NY-based five-piece Tribe Society survived the beast that is South by Southwest, and they have mixed feelings about it. We asked them to document their journey for us, and they delivered. We’ve got sword fights, a pic from their biggest show, and one sad flute player. Check out their tour diary below.
Tribe Society also just dropped their debut mixtape, Delirium Sonata. Give it a listen.
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SXSW is an amazing yet horrible experience. On our first day out, we quickly found what makes SXSW incredible; anybody who has a passion for music can just set up on the street and rock the fuck out. Kinda like this dude making beats on tiny blown computer speakers that you can barely hear. His grooves were nasty but he might of been a little shy cause he was hiding quite a few streets away from 6th ave. Luckily our bass player, Rory found him and gave him two horns up.
It seems like there are all kinds of elaborate denim styles these days. Punk patches? Check. Sassy overalls? But of course. Before you run out to snatch up some of these trendy runway styles, though, it’s essential to make sure your closet is stocked with the more basic fits of women’s jeans. Read on for denim that’s just as flawless with a tee and your beat up Converse sneaks as they are with stilettos and a sexy blouse.
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Dark, Cigarette Skinnies
There’s no question that skinny jeans not only go with everything in your closet, but they’re also never going out of style. For this reason, it’s totally worth it to splurge on a pair of designer jeans.
We recommend True Religion and their Casey Low Rise Super Skinny Womens Jean. Want an even sleeker, but more comfortable fit? Try the brand’s Runway Legging in one of its darker washes. Wear them with a blazer on the job before slipping into something a little sexier on top post-work.
Ahh, spring. That magical time when the freezing rain subsides, the hillsides grow wild with kudzu, and Slingshot slingshots itself back into town. This year’s lineup is as eclectic as it’s ever been, but with significantly bigger names set to fill the marquees of Athens.
Arcade Fire’s Win Butler will be doing a DJ set as DJ Windows 98, as will James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. Reptar will be playing a Georgia Theatre album release show, and cameos will be made by Jamie XX of the xx and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra.
As always, your best bet is to buy a three-day pass. Here are the 15 shows we’re looking forward to the most.
15. Every Art Installation (seriously) (Thurs-Sat @ Creature Comforts)
One of the most unique things Slingshot brings to Athens is the wide variety of thought-provoking electronic art installations. Last year saw hand stitched QR codes, weather balloon projectors, and a ton of reinvented psychedelic imagery. Though the installations are spread across downtown, they’ll be somewhat centered around Creature Comforts. Check out the electronic artists page to see what you’re in for.
14. Ruby The Rabbitfoot and Viking Progress (Friday @ Hendershots)
Athens’ favorite chill pixie dreamgirl Ruby The Rabbitfoot will be playing Hendershots on Friday, in support of her recent release New As Dew as well as even newer material like “Hooky Queen.” She’ll be joined by The Viking Progress, whose appropriately boat-themed songs use the same sad, droning horn sections of Neutral Milk Hotel‘s past.
13. Cottonmouth and SEX BBQ (Thursday @ Go Bar)
Though the billing may sound like a picnic gone horribly wrong, don’t sleep on either of these bands. Cottonmouth‘s alien sounds would fit in well with the electronic art crowd – though “avant hip-hop” is thrown in occasionally, this is a group of whacked out sonic explorers. Atlanta-based SEX BBQ are a little more Ath-traditional, with surf guitars bumping up against coy vocals and playful rhythms.
12. Shehehe, Little Gold, and Pinecones (Thursday @ Little Kings)
Shehehe are a good time any way you slice it. Whether it’s the straight-ahead punk of “Rollin'” or the Corin Tucker-aping “Hail Vagina”, they are in the lucky position of keeping several punk traditions alive. Little Gold, on the other hand, bring trashy Detroit-inspired rock and roll to the table. But what would an Athenian fest be without some indie psych? To be sure they are (generally) a psychedelic band, and their sound is concise but sometimes hard to pin down. Their recent single “Sleep Is Forget” plays like the Byrds fed through Ian MacKaye’s tube amp.
11. Salad Days Screening
Speaking of Ian MacKaye, every punk and hardcore band Athens has ever hosted owes much of their sound to the D.C. hardcore scene of the 80s and 90s. Obviously artists like Minor Threat, Fugazi, and Government Issue ring out, but Salad Days digs deeper into the Dischord vault. Check out the trailer here.
