Live music review: Austin act Being Dead enlisted friends to celebrate release of debut album

Being Dead is a band that improves with each live appearance. From wacky stage costumes to a classical conductor commanding them through a performance, the band always has a trick or two up their sleeve. They don’t just come onstage and strum along to their tunes; there’s more to it than meets the eye when discussing the Austin-bred freak-a-zoids. Songwriting team Falcon Bitch, (Juli Keller) and Gumball (Cody Dosier) are a sonically relentless duo but with a sense of humor. For Being Dead’s Bayonet Records debut, the Austin powerhouse act not only goes the distance, but torches any doubt that anyone might have had that they might miss the mark for their first full-length outing which was celebrated with a release party at Sagebrush last Friday.

Being Dead chose the South Austin stronghold Sagebrush to host the festivities. A venue that was exclusively a honky-tonk dance hall has now been converted into a place that’s well-equipped for bombastic rock and roll mayhem too. Joining the trio were local punk pranksters Big Bill, a band so silly, yet they seem to take all of their ridiculous antics with utmost seriousness. Also on the bill were Austin indie-folk connoisseurs, Redbud, a band Being Dead listed as one of their favorite local acts when we spoke with them last Fall. Austin post-punk noise makers Borzoi rounded out the lineup, a fitting addition due to Being Dead’s fluctuation between sweet indie folk tunes and doomy psychedelic meltdowns. 

Many attendees were overheard saying this was the most packed they had ever seen Sagebrush. They weren’t kidding. The venue was packed from door to stage, with a line forming outside for the people who didn’t snag tickets earlier in the week despite low-ticket warnings on social media. Those lucky enough to get in, saw  Being Dead’s performance host Grandmaster Orchestra and inexplicably, a woman hired to slam mini Corona beers on stage between songs.

Redbud delivered a batch of blissful tunes to the Friday night audience. Redbud just released a new five-song EP, Long Night. Singer Katie Claghorn has a sweet vocal delivery while still dipping their toes into hazy instrumentals and expansive instrumentation. The talented act has been playing around Austin for a bit, performing night after night of indie-folk tunes that are as immersive as they are contemplative. On “Franny,” Claghorn’s voice morphs into a carefree sensation with an all-around fun vocal cadence. It was easy to see why this act is one of Being Dead’s favorite in town.

Being Dead’s material isn’t all light-hearted despite their sun-kissed hooks and jittery punk rock sensibilities. On new track “Last Living Buffalo,” Falcon Bitch and Gumball throw massive critiques at the horrors of animal extinction at the hands of the global economy. When the trio took the stage, they opened the night with the buoyant guitar lines and dueling vocals that Falcon Bitch and Gumball dialed in seamlessly. The doom metal-esque freakout at the end of the track was an attention-grabbing spectacle that told the audience what it was in for Friday evening. Following it was “Come On,” a track that used to be reserved as an opening number for Being Dead’s sets, came raging through the gate. “C-C-C-C-C-C-COME ON,” the pair shouts alongside jittery drums and cataclysmic “WOOs” throughout.

“Muriel’s Big Day Off” was another highlight, sharing shoplifting stories while basking in its sunny indie rock glory. The jazz breakdown in the bridge was sadly omitted from the live performance. Still, the catchy-as-hell track did well to make its point along with the shouted “TV Time, TV Time, that’s my favorite show….” Part of what makes the new record great is the phenomenal use of the off-kilter humorous lyricism and stage demeanor. Gumball’s impeccable percussion chops is showcased in the live version of this cut. For a duo that switches instruments from song to song, Falcon Bitch and Gumball have something unique to offer their instruments with each take. 

When Being Dead slid into “Goofball,” the onstage chemistry was palpable. In an earlier performance celebrating one of the singles from their full-length, a conductor accompanied the band throughout their set, complete with a music stand and baton. The conductor held a poster containing the lyrics while bassist Nicole Johnston lent her vocals to the track’s last chorus. This time around there wasn’t a conductor but the song was just as well received.

“Treeland” rounded out the set, a track in Being Dead’s live rotation for quite some time now. The White Stripes drumbeat roaring into the track’s intro is met perfectly with harmonized vocals from Falcon Bitch and Gumball, accompanied by yet another harrowingly cathartic bridge from the band. Before the group walked offstage, the audience was treated to a rendition of Green Day’s “Good Riddance, Time of Your Life,” fitting for such a significant milestone for the up and coming Austin act.

The friendship between the members of Being Dead shows in every performance. The energy onstage is always unbelievably contagious, and it all came together from years of the group playing together and amassing their dedicated following. The band always brings thunder to every stage they occupy. If the pattern continues at this pace, Being Dead will be a big deal sooner than later.

Grab their fantastic new record at their Bandcamp page. The next live performance is slated for October 1 at Hotel Vegas.

All photos by Drew Doggett

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