SXSW: The Stereogum Puppet Show
With more than 3,024 bands yet to see, Meat Puppets' set at last night's Puppet Show is bound to be one of, maybe the, highlight of the week. "This is our first gig together in 11 years," the Brothers Kirkwood said mid-set, but by the closing notes of their encore (the classic, alt-radio hit "Backwater") it was like we were all back in '94, minus the flannel. Curt didn't make good on his promise to us to play "the entire first Coldplay album," but we did get something for everyone: the hits ("Lake Of Fire," "Lost"), songs from their forthcoming record Rise To Your Knees (grab a track here), and a banjofied "Plateau" (video after the jump).
If you're in Austin, make the Puppets pilgrimage: they play 4:30 PM today at The Parish, and Saturday 9:15PM at Emo's Main Room.
Tough to gush about your own show, but we're going to anyway. The rest of the bill was phenomenal. We were psyched to have one of our absolute favorite new bands, New Violators, and the party-starting synth-poppers Lo-Fi-Fnk round out the bill, along with YACHT on the ones and twos. There are precious few bands that we care to see over and over, but count LFF among 'em -- bringing the best of their synth-and-sample, "I Wanna Be Your Lover"-era Prince sounds on "Adore" among other Boylife treats. And seeing Per and New Violators for the second time in a few days (first was at their US debut at Tonic last week) still ain't enough for us. Unabashed '80s era New Wave, with massive hooks and the frontman of the year. If you're in New York, catch 'em at Pianos next week (Merc's already sold out!) Some MP3s, if you missed 'em last time.
New Violators - "Runaway" (MP3)
New Violators - "Angelina" (Demo) (MP3)
New Violators - "Burma" (demo) (MP3)
So, big THANKS to the performers and the FADER folks for helping us with our Puppet Show, a resounding success of excess, indulgence, and jungle juice. Now we join the masses for free food, tunes, and awkward indie rock celebrity encounters. Oh the stories we could (ok, will) tell...
MEAT PUPPETS
NEW VIOLATORS
LO-FI-FNK
YACHT
As promised, Puppets' "Plateau" at last night's party...
Posted at 4:29 PM in Concert, MP3, Video
Tags: Lo-Fi-Fnk | Meat Puppets | New Violators | SXSW
So why are there pictures of two different bass players with Curt Kirkwood in the Meat Puppets photos? Can Cris not do a whole set???
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That's Ted Marcus, the new drummer. He'd take bass when Cris would strap on that banjo (described in jest as a "man-tar" and "that thing that makes the awful noise" by Curt). Gotta love it.
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way to mix up the generations.
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