Live music review: Big Thief played their biggest Austin show at Moody Amphitheater

Emotions are running deep this year. Hints of hope are dwindling, leaving the house costs $50, and making ends meet is becoming increasingly daunting. For Brooklyn’s Big Thief, cautious optimism is the North Star, and being present in the moment and looking inward are the keys to maintaining a gratifying existence. For their graduation from mid-sized theaters to larger headlining appearances, an adoring array of fans made their way to Waterloo Park’s Moody Amphitheater on Wednesday night to celebrate the release of new LP Double Infinity. Their biggest Austin headlining show to date, the confidence and dynamic connection between them brought everything full circle for their career, which has seen personal development that feels unrivaled in 2025. 

Austin act Lomelda took the stage early at 7 p.m., an adequate opener for the folk rock tell-all the evening’s headliner has been honing to perfection over the past decade. Since Big Thief’s Buck Meek hails from the Hill Country town Wimberly, Texas, a local opener seemed fitting for the late-tour Austin stop. With a presence built for small rooms and big venues alike, the sibling duo of Hannah and Tommy Reed breathes intimacy, working the atmosphere with a fervent, poignant aura. On top of the appreciative influence of the Brooklyn traveling band, Lomelda also dabbles with the likes of Bon Iver, Mount Eerie, and Grouper. The undertones of sheer honesty rang across the set, and while the climaxes built to cathartic volume, the thoughtful weight did, too. 

Big Thief took the stage for their first Austin stopover since 2023 for the promotion of mega double album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, a release so packed with essential tracks that even the most loyal fans had their doubts about any possibility of topping it. On Double Infinity, the stakes were at an all-time high, and questions could be raised about its entry into Big Thief’s discography as an essential part of their works. While a change in direction felt necessary after such a large project, Big Thief is showing that they’re learning about themselves just as much as the fans are. One-off single “Vampire Empire” served as the  show kickoff, one that spurred an instant singalong for the fans all across the amphitheater that appeared to be packed when the headliners commenced. 

Singer and guitarist Adrianne Lenker has maintained a prolific streak throughout her career, making good on a massive creative output with countless solo releases while staying consistent with her main band. Casuals should know that no two Big Thief gigs are the same, often opting to play unreleased songs on top of recently released LP cuts to give fans a sneak peek into the next chapter. “Shark Smile,” “Masterpiece,” and “Certainty” made for a tour through their past work, and fans rejoiced in the opportunity to sing along to the tunes that proved formative for the younger indie fans who likely only started collecting vinyl under a decade ago. New album lead single “Incomprehensible” followed, a cut that shows the band’s more spacey side with its folk roots still intact. Lenker took time to peer into the crowd and acknowledged the familiar faces in the Central Texas audience, thanking them for “…growing up with us.” The singer and guitarist bantered much more than usual, showing her gracious and expanding confidence throughout her band’s already storied career.

A pair of unheard entries came in the form of “Muscle Memory” and “Trade Tomorrow,” taking a page out of the Bob Dylan handbook of moving onto the new stuff when and wherever possible, showing a remarkable work ethic of their relentless need to create. Guitarists and co-vocalists Meek and Lenker are formidable creative forces, with drummer James Krivchenia as the percussive backbone that ties the group together. After the dismissal of bassist Max Oleartchik, the future of the New York band seemed questionable as the outfit has shown utmost loyalty to each other. The beat has gone on with touring bassist Joshua Crumbly, who brings an element of professionalism that makes it feel like they haven’t missed a day. The sound mix at Moody Amphitheater allowed each member to shine with crisp clarity. With the core members of Big Thief being graduates of Berklee College of Music, their top-dollar training doesn’t go unnoticed. 

After a pair of Infinity selections “Los Angeles” and “Grandmother” showed their heads to audible fanfare, a stellar version of Two Hands fan-favorite “Not” appeared. After a brief restart and Lenker reciting the lyrics a capella before launching into the offering with emotionally-charged potency, the six-minute number remains a well-deserved setlist staple. The performance reached its cataclysmic ending with Dragon New Warm Mountain crowd-pleaser “Spud Infinity,” another must-play for the need of living in the now and discovering who we truly are as people, and being in the dark about oneself is something we’re not alone in feeling.  “Time Escaping” and “Change” wrapped things up for the evening as the encore, a satisfying end to the ruminative night of songs that so many fans have held close for a decade, right up to the present. 

Big Thief wrapped up their tour in Houston this week, with a European tour coming in 2026. Tickets can be found via the Big Thief website.

All photos by Troy Gonzales

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