Dan Doyle (perhaps best known by his performing moniker and full name Daniel Francis Doyle) creates songs that possess an intriguing relationship with melody. In his songs, Doyle holds a melody, translucent and ephemeral, up to the light, examining it with quirky curiosity. Rather than simply construct melodies or move through them mindlessly, Doyle lingers upon them, tinkers with them, attempts to figure them out–how they live and breathe. As I watch him play, a fluid section of strumming breaks abruptly into picking as Doyle’s voice follows his fingers around the fretboard.
When I run my perception of his music by Doyle after his set at Cheer Up Charlie’s last Friday night, he thanks me congenially, but when I push him further, “Do you know what I mean? Does that make sense?” He stalls, “Umm, it sounds nice, so I’ll take it.” I get the feeling that he’s seeing me as just another verbose, pretentious music journalist (and maybe he’s right). Then, we bat around these concepts of examination and deconstruction for a few minutes. Ultimately, Doyle falls on a metaphor that he’s clearly conceptualized before with his music: assembling a puzzle that eventually works as a whole. Perhaps Doyle is better at poetically describing how his music functions than I am, but the fact remains that his songs are studies in pop, breaking down ideas into their most essential forms and then reassembling them.
These song structures aren’t the only thing that sets Doyle apart as a musician. Currently, he’s on tour, but by rather unconventional means–Greyhound bus. At the mercy of the unreliability of Greyhound, Doyle will travel through the Southwest, up the California coast to the Pacific Northwest, and across the Midwest before ending up in the Northeast. (Full tour dates here.) It’s an ambitious and remarkable undertaking, and Doyle is a songwriter to which Austin should be paying attention. Look for a homecoming show and welcome him back upon return.
Later, on the same stage, young rockers Residual Kid destroyed the avid crowd that looked on as the three-piece delivered crunchy riffs and powerful drums. When you hear about the band, it feels a little schticky, but they’re truly talented kids, and when you watch them, it’s impossible not to love it. The band members are fun and energetic and impressively confident onstage. They’re an Austin sensation, but if you haven’t seen them, it’s time.
Still later in the evening, Shivery Shakes closed down the outside stage with a set of completely infectious pop. I know that’s a word that gets used a lot… too much (by me, for sure). But I mean it. Proof: As the band began to play, 30-something Austin Town Hall director Nathan Lankford compulsively shouts, “This is my jam!” and then bolts to the front with a Lone Star in each hand to dance unabashedly with a grin plastered across his face. Shivery Shakes just does that to people. Infects you with pop goodness that is. We told you this already when we saw them earlier in the week. What, you missed that show? And then you didn’t read our post? And you missed this show? Look, we’re doing our part, you gotta do yours. Their next gig is January 31st at Holy Mountain with Pageantry and Black Books. Don’t miss it, okay?
Tiger Waves were the first band to perform inside that night. I’ve been waiting for a Tiger Waves show for a while now. Frontman Reid Comstock moved to New York, and the band is trying to hold it together despite the geographic divide. Ah, the aching romance of long distance relationships. Tiger Waves shows have been hard to come by, but it was the worth the wait. The band’s energy was frenetic as they played outstanding tracks “Contryside” and “Weekends” and opened with a cover of The Byrds’ “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star. ” 
Packed into the tiny Cheer Up Charlie’s indoor room with projections and red and blue lights washing over the band, I was reminded once again just how intimate and wonderful a show there can be. And I was crushed by how much I’ll miss that room when the venue settles into their new digs over at the old Club Deville (for which I’m very excited even if a bit sentimental about losing the existing CUC).
The bill was solid and the bands delivered on one of the final nights to see live music at the soon to be relocated Cheer Up Charlie’s. If you missed it, we’re truly sorry for you. Below you can see a few photos from the event. All images © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
