With a significant hip-hop bill slated outside and two indie darling bands ready to warm up the indoor stage, Red 7 drew a sizable crowd, especially considering the sub-zero temperatures bearing down on Austin. I arrived to find a group La Luz fans already huddled together at the front of the room around the stage–out of devotion, not for warmth, in case that needed clearing up.
At their last show in Austin, La Luz impressed me greatly with their nonchalant, lo-fi, surf-noir tunes and I’ve been listening to the Damp Face tape incessantly since then. I had my calendar marked for their return when they were schedule to open for of Montreal. Unfortunately, a horrendous car accident derailed those plans and put the band on a brief hiatus. However, the four fearsome ladies have bounced back more quickly than I ever expected.
The girls were nothing but casual smiles and relaxed banter at the show last night. Even when an electrical cord malfunctioned, lead singer Shana Cleveland simply remarked, “Ummm…yes,” and drummer Marian Li Pino continued the rhythm as she laughed, “Ehh…we’ll figure it out.” La Luz performed songs from their EP as well as from their full-length effort It’s Alive as fans danced enthusiastically. We all know Austin is a bit of a stoic crowd, so by enthusiastically I mean they bounced uncoordinatedly and swung their arms like white kids in a 60s beach film while wearing winter coats and beanies.
Beyond the stellar tunes, La Luz hit a high point when they asked the crowd to divide and form a row down which fans could dance Soul Train style. The group has been known to do this, but that didn’t make the brief conspiratorial aside between Cleveland and Li Pino to confirm the exact moment to initiate the dance party any less endearing. Couples and single folks alike strolled the aisle while the four musicians looked on approvingly, smiling down from the stage.
Pure Bathing Culture headlined the evening with a set of airy indie pop. I’ve been looking forward to an Austin trip from this band for a while as well, since they cancelled their SXSW dates last year. The group has included a Fleetwood Mac cover of “Dreams,” with which they closed the night, in their set for as long as I’ve known of them, and the song is an important testimony to the roots of their sound. With a band built around core duo Daniel Hindman and Sarah Versprille, Pure Bathing Culture creates breezy pop centered on Versprille’s gorgeous voice. The band’s recordings piqued my interest, but I can now attest that their live sound is even more highly developed and convincing. If you have a chance to see them, do yourself the favor.
If the cold kept you in last night, you missed out. See photos below. All images © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
