Friday, April 24, 2009


- Thao Nguyen And The Get Down Stay Down - The Parish - Austin, TX -

Samantha Crain And The Midnight Shivers

It's hard to have a show as good as last night's without a pleasant surprise, and that's exactly what Samantha Crain And The Midnight Shivers were.  Actually, their slinky, melodic folk numbers and effortlessly charming stage presence were the first of two such things.  So do yourself a favor and click on the above title for some music, and then skip on down to the other surprise from the bill, Sister Suvi.

 
Sister Suvi

I was told ahead of time that Sister Suvi would most definitely impress, but I really didn't expect them to bowl me over and leave me wishing that their set had been longer.  And what was so good about them?  Everything.  Not only do they have some crazy good songwriting and a wall of sound that will keep you wide-eyed and interested, but they have the enthusiasm to make it all work.  So, what you get isn't a bunch of random people with an even more random sound who are afraid to look at the crowd (you know the kind of artists I'm talking about), it's actually a raucous good time that - and this would probably require the proper crowd - could result in the best dance party of all-time.  How could you not want to be a part of that?  See this trio ASAP.

BTW, Merrill (picture above on the left) is also the main brain behind Tune Yards.  You need to check that stuff out if you missed it when I posted it up earlier in the year.  Seriously.
 

 
Thao Nguyen And The Get Down Stay Down

As many of you know, this is a band that has had more than a couple of appearances here at Side One: Track One, but with an always improving live show and a new album due in the Fall I had to get out and cover the show.  Plus, they're just so damn nice.

Seriously though, last night was a great a show.  I know at least one member thought it could have been a little cleaner, but from where I was standing I thought it was a great time.  Songs that I've always wanted to be extended (Bag Of Hammers, Beat, Feet Asleep) were drawn out with the two opening acts taking the stage to help provide a little more boom, and there was more beat boxing (my favorite Thao talent) in the form of a mini-cover of Push It.  Before, these were things that the trio seemed almost afraid to try, so I loved seeing them comfortable and confident enough to just go with it.

In regards to the new tunes that they tossed into the setlist, they were good.  Body, which is the only one I know the title of, is an absolute gem that I may never get out of my head, and the others have some really neat and different (by different, I mean you shouldn't expect a carbon copy of We Brave Bee Stings And All) stuff going on.

I don't know what Thao and the guys have planned once this tour wraps up, but if I were you I'd make an effort to see them before the new album hits and everyone and their mother starts paying attention and buying up all the tickets.  And stuff.

- John Laird -



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