10. Normaltown Records Showcase feat. Dave Marr, Cicada Rhythm, and Daniel Romano (Saturday @ Caledonia)
Here at Vinyl Mag, we love ourselves some Normaltown, so their showcase on Saturday is a must for those getting overwhelmed by the explorative nature of psychedelic rock. Rootsing things down will be Cicada Rhythm with their particular brand of almost jangle noirgrass, plus the back-to-basics country crooning of (somehow Canadian) Daniel Romano. Athens legend and Man About Town Dave Marr will also be there, so, you know, ’nuff said.
9. Comedy Night feat. Kurt Braunohler, Ron Funches, and Kyle Kinane (Saturday @ Morton)
Slingshot also brings the laughs every year, and in 2015 we’re lucky enough to host these big names in alt comedy. That podcast you listen to? Kurt Braunohler has most likely guested on it. And don’t forget his IFC gig hosting the absurd gameshow Bunk!. Ron Funches has rolled through various late night standup corners to muse about Black tuba players and the inherent freakiness of identical twins. Kyle Kinane has guest starred in a ton of shows and movies, and his specials Whiskey Icarus and I Liked His Old Stuff Better show his wide comedic range.
8. Ryley Walker, Roadkill Ghost Choir, and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra (Thursday @ GATH)
Like the Normaltown showcase, Thursday’s GATH shows will be stripped down and based in purer southern traditions. Roadkill Ghost Choir play a shimmering, steroid-popping type of noirgrass that occasionally slips into War on Drugs territory. Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra drops the yowling southern shoegaze affectations when he goes solo – most of his songs are him and an acoustic, featuring more personal and plaintive songs about growing up as a pastor’s kid. And Ryley Walker’s Voice Of The Seven Thunders-esque guitar work is a can’t-miss; he’s also something of a vocal dead ringer for Jim Morrison.
7. Kenosha Kid Album Release w/ Etiene de Rocher (Saturday @ Hendershots)
Athens being the Classic City, the old is bound to intermingle with the new. This juxtaposition will be in full swing on Saturday with the jazz stylings of our own Kenosha Kid, and Etiene de Rocher, an Athens transplant from the Bay Area. Kenosha Kid are known for modern reinterpretations of stalwart jazz ideas, and they play Hendershots all the time so they’re very comfortable in that space. Etiene de Rocher’s music is a grab bag of 60s and 70s influence, and songs like “Juniper Rose” sound like a newly-discovered section in “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”.
A hometown Reptar show is a special thing to behold, but throw in an album release and you’ve got grounds for another broken floor (hopefully the Theatre is built better than that.) The Joyful Noise recruits will be joined by Skylar Spence, who are similarly funk-sample laden. And make sure to get there early for Fascinator, whose of Montreal-emulating visuals pair nicely with their paranoid, ravine-jumping, Beastie Boys-emulating sound.
5. Single Mothers and Monsoon (Friday @ Live Wire)
The beach-punk-spazz stylings of Monsoon is probably the best live show in Athens right now, so see them any chance you get. Playing alongside them on Friday at the Live Wire (formerly New Earth) is the Canadian hardcore four piece Single Mothers, who sound uncannily like a pissed off Hold Steady.
4. Japan Nite (Thursday @ Live Wire)
Japan Nite 2014 was a festival highlight, so don’t expect anything to change this time around. Peelander-Z are making a colorful return to Live Wire, along with fellow Japanese punkers Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, Quorum, Bo-Peep, and Zarigani$. The fin. will be there to slow things down a bit, with their melodic M83-influenced plinks. God Bless America and all that, but expect these whippersnappers to remind us what punk started as in the first place. There will be leather jackets, and there will be ‘tude.
3. Night of Too Many DJs feat. Michael Lacowski of Pylon, DJ Windows 98 aka Will Butler of Arcade Fire, and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (Saturday @ GATH)
Okay, when these names are all sharing the same stage, “too many” doesn’t really apply. Deejaying may not be the same as seeing these folks’ full ensembles, but consider the wealth of musical knowledge that will inhabit the Theatre on this night. This will be the dance party to end all dance parties.
Our showcase will be kind of trippy, man, so prepare yourself. Dream Boat do indeed sound like a boat to your dreams – they create experimental, faraway sounding beats that vaguely resemble church bells. Prince Rama are more concerned with melodies, but are similarly characterized by distance – their heady songs have Warpaint grooves and creepiness, with plenty of chanting, obviously. Nightmare Air are what you might imagine an all-werewolf band to sound like – dark, loud, and dangerous, but still pretty compelling.
