SXSW review: Music for Listeners showcase goes international
The cool, early-afternoon breeze on Tuesday, March 15 masked the sun’s intensity, as patrons of Lazarus Brewing Co. scanned for any shady spot on the patio, preparing for a promising afternoon of live music. Bands lined up for the Music for Listeners showcase made their way to Austin from various regions, ready to gain the attention of many Austin locals and SXSW show goers
Living Hour took stage at 1 p.m. and set a chill tone for the day. With glistening guitar and hazy reverb, the Manitoba dream-rock band’s sound paired well with the beautiful early afternoon weather and Prodigal Pilsner, which seemed a popular choice at the East Austin brewery.
Next up, punctually and promptly at 2 p.m. was Parliamo, the alternative-rock quintet hailing from Perth, Scotland. With buoyant melodies, the band upped the tempo for the day, joking and interacting with the crowd between sets.
Oslo’s Malin Pettersen, Spellemann Award-winning country artist, went on at 3, soothing the crowd with her powerful-yet-soft vocals and acoustic guitar.
Fieh (pictured in featured image), a 7-piece act from Norway, followed Pettersen and had event attendees nodding their heads to Scandinavian Neo-soul numbers. Lead singer, Sofie Tollefsbøl, danced and bounced on stage, engaging and energizing the crowd.
It was around this time that the crowd began to thicken, and not too much later, NYC’s GIFT began their set. With catchy rock rhythms and melodies, GIFT set a tone, and a high bar for the remainder of the evening.
Melts, of Dublin went on around 6 p.m. The five-piece really have captured their sound quite well with their name. The swirly, billowy sounds dissolved into one another seamlessly, creating a searing sonic experience. The group also opened for The Black Angels yesterday at Container Bar for the Dr. Martens party.
The headliner of the day was Yard Act, the spoken-word, post-punk band from Leeds, UK. By 7 p.m. the large crowd began gathering closer to the stage. For the first time throughout the day, a group would not start at the exact allotted time, but only to build increasing anticipation.
About 20 minutes in, the Leeds quintet started their set and patrons were immediately, collectively impressed. As James Smith delivered clever lyrics with potency, captivating the audience with witty banter between numbers, Yard Act tackled serious issues with a satirical approach, compounding their impact. With sharp, heavy, and funky instrumentation, the band delivered a uniquely powerful set, exceeding the already high expectations of grinning show goers.
Altogether, Music for Listeners provided a dynamic showcase of exceedingly-talented performers. There is no doubt that patrons of Lazarus Brewing Co. left for the evening with a list of bands to add to their playlists.
All photos: Brian Hillsman
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