In Portland, OR’s continued dominance of all things SXSW, Horse Feathers calmly held the focused attention of a sizable South Austin crowd. Their centered, simple sound was perhaps the perfect antidote for those a little road-weary from the first full day and a half of nonstop music. Bringing gentle strings and skilled plucking out into the filtered sunshine of a back patio, Justin Ringle and his traveling company of excellent players reminded us that quiet music also rocks. In fact, the most impressive aspect of the performance was the incredible dynamic range and sensitivity showed by all four musicians, though particularly in the bowed cello and violin (and, eventually, saw). The group would be down to almost a whisper, then even less, only to come charging back out into a full-throated wail, elegantly pressing forward into their song.
Horse Feathers were a welcome respite from the noise junkies and buzz-hungry crowds Downtown. Now I can’t wait for them to come around to Boston....
DOWNLOAD: Horse Feathers - Falling Through the Roof (MP3) or Follow us for more Horse Feathers MP3s (Twitter)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
Very nice. Those photos are spectacular - well done. I agree that Horse Feathers are top notch in a sea of same out there.
S.