If ever in doubt of where to go at SXSW, a good bet is to pick a headliner you’d like to see and get there early. There’ll usually be a few artists on that bill who might surprise and impress along the way. Or, as I said here, the church is always a good bet, too. In any case, out of my desire to check out Warpaint and Band of Skulls at one of the House of Vans showcases at Mohawks, I got there early enough to check out a couple of the other acts on the bill.
First up was a trio out of the UK called Until The Ribbon Breaks, who take the award for most unique band I caught the whole week. With drums, keys and samples, they had an interesting blend of electronic and live elements throughout the set. They moved between high energy and atmospheric tracks with ease, with seemingly different vocal effects on every track, just to keep things interesting! I swear they even had a Gotye sample floating around in one of the early numbers, too.
Tracks like “Romeo” were funky and got people dancing, while they closed with a track that had an almost orchestral feel to it, supported by a heavy bass line. It’s hard to sum this band up succinctly, they just have so much going on. But believe you me, they’ll be the first band I check out properly when I get back to Australia. A refreshing act to see amongst a lost of music that blends in one to the next…
I caught German three piece Roosevelt next, with a similar drum and electronic setup, though laden with a guitar, too. After seeing Ribbon… this group couldn’t quite compare. It just didn’t have that interesting spark that the prior band did, though that’s not to say they didn’t have their moments in their own right. Oh, the wonders of timing!
Warpaint, meanwhile, certainly impressed with tracks like “Keep It Healthy” bringing us those nice grooves that the band are known for. Drummer Stella jumps between the electronic and standard drums with ease and skill, giving it a hypnotizing pace. “No Way Out” was a set highlight, with stunning vocals thanks in part to the epic refrain of “I can’t find my way”. Warpaint are one of the tightest and most entertaining bands on the market today, and they did not disappoint in this showcase.
Closing the night were Band of Skulls, who opened with “Asleep at the Wheel”, off their latest record Himalayan – due out at the end of the month, before jumping between songs new and old. A newer track with lyrics “…Crackle of sand/hear that coin drop…” was one of the highlights, and the track “You’re Not Pretty But You Got It Goin’ On” with lyrics like “your ears ringing, your knees burn” somehow summed up the SXSW experience in their own little way. Classic tracks like “I Know What I Am” were given extended intros and breakdowns to make it more interesting in the live setting, but for the most part the music is pretty similar to the record, with a dose of the great energy that the band are known for. And with the addition of the newer track with the lyrics that include “…whose house are you going to…”, with killer drum moments, what more is there to say about this band?
They always deliver and with the new stuff killing it live, it seems they’re only going to get better… and you’ll get the chance to see them back in Australia this June. We’ll know the new stuff better by then as well! Check out the tour dates HERE.
