Thao Nguyen blew the top off of the shed stage at Waterloo Park, dancing about in her cute blue dress and boots. She was one more ray of sunshine on a completely glorious sun-shiny day for the Mess With Texas party. Playing with only a couple of gents, rather than the full lineup of the Get Down Stay Down, Thao played raucous, noodly guitar and sang with a whimsical tone and core to her sound. Featuring an active bass line and Rusted Root-type short vocal phrases, Thao got a hot mess of a SXSW crowd dancing around to her happy melodies. She has a knack for stringing just a few words together at a time, never broadcasting what her lyric will turn out to be. This coyness of character is devastatingly appealing, leaving us thunderstruck on the lawn.
Thao was incredibly gracious, thanking everyone for coming out to spend a little time with her and her boys. Then, noting that she needed to tape her dress up a little bit to keep it from tearing or falling off or unraveling (I missed which, precisely), she said that she’d distract us with some beat boxing. And MAN can she tear it up. Her mouth and throat managed to give off multi-instrumental sounds, playing around rhythmically as well as tonally. Her set was perfect outdoor music, and gave us a great opportunity to get a little grooving done.
DOWNLOAD: Thao Nguyen - Fear and Convenience (MP3) or Follow us for more Thao Nguyen MP3s (Twitter)
I LIKE THE OLD ONE! PEOPLE ON YOUTUBE ARE SAYING THE FREKIN’ JO BROS (WHO SUCK NO OFFENCE)ARE GOING TO BE THE BEATLES!!!!! “THE BEATLES, A TRIBUTE” ARE BETTER THAN THEM. DISNEY CHANEL SUCKS FOR TRYING TO0 REMAKE ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME!!!
by Claire on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10.51 pm from the entry: New Yellow Submarine movie to take flight
thanks all! as jeff noted, it was a pretty great show. and when they play with chali 2na i’ve heard it’s another level.
re: #11 - pure luck.
by josh on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 06.37 pm from the entry: Ozomatli + Nathan Maxwell & the Original Bunny Gang - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR; Nov. 5, 2009)
what colin said.
by josh on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 06.36 pm from the entry: Wiz Khalifa: Burn After Rolling (Mixtape)
Great photos! cool review! another great melophobe article!
by Josh Kincaid on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05.44 pm from the entry: Ozomatli + Nathan Maxwell & the Original Bunny Gang - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR; Nov. 5, 2009)
the photos are pretty legit.
by colin on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05.33 pm from the entry: Ozomatli + Nathan Maxwell & the Original Bunny Gang - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR; Nov. 5, 2009)
love picture #11, Bean. way to capture a moment.
by chris on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05.20 pm from the entry: Ozomatli + Nathan Maxwell & the Original Bunny Gang - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR; Nov. 5, 2009)
But don’t the lyrics have to be there for it to be interesting? They are just run of the mill and it’s not like the beats are all that interesting. There is plenty of better stuff to smoke to, hip hop or otherwise.
by Colin on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 04.29 pm from the entry: Wiz Khalifa: Burn After Rolling (Mixtape)
