SXSW: Afternoon surprise

A big part of SXSW is seeking out and discovering bands you’ve never heard of-- or at least never heard-- but a bunch of people at our day party yesterday either didn’t get the memo or just chose to ignore it. After a really solid set by Lightspeed Champion (who I started getting into right before we left for Texas, and by “started getting into” I mean I heard “Midnight Surprise” once and then listened to it at least five more times and never moved on to any other song because it’s so awesome) the Weakerthans took the stage to a totally packed crowd. These were not people here to scope out new music. These were people here to rock out to one of their favorite bands. From my seat behind the Paste table under the stairs, I could see a front row packed with ear-to-ear grins slapped on violenting bobbing heads and jumping, jubilant bodies singing along to every song, shouting and fist-pumping at the first notes of their favorites. The band seemed to enjoy it, too. It’s strange to compare the stage demeanor of the bands who might actually benefit from a SXSW “discovery” and those to whom it’s just another show-- that awestruck timidity or that special buzz band swagger might be endearing but it’s a relief to cut out all the sizing up and just jump around to songs you already know, and maybe even love.

But then again, there’s nothing quite like the unequivocal excitement of stumbling upon a completely unexpectedly excellent live performance. I expected Liam Finn’s set at our party yesterday to be just as pleasant as his debut album I’ll Be Lighting-- more fun than your usual singer/songwriter stuff, with well-applied instrumental touches and thoughtful lyrics all born from Finn’s undeniable talent. But it turns out that he’s actually kind of insane. The opening song was so fully transfixing-- Finn on the guitar, joined on vocals by a curly haired woman in a sundress he introduced as E.J.-- that I didn’t even notice there was a drum kit on stage even though it was huge and blue and shiny until he jumped over on it during the second song. I was still processing its presence when he broke a drum stuck-- during the second song. The second song. Am I just going to really pathetic live shows that this completely amazes me? I don’t know. But it only got better. He kept jumping between acoustic and electric guitars and the drums, looping the guitar parts and vocals then throwing one instrument down to grab up another. E.J. rattled and pounded on a percussion tree set up with shakers and bells and provided beautiful harmonies. I talked to more than one Paste staffer during the show who said exactly what I was thinking-- did I miss something, or did this guy always rock so much? No and yes, apparently.