Wednesday, September 19, 2007
 

It's only been three days since ACL wrapped up and I'm already looking to the next Austin-based festival.  This time it's Fun Fun Fun Fest, which I bought tickets for yesterday.  Who else is planning to attend the two-day event in November?  The lineup looks pretty good.  Although, if I could add an artist it would most certainly be the focus of today's ramble, Akron/Family.  I received a couple of songs from their new record, Love Is Simple, in an email last week and all I can think about is how great they would sound live.  The quartet is currently out on tour now through the end of October, so get out and see them if you can because I hear they actually are brilliant performers.  It's not just me exaggerating.  Enjoy.

:Akron/Family - Ed Is A Portal:  Right from the beginning you get the impression that this seven minute folk-rock jaunt is meant to be heard in a lively little venue somewhere amongst a bunch of close friends.  Of course, by close I actually mean the friends that you rarely hang out with because they're the ones who actually use the it's five o'clock somewhere line on a regular basis.  Is folk music even suppose to be this rowdy and interesting?

:Akron/Family - Phenomena:  This isn't as rambunctious as the song above, but it is equally interesting.  The first tiny bit of it feels like your normal folk song.  The acoustic guitar work, the soft, introspective vocals; it's all there.  But, it's almost as if the guys are just messing with you because out of nowhere it turns into a blues-enthused space folk number.  Hell, they even taunt you right before the explosion by using the line:  "Things are not what they seem to be."  Well, isn't that that truth.

- John Laird -



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