The Joy Formidable - Waterloo Records, SXSW, Austin TX - March 14, 2013


[England] Officially speaking, I hate this genre – pop punk – cheerful encouraging vocals over hard music. This band was very Cruiserweight – I would have a non-Austin reference except I just don’t listen to these bands. I was there to visit with PatientPassion and CAPITALS, and I trusted their musical judgment. They didn’t fail! This band won me over. Male bassist and drummer fronted by a female singing and on guitar. The males were happy go lucky sorts – one in a rockabilly shirt and the other all smiles and curly hair. She troubled me (a la John Cage). She had a severe blonde bob, very dark makeup on her eyebrows and eyes, and an outfit that was a strange mix of girly/punky and severe business suit. She widened her eyeballs until there were whites above the pupils and stared at the crowd intensely when she just didn’t need to – but it worked – maybe she was hypnotizing us. In my imaginings she was a fierce young one who has grown up and created a powerful band. I really fell, though, when they suddenly segued into prog metal – almost of the Dream Theatre variety – it was super exciting! It turned into a jam session. They’re an interesting band and a class act for sure. Oh, and the best part was that the band tried to interact with LuckiestKidEver when she was on her dad’s shoulders with big pink earmuffs, she cried, and the band made note of the fact that she was the second kid they’d made cry at the end of the show. LuckiestKidEver remained mortified but CAPITALS was pleased by the whole situation.

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