We’ve been singing the praises of these players for months now. Punctum Records managed to get two of Austin’s best artists on a record together. Last week, the label released a split 7″ featuring songs by haunting songstress Jess Williamson and murky folk outfit RF Shannon. Last weekend, the two bands shared a stage at Cheer Up Charlies to celebrate the release. With beautiful kaleidoscopic projections dancing on the rock face behind CUC’s outdoor stage, the night was nothing short of magical.
Newly relocated to Austin, Cross Record opened the night with a set of droning folk music akin to that of Mount Eerie or pioneers of the genre, Earth. The husband and wife duo, who recently moved to Austin from Chicago, bring to the community a new dimension of sounds that adds to Austin’s already robust scene. I was floored by their performance and can’t wait to see the band again soon. Drummer and core member Dan Duszynski has quickly become incorporated into Austin’s community as he runs the Dandy Sounds studio where several Austin bands, including RF Shannon, and others have recorded.
Jess Williamson played in the bill’s middle slot, weaving a web of simultaneously dark and luminous sounds perfectly matched by the drifting images of light washing over her. Williamson returned recently from a tour, and sounded as effortlessly transfixing as ever, playing many of the songs from her outstanding album Native State, as well as the song from the newly released Punctum Records 7″, “Snake Song.” She plays again this Friday for Chris Catalena & The Native Americans’ record release at The ND.
Having played a slew of shows over the last few months, RF Shannon have practically become professionals at closing down stages and keeping a crowd until the very end. It helps that the band’s songs float out like mysterious folklore spells, transfixing everyone right where they stand. The only permissible movement is a some slow-groove head bobbing and as much hip shaking as you can muster. The band played selections from their excellent album Hunting Songs, including “Egyptian White Musk” and “Summer Hooks,” the latter being an apt descriptor for the group’s sound as a whole. If I had one record for these sprawling, hot summer nights in the South, RF Shannon has a good chance of being my choice. The band plays this Thursday at Spiderhouse with Slomo Drags and Nightblooms. You should go.
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