Live music review: Die Spitz returned to SLC for make up show at Soundwell and conquered
Last night, October 12, fast-rising Austin act Die Spitz returned to Salt Lake City for a make up show at Soundwell from August that had to be rescheduled due to member Ava Schrobilgen injuring her shoulder. The SLC date was one of a few shows the group had to reschedule. The sold out Monday crowd at the downtown spot that caps out at 650 seemed unfazed and respectfully watched Farmer’s Wife the indie rock band Die Spitz had brought along from Austin as their support act. The front row appropriately reflected the young female makeup of the foursome as the rail was lined with a wide age range of young women ready to live out their rock and roll dreams with the ladies from ATX.
Die Spitz took the stage shortly after 9 p.m. Monday evening with bassist Kate Halter leading the crew onto the stage with a now traditional handstand. Vocalist and guitarist Eleanor Livingston followed with her flaming red hair while drummer Chloe de St. Aubin and vocalist / guitarist Schrobilgen took their places. The band fired up “i hate when GIRLS die” to get things rolling then segued into the high-energy doom-punk track “Monkey Song” to really put the pedal down to the metal. That fired the crowd into a round of crowd surfing that basically continued throughout the performance.
Watching the girls lining the rail during the performance was revealing as one woman ugly cried three songs in realizing she was seeing her young idols up close and and personal or a couple others further down sang lyrics together gleefully as they bopped along to DS’ chugging bass lines and thundering drums. The impact Die Spitz are having on women who look like them is noticeable. It feels like 90s Grrrrl Rock all over again but supercharged for new millennium.
The band really shined during a driving version of “Punishers” a couple songs later which was followed two more tracks after by crowd favorite, “American Porn” featuring Ava’s tortured, screaming vocals. Die Spitz’s spirited performance of the song seemed to drive an already excited SLC crowd to new heights of fan fervor.
It’s easy to see how these ladies landed themselves a Third Man Records deal, tours with Amyl and the Sniffers, Turnstile and (next year) Olivia Rodrigo. Yeah, we know Die Spitz hasn’t been around that long but it was apparent from the first Hotel Vegas residency show the girls played in their first year, these artists were going somewhere, fast.
Die Spitz closed the set with another popular track, “Riding With My Girls” before decamping to the side stage area to prep for an encore. The Soundwell audience dutifully chanted the band’s name and “one more song!” while they waited for their just desserts.
When Die Spitz came back, Ellie and Kate had costume changes to boot, both returning to the stage in sharp, flattering dresses. The three-song encore closed with Something To Consume single “Throw Yourself To the Sword” which gave the Salt Lake City fans once last chance to let loose before the 75-minute show was over. A fever dream of Grunge-era inspired heavy rock from a formidable quartet of determined women we have no doubt will ascend to increasingly larger stages and audiences around the world. It’s just a matter of time.
Die Spitz’s tour continues through November 21 at the Brooklyn Bowl. Tickets can be purchased at the website.
All photos by Ryan Odom
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