Mind Brains are one of the latest iterations of Athens’ storied psych scene, featuring former of Montreal and Olivia Tremor Control players. Like its predecessors, Mind Brains have invented a world for themselves; they classify themselves with monikers like “experimental” and “muffins”, and their press kit states thusly: “Mind Brains’ new album drops on Hamuary 666th, 1945, and hearing it is not unlike happening upon a horde of corrupted Gregorians using garbage-picked toys and circuit-bent home-aids to worship at the high pagan monoliths of Silver Apples, Tubeway Army and Chrome.” Nana Grizol use crunchy indie rock to backdrop singer Theo’s sad, emotive lyrics, and while they may not be as quirky as Mind Brains, they’re a little more danceable. Horns and handclaps will be plentiful.
This year’s installment of our beloved Slingshot Festival is fast approaching (March 26-28), and we can’t wait to see this year’s incredible lineup live and in person. Slingshot is an event that forces perspective, whether it’s through the mind-bending electronic art, horizon-expanding films, or worldly and forward-thinking musicians. Though no playlist could do these artists justice, here’s a collection of high-quality songs to give you a sense of just how diverse and talented this year’s acts are.
Carrie Brownstein, undeniable queen of the hipsters, finally gave her autobiography a name and birthday. Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl will hit shelves on October 27, and we can’t wait to read it. Its title comes from notable Sleater-Kinney track “Modern Girl”, so we wondered what alternate titles may have been floating around for the Portlandia star.
Society Makes Me A Sad Girl
Cardboard Clad
Come Be The First In Line (To Buy This Book Of Mine)
Excuses 1-16
Riot Grrl & Riot Grrl First
Long Version
I Wanna Be Your Miranda July
Ask Me About My Relationship With Corin One More Time I Swear To God
Running around Austin at hyper speed while trying to scarf down a taco can be daunting at best, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite acts you should take care not to miss this year. Happy Hunting!
20. Hey Marseilles
Hey Marseilles is a 7-piece orchestral band with folk elements not unlike that of The Decemberists. With a propensity for story telling through melody, Hey Marseilles could be perfect for those looking for adventure.
See them at Parish on Friday, March 20.
19. Thee Oh Sees
Less than a year after they released their album Drop, Thee Oh Sees have announced that they have another on the way. Mutilator Defeated At Last is not coming out until May, but surely we will be able to preview some of it at one of their many shows in Austin this year.
18. Gringo Star
Siblings Nick and Peter Furgiuele have earned the right to call themselves tenacious. Having appeared alongside acts like Best Coast and The Black Lips, Gringo Star has been creating indie melodies for years and is a fixture in the Atlanta community.
Check them out at The Pizza Loft (301 Chicon St.), March 20.
17. DeLorean
The feel good beats of DeLorean hail from Barcelona, Spain where, let’s be honest, they know a thing or two about dance music. Named after the time machine in Back to the Future, DeLorean has an uncanny ability to persuade everyone in the room to move their bodies. Unfortunately their shows haven’t been announced but no worries; where we’re going we don’t need roads!
16. Angus and Julia Stone
This brother and sister duo hit it big with their song “Big Jet Plane.” Their self-titled album Angus and Julia Stone is an elegant example of folk rock’s simplicity and candor. Catch them at various venues in Austin.
15. La Luz
Surf rock with an edge and a message. That’s what you get with La Luz, featuring vocals that channel Nico and an ominous organ.
Check them out at Hotel Vegas Patio (1500 E 6th St) Friday, March 20.
14. Ballet School
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why we love Ballet School so much. Perhaps it’s because they use the dreamiest elements of 80’s synth pop to transport us to a simpler time of trapper keepers and neon leg warmers. I digress. Be sure to check out their album The Dew Lasts an Hour and keep a lookout for them in Austin.
13. Charlotte OC
Charlotte OC’s vocals are haunting account of heartbreak similar yet unique to that of Banks or Kimbra.
We think this incredible artist is going places fast, so do yourself a favor and check her out at Latitude 30 (512 San Jacinto) Friday, March 20. RSVP here.
12. Kelela
Kelela’s smooth vocals paired with interesting synth layers make for a unique ebb and flow sure to make for a great performance. She just announced the release of her new EP Hallucinogen in May so maybe we will get to hear a few tidbits in Austin.
