Having already taken in a whole heap of music during the day, my Friday evening remained a bit of a blank canvas right up until the night began. My first destination: Bright Eyes announced a ‘pop-up show’, however as essentially no one was let into this event, and gauging that fact pretty quickly, I made tracks back to Stubb’s for what would be my favourite night of music of the festival.
Hitting the stage as I arrived were The Vaccines, a band who proved themselves to be one of the first British bands in recent years to really hit the “indie rock” vibe spot on – without seeming pretentious and creating something unique – in the same way that I feel White Lies have achieved it in recent years, and Bloc Party before them. A prominent difference, however, is the slight 80s strain to their music – especially in the track “Norgaard”. “A Lack of Understanding” was a highlight of the set and I have to say, as many have in the past: this is one group who are living up to the hype.
Speaking of hype, few have gained it larger in Australia in recent months than City and Colour, whose Australian tour sold out in minutes – something even the promoters couldn’t have predicted. While a four piece at times, this is very much the Dallas Green show, a remarkable entertainer, a producer of some beautiful music.
The acoustic number “Storm You Can Weather” was a highlight of the set – a perfect example of just what this performer is capable of. A cover of Low’s “Murderer” was another top moment, but it was his own songs that shined the brightest. While it doesn’t feel like anything ‘new’ persay, there’s nothing wrong with getting to experience someone truly talented gracing a stage such as Stubb’s.
Since I arrived in Los Angeles (where I write this piece), one band whose name I’ve seen everywhere (accompanied by the words SOLD OUT) are The Airbourne Toxic Event, a Los Angeles ensemble who seem to have gained a huge following here. It’s with this reputation they pulled a large crowd in Austin, proceeding to truly impress. The best way to describe them? They felt like Bright Eyes, but with many more violins, and a bit more rock. Lead vocalist Mikel Jollett definitely had a Conor Oberst vibe going on – just a little less lyrically pretentious. I consider this band my ‘find’ of the festival, and have proceeded to hunt down their back catalogue. I suggest you do the same.
Belgium’s Scala & Kolacny Brothers followed – a unique act who are essentially a pianist, a composer and a female choir. Hitting their stride in predominantly cover material, you’ll probably know this ensemble best from the trailer for The Social Network, in which their cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” shot them into international prominence. Indeed, accompanied by a beautiful visual backing, there were goosebumps aplenty for this number, as there were in their covers of Foo Fighter’s “Everlong”, Manson’s “Beautiful People” and even Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody”. Never expected to experience something like this at the festival, and that’s indeed what SXSW is all about. Hope they make it down to Australia! They’re definitely a live experience not to be missed.
Thankfully missing the accident that took place at the venue shortly before OMD took to the stage (four people were injured when the scaffolding for a camera collapsed, pretty much just where I was originally standing), I made my way to the Central Presbyterian Church (make of that what you will) to catch the end of John Grant with Midlake providing supportive instrumentation.
Grant performs music somewhere in the vein of Keane, yet the lyrics are ridiculously hilarious. “Queen of Denmark” ended the set – a tale that left the aisles of the church in stitches. Check the song out below. Quite the entertaining performer, my only wish is that I caught more of the set! But then I might have missed the Brothers… ah, you can never win at SXSW.
Alas, it was Menomena I’d come to experience in the wee hours of the morning (we’ve hit 1am by now… calling these long days is putting it lightly). Having caught this remarkable band only briefly at Laneway earlier this year, and being instantly turned on to their creative energy, it was a joy to get to see them again – this time with more of a grasp of their music.
They worked well to excite the crowd, seeing the audience rush to the stage creating the closest thing to a mosh pit I’d seen in the church. The result was a high energy crowd, which the band fed off beautifully. I still need to get to know this band on record better – they’re so damn fine. “Muscle’n Flo” proved a particular highlight of the set.
Leaving the church, I managed to catch the end of Bombay Bicycle Club back at the British Embassy. They sounded just as great as they had in Canada, although their energy was notably lower – this had been a VERY long fortnight for the British boys, as it had for yours truly, and on that note we both called it a night. Oh, well I guess I can only speak for myself on this one…
