Meet the Bands: The Haptics, Knuckle Sammich, Useless Amenities
Watch this space in the weeks to come as we provide some bio excerpts (serious and silly) for the participating acts in our 2023 Corporate Battle of the Bands.
This week we highlight The Haptics (formerly known as ReUnion Jacked from Cirrus Logic), Knuckle Sammich (from H-E-B), and Useless Amenities (from Cushman & Wakefield).
The Haptics (from Cirrus Logic)
Longtime HAAM sponsor Cirrus Logic has fielded a band at every Corporate Battle of the Bands since the event's inception. Music - and Austin's music culture - plays an enormous part of company culture at Cirrus Logic (note their Instagram handle, @cirrusrocks). Headquartered in Austin since 1998, Cirrus Logic has been an innovator in analog, mixed-signal, and audio DSP integrated circuits since their founding in 1981.
Winner of the Fan Favorite award for all but two years - and co-winner of Best Song in 2022 - Cirrus Logic's band The Haptics is inarguably one of the bands to beat.
“HAAM’s Corporate Battle of the Bands is a favorite of Cirrus Logic employees, and we’re thrilled to be back again as Presenting Sponsor,” said John Forsyth, CEO of Cirrus Logic. “Music is a core part of our identity, from our innovative technology to weekly guitar lessons and onsite concerts, and it’s why we love having Austin – the Live Music Capital of the World – as the home of our global headquarters. We are honored to be working with other businesses to not only put on an entertaining show, but to also raise money in support of HAAM’s vital programs for Austin musicians.”
Knuckle Sammich (from H-E-B)
Since the band's formation in 2009, the name "Knuckle Sammich" has become synonymous with "an unlikely mix of HEB co-workers who play listenable music on occasion," notes their bio. H-E-B
In addition to being the second longest Corporate Battle of the Bands event partner, H-E-B has a long-standing relationship with HAAM's Member Services team as a sponsor of HAAM's Basic Needs program. H-E-B's competing band Knuckle Sammich parlayed their hard work into winning "Best Showmanship" at last year's event.2022.
Starting out as an outlet to share stories of their exemplary customer service skills, the band has since "endured internal power struggles, bloody fist fights, and unspeakable name-calling to become what it is today ... a semi-likable rock band with no message whatsoever" (with a hilarious sense of humor, based on their excerpted bio and rowdy performances).
Dubbed "unapologetically loud rock and roll," Knuckle Sammich makes no pretense of doing anything but having a good time and melting faces. With influences too widespread to list, the band enjoys putting an original spin on popular covers, as well as writing and recording original music whenever possible. Knuckle Sammich continues to expand its list of musical interests, work stories, bad habits, schedule problems, and physical shortcomings.
Useless Amenities (from Cushman & Wakefield)
As new first-time band participants entering under the debut of the Solo/Duo category, Useless Amenities brings together two top-shelf brokers for some mid-tier entertainment. A tribute to a few of their favorite bands, what they agree on is anyone's guess. They fight about it every day at work. Here's to them not altercating physically while on stage.