Twang emerged as the operative theme of the evening Wednesday at East Austin’s ND, where a well assembled bill of complimentary artists delivered successive solid sets to a room of devoted fans. Paul Banks and the Carousels, Buxton, and national touring artists the Donkeys all thrive on stellar live performances, and the night would ultimately bear out that fact.
Paul Banks and the Carousel’s were already going strong when we arrived. The scraggly-bearded singer and his band were rocking hard, and Banks’ messy hair was matted with sweat. Their performance immediately demanded attention as the band plowed through powerful, country-infused rock numbers. Possessing as much energy as the band exhibited and getting the locals to get down to full on dancing all on hump day are commendable achievements.
We previously wrote about Houston’s Ancient Cat Society, when they performed at the Marmalakes’ EP release party. That band is comprised entirely of members from the alt-country-rock outfit Buxton, who filled the middle slot of the bill. Sergio Trevino acts as the primary songwriter for both projects, and inevitably, songs developed under either moniker are performed at any given show, regardless of which moniker is utilized. Buxton opened with an Ancient Cat Society song about keyboardist and vocalist Haley ‘s grandmother, Mary Francis. It’s an unyieldingly endearing number.
A few songs into the set, Buxton began to truly utilize the full range of their assets as a larger band. It’s clear why the group has become such a Houston mainstay. Simply put: they’re incredible. Trevino is affable on stage, funny, and delivers songs with vigor. The instrumentation is tight, full, but not busy. Buxton is cohesive and captivating to watch. When the band played their newest single “Boy of Nine” the crowd responded with fervor, cutting loose in galloping dances across the venue floor. Fans were shouting requests as if from the pit of a large rock arena. Undeniably, it’s awesome to see people support regional musicians with such dedication. The next time Buxton makes another trip out west to Austin, the wise will be in attendance.
In the time between sets, in conversations with friends, I received jaw-dropped stares when I said I hadn’t see the Donkeys live before. More than a couple friends exclaimed almost the exact same phrase: “Oh, you’ve never seen them!?” The highly touted Donkeys live set did not fall short. The band’s laid back California twang that falls between surf tunes and country is great for chilling out on a summer afternoon, and I mean in no way to detract from the albums they’ve released. It is as an additional component that their live performance emerges as so definitively great.
Keyboardist Anthony Lukens is still recovering from a surfing accident that resulted in broken vertebrae, but managed to still get up off his stool to raise a fist or move his body to the music, against the doctor’s orders. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Donkeys’ live show is the ability to see how frequently the vocal responsibilities bounce from band member to band member, with three of the four bandmates alternating singing within almost every song. It’s one thing to read in the liner notes, or even to hear, but witnessing it live is magical. Of the members, watching drummer Sam Sprague belt out lyrics into the mic through his lion’s mane of blonde surfer hair may be the most enjoyable. I’ve always been impressed with a drummer who can handle carrying the vocal line, especially while staying as on beat and tight as Sprague does. The crowd in attendance showed themselves to be long-time Donkeys fans as they sang along happily to “Born With Stripes,” the title track from the band’s most recent album. The stalwart fans still around at almost 2 AM succeeded in keeping the band on stage for one final song in an encore. The Donkeys are on tour for another two weeks and the dates are posted below, where you can also see photos from the show and hear their latest single, released last month. Highly recommended.
05/21/12 Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade w/ Buxton
05/22/12 Washington, D.C. – Black Cat w/ Rememberables
05/23/12 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
05/24/12 Pittsburgh, PA – Shadow Lounge
05/25/12 Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub w/ Southeast Engine
05/26/12 Milwaukee, WI – Mo’s w/ Advance Base
05/27/12 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s w/ Magical Beautiful & Advance Base
05/29/12 Kansas City, MO – Records Bar w/ Advance Base
05/30/12 Denver, CO – Hi-Dive w/ Advance Base
05/31/12 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge w/ Poor Wills & Advance Base
06/02/12 Sonoma, CA – Huichica Festival
06/30/12 San Diego, CA – Summer Fun On The 101
