SXSW: Islands Are Awesome
It's in the blogger code to toss out superlatives with reckless abandon, but really -- we weren't lying when called Islands set at Cedar St. the best of this fest. (OK, maybe Fuck Buttons @ Volume today is a contender.) Yeah that's Nick strangling Subtitle with a drum mallet, and yes Nick was wearing white face. (Move over List Christee, there's no monopoly on theatricality.) Islands stormed the Cedar St. Courtyard with black outfits and a perfect mix of Return To The Sea + their excellent upcoming Arm's Way. But don't take these words for it: Stereogum videographer Matt Neatock (newly converted Islands fan #1) fought the crowd to capture three tunes of new and old. We start with set opener "Vertigo (If It's A Crime)":
Next up: the new single...
"THE ARM"
Now Subtitle gets choked on "Where There's A Will There's a Whalebone"...
"WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WHALEBONE"
And some photos:























Thank you for scrolling. Here's your gift.
Islands - "Arm's Way" (MP3)
Enjoy.
Posted at 4:47 PM in Concert, MP3, Video
Tags: Islands | Subtitle | SXSW














I absolutely want to see Islands live. Nick Diamond's performances seem epic and i LOVE RETURN TO THE SEA
Posted by: dudethisrocks at March 15, 2008 6:35 PM | ReplyScore = 1
i miss the unicorns.
Posted by: D at March 15, 2008 6:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
can't wait to see them with man man on tuesday...sensory overload!
Posted by: neversleeping at March 15, 2008 7:06 PM | ReplyScore = 2
I never noticed it before, but the walls of the text box swerve. Nice job stereogum.
Posted by: mn at March 15, 2008 7:13 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Arm's Way is going to be SO GOOD!
Posted by: Evan at March 15, 2008 7:15 PM | ReplyScore = 2
I am so psyched for this album. The performance is incredible
Posted by: Registered User at March 15, 2008 8:22 PM | ReplyScore = 1
Where's Patrick?
Posted by: Thrillhouse at March 16, 2008 8:49 AM | ReplyScore = -1
My gift is missing !!
Posted by: Kimberly at March 16, 2008 4:49 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i second that, D.
Posted by: kurt at March 16, 2008 6:05 PM | ReplyScore = 0
amen to that, D!
Posted by: Nate at March 16, 2008 10:11 PM | Replythe unicorns > the islands.
Score = -1
did anyone else see them get cut off at Emo's? Nick threw down his mic and yelled "fuck south by south west, I hope I never play this..." and then they turned him off for good. crew members were literally walking on stage turning off amps, it was ridiculous
Posted by: daniel at March 17, 2008 2:26 AM | ReplyScore = 0
islands came thru the SouthGate House and enjoyed the local opener so much they picked up them up for the last leg of their tour.... Pomegranates is the band. How exciting!!!!
Posted by: chris at March 18, 2008 2:26 PM | ReplyScore = 0
despite how good the islands are...
"i miss the unicorns." - D
Posted by: andrew at March 18, 2008 2:50 PM | ReplyScore = -1
"did anyone else see them get cut off at Emo's?"
Posted by: Nathan at March 18, 2008 6:34 PM | ReplyFound it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoYrSrs4ctg
so badass!
Score = 0
can someone please tell me the name of the violinist at this show/in these pictures?
Posted by: sivara at March 22, 2008 10:50 PM | ReplyScore = -1
so whats up with all the broken links stereogum? does Jim Jazwiecki and
Posted by: quicksand at March 31, 2008 5:00 PM | ReplyAngela Williams really want to keep me from the mp3's you post as well as reading up on bjorks post en redux?
Score = 0
The violinist is Alex Chow of Quebec City Canada. He is quite the character. he turned down a job with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra because he thinks his talents would mature faster with Islands. Also, being of Chinese descent, Alex enjoys eating cats, so ladies if you do bring him home for a night of Hot Chinese Sex, keep wittle pussy out of sight!
But not yours of course
Posted by: Seb Chow at April 1, 2008 2:34 AM | ReplyScore = 1