rock and punk relate to Thunderosa’s unrelenting rock. Motorhead, ZZ Top, Motley Crue, Southern Culture on the Skids and Supersuckers fans have become Thunderosa fans, too. As Mancabelli says, Thunderosa appeals to “minimum wage rock-n-roll mother fuckers.”

Mancabelli has been in the music scene since high school, when he joined a cover band in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona. In the 30 years since then, Mancabelli has played in bands covering everything from cowpunk to industrial. He started Thunderosa in 1997 (he thinks), and since then the band has played with artists such as the Reverend Horton Heat, Southern Culture on the Skids, Mike Ness and Chevelle.

13 Questions with AJ