Austin City Limits Music Festival brought us many new bands and a few bigger names, crowd favorites. I  am always rooting for the lil guy, the underdog, if you will.  I had been inundated with emails from PR reps introducing new bands.  I gotta tell ya, when I got this email “Space Capone is a breakout whiteboy soul-funk band out of Nashville, TN.”
I thought ……….”Ok,  this better not suck.”     Two minutes later my household was dancing along, One week later the songs are still stuck in my head. This my friends is no underdog.

With my fancy media badge and  backstage access, I scheduled an interview and watched the show Saturday on the BMI stage. The crowd was dancing , the music was even better live. We also  found out that this band from Nashville had one of the best horn sections standing in. Why the best you ask?  Well,  they are from Austin, Tx .(The Grooveline Horns).

As Space ( his friends , i.e. Me, call him Space. We are cool like that ) walked off the BMI stage there were fans waiting to greet him and tell him how amazing he is. ( Note to self, learn to sing and dance.)
He turns out to be talented, very nice and humble to boot.  So, let me tell ya’ll about this guy I met named Space Capone.

Drawing from the deep influence of early ’80s funk/soul/R&B, Space Capone has built a reputation across the Southeast as a band that knows how to throw a party while still making the music geeks tweak out and cut a rug. They’ve performed at Bonnaroo, CMJ, SXSW, and other festivals this year like Summerfest and the Hangout… their tongue-in-cheek funky swagger will bring a contagious dance party to break up the parade of Americana folk singers on the bill.

Definitely something different for ACL fest this year!

AFM: How does Austin City Limits Festival compare to Bonnarroo, SXSW and all the other festivals you have played in the past?
Space: With the exception of Hangout Fest , it’s very comfortable, which means a lot for artists. It’s not as heavily populated, ACL is in Austin that alone has a lot to do with it too. Nashville doesn’t  have anything like ACL fest . Just knowing your being watched by your peers (Austin has a bunch of musicians in general) your playing in front of the right people. It’s a good feeling.

AFM: How does Nashville’s music scene compare to Austin’s?
Space: That’s actually a good question, I think they are actually very similar.  Nashville is probably where Austin was at  10 yrs ago. They are both creative  places for musicians.

AFM: I think of Nashville as country music -centric……..is that correct?
Space : That’s a common misconception,  there is a big country music scene but that’s not the only scene. For example, people like Jack White, and The Black Keys are influences in Nashville.  I’ve been there for 10 yrs now and never crossed paths musically with a country  music star. I won’t cancel that out if the opportunity arises, but you now there is  enough going on in our music city (scene) that we keep busy.

AFM: Will you be back in Austin for SXSW 2013?
Space :  Maybe, if works out we would love to. We have 120 shows booked  this year, but if the dates work then we would love to be a part of it.

AFM: Is there any specific Austin venue that you would like to play?
Space:  I have  played at Antone’s before and I would love to get back there.
AFM:  It’s an Austin music legend.  Many of the best have and will play there.

AFM: Where did you get your dance moves?
Space: (laughs)  From  my momma.

AFM: In your video “I just want to dance” was that really you roller skating?
Space: (short pause and smiles)  Ahh it’s a body double, I  could of lied but I’m not a good liar.
AFM: disclaimer, he dances in most of  the video. He still loves to dance.

He may look like an accountant, but Aaron ‘Space Capone’ Winters is here to check your dancing pulse, not your taxes. Drawing from the deep influence of early ’80s funk/soul/R&B,Space Capone has built a reputation across the Southeast as a band that knows how to throw a party while still making the music geeks tweak out and cut a rug.
Currently in the studio at work on their third album, collaborating with the likes of Jerry Hey (Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind & Fire) and Jay Graydon (Airplay, Steel Dan), Capone’s follow-up to 2010′s “Volume II: Arrival, Arousal” is aimed at showcasing the staggering live presence of a tightly arranged powerhouse. Aaron Winters (professionally known as ‘Space’) co-produced the new material with Calvin Turner (Marc Broussard, Raphael Saadiq) and is swimming against the current of modern day pop.

It’s real, it’s passionate, and it makes everyone who hears it feel damn good. 
www.spacecapone.com