11. Surfer Blood
Surfer Blood is everything you’ve ever wanted on that summertime mix tape you’ve been meaning to make.
Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll get a sneak peak of their new album 1000 Palms, due out in May, at their show at Lamberts (401 W 2nd St) on March 18.
10. Lois & the Love
Lois & the Love have been tempting us with singles for years but they are finally set to release in their first album this summer, aptly named Love is Louder. We suggest you take the opportunity to see their powerhouse performance before they really blow up.
9. Dry The River
Sure, Dry The River made waves with their 2012 LP Shallow Bed but an obvious shift to edgier lyrics and melodies can be heard in their newest album Alarms in the Heart.
But don’t take our word for it; see for yourselves at Buffalo Billiards (201 E 6th St) Tuesday, March 17.
8. Alvvays
What better way to celebrate the fresh spring Austin air than to let Alvvays’ sun drenched rock & roll wash over you like a rogue wave.
Molly Rankin infectious stage presence is not to be missed this year at Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St) March 19.
7. Palma Violets
If you happen to be the kind of person always looking for an album you can listen to all the way through without skipping a song, look no further than Palma Violet’s 180.
The Londoner’s psychedelic, garage-rock vibes will be on display at Parish Thursday, March 19.
6. Twin Shadow
Florida native George Lewis Jr. is bringing back 80’s inspired chillwave in a big way. His unique electronic melodies and his smooth vocals are the perfect way to unwind after a long day of show hopping.
His third album Eclipse drops right before his performances at Stubb’s BBQ March 20.
5. Courtney Barnett
Australian artist Courtney Barnett’s deadpan vocal delivery mixed with her folky-garage rock style is refreshing and just fun to listen to.
She’ll be playing her entire debut full-length album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit at Stubb’s BBQ on Wednesday, March 18.
4. Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels is the incredible brainchild of rappers Killer Mike and El-P. From their first self-titled album Run The Jewels to the sequel Run The Jewels 2, these guys don’t hold back and continue to blow us away.
See them at Stubb’s BBQ on Friday, March 20.
3. Odesza
Consisting of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, this electronic duo is sure to put on a good show. Their hit song “Say My Name” featuring Zyra is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
If it’s dancing you want, it’s dancing you’ll get at their show at Parish, Wednesday, March 18. RSVP here.
2. BØRNS
Garret Borns’ sweet falsetto croons are just what you need to get you into the SX spirit. It’s pretty difficult to listen to his EP Candy without getting inspired so we dare you to try it.
Catch him at Parish (214C E 6th St) Wednesday March 18. RSVP here.
1. Stromae
It’s fitting that Paul Van Haver chose to be known as Stromae, which means “maestro” in French vernacular. He’s been conducting entire nations to get out of their seats and dance to his hit song “Papaoutai”. Up until now it’s been pretty hard to catch him live in the States so we suggest you take advantage of this awesome opportunity.
Playing at Stubb’s BBQ (801 Red River St) Wednesday, March 18.
In five years, a lot can happen. Most students will complete their secondary education in less time. Even a president’s first and possibly only term is over and done in four years. For the British electronic pop trio Years & Years, five years is what was needed to generate substantial waves on the blogosphere and British radio.
The band was fully formed back in 2010 when vocalist Olly Alexander joined the then quartet following bassist Mikey Goldsworthy hearing him sing in the shower. Then in 2013, the now trio signed with French record and fashion label Kitsuné – which is home to artists like Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, and Hot Chip.
Moving forward, the trio released two commercially unsuccessful singles, despite being critically acclaimed by music journalists and bloggers. This opened a doorway for the band the following year when the group signed to Polydor and gained recognition for its first release “Take Shelter.”
Fast forward to 2015, and the band has certainly captured the attention of the world after being named the winner of the BBC Sound of 2015 poll. Years & Years were quick to springboard off the promotion and release the Y & Y EP not even a month ago.
Alexander’s voice can fit into nearly any situation, from the boy band tinges in “Desire” off the now trio’s latest extended play the Y & Y to an emotionally affected and uncredited feature in the explosive garage house anthem “Stronger” off Clean Bandit’s New Eyes. Band member and beat maker Emre Turkmen is able to play off the strength of Alexander’s chameleon vocals to create a majestic yet atmospheric soundscape as evidenced in the euphoric “King.”
