archGFX

We weren't in town for 3 days before we saw our first show in austin, Rilo Kiley at Stubb's.  Jenny Lewis was amazing, both vocally, and on guitar (and hot).  We were also hot, but Austin hot is not quite as sticky and sweaty as Chicago hot.  It was a great show, and it reminded me of why I started liking Rilo Kiley.  The first few songs were way more guitar-rock than recent albums.

Saturday was the first metal show I've been to here.  The show was outside at Mohawk, which is great, I love being able to smoke at shows, especially metal shows that I can't convice the wifest to attend with me.

Clouds opened up, and they were actually the band that drew me to the show.  I saw that at SXSW, and they were fantastic there.  The new album (We Are Above You) just came out, and they just put on way too good a show to not go see them again.  There's something about their swagger that very few of the "stoner metal" bands do well.  I also really love the 3 lead vocalists.  I wouldn't say any of them are exceptional in their own right, but it's fantastic hearing them play off each other, and trade leads and harmonies.

Clouds - Slow DayTorche's Meanderthal album is a strong contender for the best metal album this year, it's full of great pop hooks, catchy songs, all wrapped in a fuzzed out metal package.  I'd been warned that their live show isn't so great, though.  The first song, from one of their earlier EP's, was definitely worth a warning.  The vocals were pretty much absent, and any sense of song was obliterated in a haze of badly mixed, overly loud wall of fuzz.  As they moved on to songs from the new albums, I got a little more used to picking the vocals out of the mix, and the stronger songs punched through the din.  I can certainly see why these guys don't make friends with their live show.  The singer has a shit-eating grin on the entire time, almost like he's unaware of the fact that people can't tell how fun the songs are.  It was a great set, though, and still worth seeing, if you like the album.

Boris came on last.  I'll have to admit that I really only see Boris as an amusement.  None of their songs grab me, and their noise is to up-front to just put on and immerse in, the way you can with, say, Sunn O))).  They led off with songs from smile, which were enjoyable enough, but I got bored quickly.