SXSW (Friday): Insound Day Party
Club DeVille; Austin, TX

How to skip a huge line at a show: pretend you're a roadie and act like you know what the fuck you're doing. Thanks dude, you know who you are.

{The Thermals} are playing a million shows this week, and I made it my business to catch at least one of them. This band changes drummers more often than socks (unless you're bassist Kathy Foster, who went barefoot for this set), and Westin Glass has since replaced Lorin Coleman for the band's first album on Kill Rock Stars, Now We Can See. Club DeVille's outside stage area was completely packed with surprisingly respectful fans who nodded in agreement when Foster observed the crowd and stated, “Headbanging is better than drinking!” IMHO, standout moments were “Returning to the Fold” from 2006's The Body, The Blood, The Machine and brandy-dandy new track “Now We Can See” from the upcoming album, Now We Can See. That “whoa-oa” chorus works out quite nicely at a live show, wouldn't you know it? Really, though, the Thermals sound the same no matter what medium you've got them in: airtight and ass-kicking.

----

As usual, {The Hold Steady} killed it, which we discussed yesterday, so I'll just say that today's set was one for older fans, and I appreciated it more than you know. I danced and did a lot of pointing. Here's a pic:

----

Since every WIN must be accompanied by a FAIL, my lack of geographical knowledge caused me to completely miss the Bloodshot Records party, so I'll make it up to you tonight, y'all.

Most Read



Etc.