Doug Van Pelt

SXSW.08.08

I was starting to feel the wear and tear of several nights in a row that is the SXSW music marathon. At least on Saturday I did not have to wake up at 6am (after a 3am hitting of the bed) to take my kids to school. Still, I was spent and only took in one last show on this final night of the festival. Edison Glass played at a small venue usually reserved for the likes of Esther's Follies, a Saturday Night Live or Second City Revue type comedy troupe that entertains crowds every weekend. Being an Austinite for 27 years now, you'd think I would have taken in one of these dramatic performances. At least now I know where the good seats are... The bassist (Josh Morin) for this band has an amazing falsetto voice, which fits in well with frontman Joshua Silverberg's more midrange vocals. The band utilizes some very non-plus (and mostly black & white) videos on the back screen. It's a cool effect that adds another dimension to their progressive sound. The car footage in the third song was rad. "See Through Me" (from their new album, Time Is Fiction) had some looped and heavily reverb-ed guitar fills. This band is simply tasteful and tight. Thought-provoking lyrics, music, and visuals. Nice. "This House" is another example of impressive song compositions, with its dichotomy between rising vocals and dischordant power chords. I now have a new respect for the band. I talked to their A&R guy for the third time this week (Chris York), who told me it was his favorite band of his (on Credential Recordings). I can see why.