As the crowd tossed beer, thrashed and passed along crowd surfers, ‘ Samuel T. Herring told the packed outdoor Cheer Up Charlie’s, “You guys are more entertaining than we are.”
“We’re all in this together,” Herring said while fans jumped on stage with the band, which performed in front of a rock alcove lit by pink and blue lights. “And that’s what music does — it brings people together.”
On Thursday at we caught sets from Future Islands, , , and more. Watch clips from the band’s sets below:
Future Islands — Cheer Up Charlie’s
With its new album out on March 25, Future Islands gave a confident performance at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Maybe it’s Herring’s Dracula-like growl, or that he hits himself, or the pulsing and crunchy synth-pop, but the band works up crowds in ways you wouldn’t expect. And it was clear that Future Islands was thrilled with the bodies, beer and limbs flying through the late night air at its first SXSW.
Hospitality — Parish Upstairs
There are few bands that perform with such humility as Hospitality. Drawing the awkward tunings and smart lyrical play from Pavement, Hospitality pulls its set in different directions with ease.
The Chain Gang of 1974 — Bar 96
One thing that SXSW does is test bands — their limits, their ability to improvise, and thick skin while dealing with tough situations. And at Bar 96 on Thursday the Chain Gang of 1974 showed the band can handle a struggle. With its synth not working and vocals half gone due to a faulty sound setup, Chain Gang performed with humility and class, thanking the audience and changing its set list as needed. Watch the Chain Gang of 1974 play “You” above.
Wye Oak — Parish Upstairs
Now dabbling in more synth-pop than folk, Wye Oak has a bigger sound, which it showcased to a capacity Parish Upstairs. Jenn Wasner’s sultry and sometimes breathy vocals danced over the duo’s live drumming and graceful synth patches.
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