For months, we’ve been telling you about The Versus Project — an ambitious collaboration between some of Austin’s best bands that resulted in the release of a six disc box set of EPs orchestrated and organized by Borrisokane drummer Josh Denslow. The EPs include new music by Borrisokane, Young Tongue, Yum, Pageantry, Home by Hovercraft, Knifight, and Major Major Major as well as Borrisokane covering material by each band, and each band covering Borrisokane in turn. Saturday night at Scoot Inn brought the collaboration to life, with a live show featuring all of the parties involved.
Each of the bands played a mini-set of their own material, and many of the covers from the box set appeared through the night. Additionally, members of various bands joined each other onstage to perform covers, play guest parts on songs, and engage in experimental, rock-out jam sessions. The spectacle of so many performers sharing the stage and alternating in frenzied set-changes was a testament to the project’s vastness. The night ended in an epic rendition of Paul Simon’s “Obvious Child” that had almost every member of every band onstage and featured vocals by Growl’s Santiago Deitche.
More importantly, what these bands have come together to achieve represents the community of musicians Austin is lucky to house. Here are artists that share not only stages but also songs and ideas. They support one another in stoking the fire of creative energy that burns hotly in Austin, making it one of the most active music scenes in the world. A vital part of an artistic community is a supportive audience; we too are part of this community. If you love local music, find releases by these artists online or at your local records store, and support them by buying their music. Within a few hours of this post being live, you should be able to purchase the Versus Project right here. Keep an eye out for these artists and get out there and see some live music, friends.
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