Austin gave RF Shannon and Feverbones to the American West, and the West graciously returned them to us unharmed and road-sharpened for their triumphant arrival back in our fair city. The double bill happened on Mohawk’s inside stage, and took place after an incredible of Montreal show, which we reported on last week. With as many bands and kinds of bands as there are in Austin, it’s hard to pin down who’s the most exciting or best or possesses the most promise, but I can say with certainty that I return to these two bands with greater frequency than any other pair I can conceive. The handful of cities that had the fortune to see both bands together received the most bountiful gifts Austin music has to offer.
For their homecoming, both acts sounded more tight and cohesive than ever, an impressive feat for two bands that seem to function on cohesion, albeit of polar varieties. RF Shannon wanders through murky, noodling riffs, loose and free form, but the band always punches the same beat at the right time. RF Shannon’s truest appeal lies in their brooding, moody folk itself, a sort of stylized sound that becomes a character, has a life of its own. These guys are on a vision quest.Feverbones on the other hand are locked in from the first beat to the last, a phenomena achieved only by the prowess of the individual members. Feverbones’ has a distinct sound to be sure, but their power lives in the amazing musicianship of all three members: Christopher Cox on guitar, Abram Shook on bass, and Matthew Shepherd on drums. Look if you must, but you won’t find a more talented trio of musicians in Austin’s clubs. I’ve heard rumblings that Feverbones is something of a musician’s band, which I get, but it ignores that their grooving psych pop is so damn addicting that it’ll have any casual listener ensnared.
We’ve talked a ton about both of these bands, so if you still haven’t seen them, then you’re new here or you just don’t trust us. Whatever the case, you need to rectify that as soon as possible. Neither band has their next show booked yet, so keep your eyes and ears open. In the meantime, no other bands in town are more deserving of your support in the form of purchasing the excellent releases they issued this year, both on Punctum Records. RF Shannon’s Hunting Songs can be purchased here, and Feverbones’ self-titled EP can be purchased here.
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