Live music review: Spoon underplay at Antone’s thrilled SXSW fans

March 14, 2022 Greg Ackerman 764 Views Antone's, Spoon, SXSW

If you are a fan of indie rock, then you know Austin-born act Spoon. They’re perhaps the most successful rock band currently working out of the Live Music Capital, putting out a string of critically acclaimed records. The latest, Lucifer on the Sofa feels like a circling back to the early days of the band, orienting itself around an indie guitar rock sound. Appropriately, the band booked another underplay like their show at Mohawk last summer. The group thrilled fans who lined up in person to purchase tickets for their performance at Antone’s on Friday during SXSW.

Although not an official SXSW performance, Spoon’s performance Friday evening acted as a de facto album release as the band was booked out of town when the record dropped last month. While the Mohawk show featured all the hits off their best of compilations released last year, the Antone’s set featured about half the new tracks, some deep cuts and hits.

The band kicked off the set with songs they knew fans were already familiar with, leading off with “The Beast and the Dragon Adored.” The first segment also included their most popular radio hit, “Don’t You Evah” (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga 2008) as well as “Do You” off They Want My Soul (2014). That segment ended with a pleasing “The Hardest Cut” from the new album.

The new record really does feel like a homecoming for the band who decided to lay down tracks in Austin this time. Lead singer Britt Daniel seemed to be enjoying the nostalgia, reminding fans he wrote “I Summon You” from 2004’s Gimmee Fiction while living down the street from Deep Eddy Pool on Hearn Street.

The second half of the incredible performance began with “Wild” another single off Lucifer we really like. Fan favorites, “Don’t Make Me a Target,” a killer version of “My Mathematical Mind” and usual set closer, “The Underdog” all make set list appearances.

But the highlight of the show took place during the final segment (or encore depending on your point of view) with “Inside Out” also on They Want My Soul. The band featured amazing keyboard solos by both Gerardo Larios and Alex Fischel that were mind-blowing. Spoon has had several different lineups in their 20-year history but perhaps none is stronger than this unit which includes new bassist, Ben Trokan.