“King” is truly unlike anything I’ve heard in the last year and definitely a song most mainstream pop acts would have killed to use as their own single. The soaring vocal hook is coupled with a synth mimicking a royal procession as a deeper bass grinds away underneath. It’s extremely easy to get lost in the various components of the song and that’s not a bad thing in this case because it shows that each layer is interesting on its own.
https://soundcloud.com/yearsandyears/king
The EP ends on a less upbeat note with the simple downtrodden piano ballad “Memo” as Alexander sullenly airs his feelings out to an unknown lover “Who wouldn’t want it when he looks like that? / I want you stay / and if I try my hardest, would you look my way?”
Years & Years’ age and musical versatility is exhibited in a fleeting 15 minutes and hopefully the group is able to continue its momentum by making its way stateside either on its own or as an opening band. The breath of fresh air it offers is much needed in both American pop music and British pop music. Don’t sleep on them for too much longer or you’ll find yourself in the dust this time next year.
In it’s fifth year of operation, Savannah Stopover is quickly growing into one of the more respected and well-known festivals in the southeast, having played host to acts such as Grimes, Future Islands, The War on Drugs, Wye Oak, Small Black, Diarrhea Planet, St. Lucia, Haerts, Mac Demarco, and oh so many more since it’s inception. This year is no exception, boasting headliners ASTR, San Fermin, Generationals, Computer Magic, Lee Bains, and French Horn Rebellion, amongst plenty other noteworthy acts.
But, being a new transplant to Savannah and having had the opportunity to dig into the incredibly vibrant music scene here, I’d like to lend a preview of some of the standout local acts on this year’s lineup. Keep these folks on your radar; things are bubbling and brewing here in Savannah, and my money’s on a number of these acts to break out on the national level sooner than later.
You can view the full schedule here, and tickets are still available for purchase here.
Triathlon
Triathlon might just be the next “big thing” to come out of Savannah. Having just released a new album Lo-Tide on Broken Circles Records and with an official acceptance to SXSW 2015, keep your ears out for their self-described “Motown surf sounds with a twist of experimental sketchyness.”
Think a more gritty, experimental Crystal Castles. Gus Muller puts to work an array of electronics creating sounds both eerie and danceable while Jae Matthews delivers intense vocal performances ranging from whispered storytelling to shouting chants.
See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 10:00pm – 11:00pm
The senior-figure in this group of mostly new artists, Cusses have been stalwarts of the Savannah rock scene since 2009. They are preparing the release of a new full-length Golden Rat, the follow-up to their debut self-titled LP, with an EP release scheduled for May 5. They’re playing Saturday night at the Jinx with Diarrhea Planet; expect it to be crowded.
See them: Saturday March 7, 2015 11:00pm – 12:00am
The first time I saw Crazy Bag Lady, I was standing in the back of the crowd tweeting a photo I had just taken of frontman Josh Sterno hanging from the rafters of the building when I suddenly found myself being boa-constrictor-style wrapped with his microphone cord as he stomped in circles around me; obviously a statement for me to get off my damn phone. This could stand alone as a description of what to expect at a CBL show, but the more this group plays, the more their music is catching up with their antics, blending classic punk rock with new noise and an experimental approach.
All the things one can love about rock n roll and power pop are encapsulated in this fairly young but incredibly talented band who since the release of their debut EP Homecoming in 2014, have steadily grown to be one of the more established acts in the Savannah scene due both to their veteran lineup and incredibly energetic performances.
The solo project of Crazy Bag Lady drummer Daniel Lynch, Sunglow offers experimental electronic music that teeters between danceable pop and otherworldly weirdness. His newest album Nothing Doing is out on local label Furious Hooves.
With a long history as a touring bassist for many nationally established acts, Nightingale News is the passion-filled solo project of Athens, GA transplant Coy Campbell. His new album Bell Rope is his first declaration as an unchaperoned songwriter and a powerful statement to his independent abilities.
“Think of it as a spiritual supergroup of drone sending you into your mind’s eye for a discussion of reincarnation,” as described in the band bio. Blackrune at it’s core is the trio of Chris Goggans, Matt McCullough, and PM Goerner, but expect a special performance with a slew of other local talent stepping up to fill out the Blackrune Circle Esoteric Orchestra.
Curb Dog are a brand new group consisting of frontman/guitarist Max Buckner, bassist Coy Campbell (Nightingale News), guitarist James Chapman, and drummer Luis Salazar. Campbell refers to their sound as “rock n roll with a pop spine” with some recollections of Dinosaur Jr. and Real Estate to be heard in their sometimes-shiny-sometimes-crunchy guitar rock sound.
