It’s difficult for us to hide our infatuation with Brooklyn based indie-pop quartet Hospitality. When we heard they would be opening for Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces at Frank in Austin, we saw it as a must-attend show. We caught a set by Hospitality, whose self-titled debut was filled with well-crafted pop gems, at SXSW a little over a month ago, which we greatly enjoyed. But that performance doesn’t approach the tight, focused playing we saw from the band last Saturday.
As Frank began to fill up, it was as if Hospitality brought NYC with them for the show. The narrow, long venue with multi-faceted functionality (Hot Dog restaurant-cum-bar-cum-live music venue) recalls lower east side establishments such as Piano’s or the Cake Shop. The low stage, tucked in a corner, allows fans to stand with a close-up, side view of performers, creating an intimate feel, ripe for audience buy-in.
We were happy to discover so many fans of the band standing in our vicinity, emitting palpable excitement for Hospitality to begin their set. Singer Amber Papini’s guitar playing and vocals filled the small venue well, bassist Brian Betancourt’s bouncy notes kept toes tapping, and Nathan Michel’s energy provided stage presence. However, it was the band’s new drummer, David Christian, whose flawless playing defined the performance. Solid rhythm live can never be over emphasized. The perfect drums as a backdrop provided a roadmap for the band, which they followed to pop perfection.
Hospitality debuted one new song at the performance that made use of unusual chords and jazzy dissonance while maintaining relentless indie-pop sensibilities. The set also included renditions of most of the tracks from their self-titled album, including Betty Wang, Eighth Avenue, and closer All Day Today.
Following Hospitality in the headliner slot, Eleanor Friedberger’s performance indicated in every way that she does not need brother Matthew to deliver affecting, powerful rock music. Her band was quality, no doubt, but the distinctive factor is Friedberger’s charisma. Her voice is a weapon, distinctive and commanding. Songs vacillated between bluesy riffs, groovy ballads, and rock numbers with talky lyricism that recalled classic songwriters such as Warren Zevon and Lou Reed. About half way through the set, Friedberger made her way to the very front of the stage, less than a foot from fans, and proceeded to rock out. She also displayed her quick wit, jokingly saying, “You guys are being so polite for a hot dog stand,” continuing to say that she knew about hot dog stands, being from Chicago.
With her solo record and performances, Eleanor Friedberger is further solidifying her name in the discourse of important indie rock icons. Both of these Merge Records performers delivered quality sets to an ever-enthralled crowd. Friedberger is on tour through May 15, and Hospitality immediately starts another round of tour dates that span the entire country. Catch them at a show in your city!
