As rumours were indeed correct, the UK three-piece and powerhouse that is Muse
managed to fit a last minute SXSW appearance into their schedule – an
hour long set at Stubbs – an outdoor venue which holds little more than
1,500 people. If that.
I arrived during the encore break and found myself surprised when I was
able to walk straight in as the harmonica of “Knights of Cydonia” was
flowing through the wind – fans of the band climbing up the building
opposite to catch a gimpse. While this was the only song I caught, it
just so happens to be my favourite… so it really was all I needed. And
keeping it as their usual 8-minute epic piece, what more would anyone
need? Despite the low-budget showcase they were no longer used to, the
guys gave it their all – and I hear that the preceding set was just as
energetic. Where else but SX could you get an experience like that?
After a quest to try and find Perez Hilton’s party
(turns out it was on the next night), I made my way to catch one of the
best bands of 2009, The Antlers. Anyone who hasn’t heard Hospice yet,
do yourselves a favour and pick up a copy. It was our number 2 album of
2009 after all! But bring a handkerchief – this is powerful stuff, and
live they were even more powerful.
And that’s a statement I didn’t expect to say. Too
often these sort of bands are underwhelming live – but The Antlers were
the exact opposite. The sound that this three-piece create on the stage
gives Muse a run for their money – this is a precise, magnificent,
overwhelming performance that needs to be seen to be believed. And they
totally dominated the stage, leaving my jaw on the ground, while the
emotions of the performance left me literally unable to move.
Peter Silberman is mesmerising – his voice; chilling you to your core,
his guitar work; energetic and powerful. To all those bands out there
that just stand there, play their music and walk off stage – take a
note out of The Antler’s book. THIS is how it’s done. As powerful as
their music already is, they don’t rely on that alone to satisfy the
crowd. They perform and leave us all wanting more, exhausting our
emotions in the process. Single “Two” was an easy highlight of the set.
The way the song builds, and then hits you with lyrical splendour, is
truly magnificent.
It didn’t feel like everyone in the tent agreed with
me, however – too many spent much of the set talking by the bar. This
was the only downside to the otherwise flawless performance.
While I felt exhausted by the emotions of The Antlers, Les Savy Fav were
here to exaust me physically; Tim Harrington the commanding, insanely
energetic frontman of the NYC five-piece. Jumping into the crowd,
switching the lights on and off – pointing them at the crowd. Taking
his clothes off. Putting a wig on. Replacing that wig with stolen hats.
Pouring glow stick juice on himself in a room full of darkness.
Providing us with amusing anecdotes. Tim Harrington is the most
entertaining man to grace a stage since Iggy Pop. And much like the
icon, he can produce some pretty damn good music, too.
The last time I saw the NYC group was at the Gaelic
Club in Sydney – a Laneway Festival sideshow with The Hold Steady and
Thunderbirds are Now! in 2006. Here, over 4 years later, it hadn’t felt
like much had changed. “Yawn Yawn Yawn” and “The Sweat Descends” (the
latter of which ended the show) remain the audience favourites – and
Tim’s antics are almost predictable. But this isn’t a bad thing. They
know how to put on an aboslutely killer live show – and why mess with
what’s awesome?
The new tracks they brought out are sounding pretty
sweet, so it’ll be great to hear some new material from them, too. And
most importantly – with a very long day full of emotionally gripping
bands (Band of Horses and The Antlers) – an explosion of ridiculous
on-stage energy was the perfect way to say goodnight on this beautiful
Friday evening.