Rachael Perisho of mumbledust finds a solo outlet in her ambient, minimal folk project Heavy Boots. With Triathlon backing her in live performances as of late, expect a fuller sound with Perisho’s hauntingly beautiful vocal presence still taking center stage.
The eagerly anticipated (and briefly leaked) third season of House of Cards is premiering this Friday on Netflix. To get you primed and righteously indignant for Shyamalen-scale twists and shameless subterfuge, here’s a playlist containing some of the best political opinions ever put to tape.
Yes, there’s plenty of punk and Vietnam-era ranting. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” was obligatory, and no political playlist is complete without Rage Against The Machine. And even though the average musician tends liberal, not all of the songs on here are anti-government – take Toby Keith’s infamous post-9/11 “Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue.”
But most are negative, cynical, furious commentaries on war, capitalism, or race relations. Arcade Fire even show up to lay down a subtle look at imperialism. And as The Clash and Sex Pistols prove, political dissatisfaction is a big-time worldwide issue. So without further ado, get your activism (or, you know, Netflix binging) on.
This past Thursday night at the 40 Watt saw a packed, diverse evening of what rock has been up to in the past three decades. It was also the debut event for local startup Aria Promotions, and they did a damn good job – the show was almost sold out.
Opener Juna delivered sludgy, math-intwined boomers. Between the Prozac haze guitar chords, quirky time signatures, and buffet table drumming, they definitely qualify as new members of the emo revival. A few of their meandering guitar noodles seemed ripped straight from a Sunny Day Real Estate record. Despite technical issues at the beginning of the set, they were still able to churn out winding high-passion sonic explorations. Lead singer Hunter Whitehead is probably the most impassioned bassist the Classic City has ever seen, and I was halfway convinced drummer Sasha Schilbrack-Cole was gonna permanently maim his kit. They were also really, really loud – once again, thank the heavens for We’re hEAR For You.
Waitress was up next, and at this point it seemed that the night existed on an exponential \m/(>.<)\m/ graph. They sounded like a Black Flag-Descendents intermediary, and even on their slower, more intricate songs, they still sounded like a metal Dismemberment Plan. Lead Brian McGhee was beyond delightful, basically standing in as a stand up between their ultra-tight songs. He waxed poetic about everything from Clickhole to Cliff Bars, and was charitable enough to tell each of his bandmates just how hot they are. In terms of straight technicality, the night went to drummer Ryan Houchens, who gave me Whiplash if you know what I mean.
But then Monsoon took the stage, and holy SHIT. For just three Athens kids, they made a whole lot of really great noise. Singer and guitarist Sienna was a natural showwoman, prowling and climbing the stage like a feral bilingual lunatic. Their pseudo-Americanized J punk / coked up Beach Boys vibe is something I’ve been searching for my whole life and didn’t even know it. If Clocked were a band, it would be Monsoon. There’s nothing more enjoyable than watching three obvious best friends absolutely weird-out and wreck a set of songs that don’t quite sound like anyone else. I feel like an idiot for not having seen them before, and would now like to publicly swear my undying allegiance to this band.
Then Atlanta’s The Howling Tongues came on amidst smoke machines and a light show that would make Kanye West say, “Dudes, you’re doing a lot.” While a great technical band – they had clearly practiced their set and song changes ad infinitum – they were playing a bluesy brand of rock and roll that’s really not supposed to sound this rehearsed. They were pleasant enough, and on the surface they were great; but they felt an odd choice as city-slicker closers juxtaposed to the earnest, scrappy punk of the Athens bands that opened for them. Some garage rock bands who deal in Rolling Stones riffage fall victim to the uncanny valley of soul vs. precision, and it looks like the Howling Tongues are one such band. Their whole schtick felt too familiar – making a big show of chugging Jack Daniels; songs involving “I’ll give it to you” double entendres; women smoking cigarettes in red dresses. Every “Whassup Athens?!” and “How y’all doin’ tonight?!” platitude felt empty and forced. It didn’t help that lead singer Taylor Harlow asked permission to “play some rock and rooollll” from the audience between every.single.song, and his playful joshing of the crowd’s lack of energy became uncomfortable berating by night’s end. And I wasn’t the only one who noted the irony of the Tongues’ “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” cover. Basically, this is a group who’s proper to their own detriment, and doesn’t appear comfortable in their own skin. Loosening up would do ’em a lot of good.
