Live music review: Semihelix had magical night at Radio Milk with my education and ThunderStars
You know that feeling you get when everything just falls into place with minimal effort and you ask why can’t everything be this easy? The unbridled bliss that comes when things are aligned was present Saturday at East Austin’s Radio Milk Recording Co. The studio White Denim built is also a performance space that is truly special. It was the perfect spot to highlight the work Geannie Friedman of Semihelix has done with her new record, Recoil, which by all accounts is a hit with listeners near and far.
With 150 of our closest friends on hand, Radio Milk hosted a magical night with my education and ThunderStars. The former hadn’t played in over 18 months. It was the same situation for ThunderStars. The electro-psych duo played their first show almost two years last weekend. Bandleader Erik Kang admitted to some butterflies early in the performance but he managed to get his groove back rather quickly, getting lost in his own, well-written songs as they played for an attentive and content crowd of music fans.
Semihelix took the stage next. With bassist Mikey Cosmic holding down the fort, stage right and drummer Valdemar Barrera perched atop his stool, Semihelix were ready to rock Radio Milk with a slate of new songs from their full-length along with some cuts that are set list mainstays. We’re partial to the title track and single, “Will It Take.” Friedman puts jangly guitar with a driving, psych-rock beat that mesmerizes the listener in the best possible way.
Fans seemed to really respond to Friedman’s band. So much so that she had trouble getting out of the venue following the performance. Fans kept coming to the merch table to buy her album or gear. It’s the kind of problem every musician wants.
Following Semihelix’s sparkling show, post rockers, my education took the stage for the first time in over a year and a half. The guys were both excited and a bit leery after such a long layoff. But for 20-year veterans of the Austin music scene it was just like riding a bicycle. Once you hop back on, it all comes rushing back like the slamming “Robotter” song (see clip in link) the band played. God, we love that track.
Amid all the great music, DJ sets by Raze Regal, 9who is recording in the studio this month0 and James Petralli happened. There was a vintage vendor market from Futuremoon, samples of wonderful hot sauces from the guys at Goodburn Sauce Co., chats with KOOP radio DJs, plus cocktails from Deep Eddy Vodka and Still Austin Whiskey. It was a special night that had folks buzzing with the kind of excitement we shoot for over at The Cosmic Clash. It was the kind of bluster that gets folks pumped about local, live music. There’s nothing better than music fans meeting us where we are. In heaven on Earth truth be told. At least, that how we think of Austin.
All photos Michael Maly
You must be logged in to post a comment.