Austin Sound

Photos by Ashley Cole (Click pics for full image)

“I don’t know what else to say except, be prepared to fall in love with this next song.”

Those were the words of vocalist Marc Ferrino during Low Line Caller’s set at Mohawk on Saturday night. Fall in love?? Did we ever! Not just with the song, but with all they offered. What a great way to begin one’s evening. Luckily, up next was The Lemurs celebrating the release of their new EP - Million Little Bits. Low Line Caller was a tough act to follow and the Lemurs did it with ease. It was a packed patio at The Mohawk, and it wasn’t just hype. Both acts were talented and put on a great, entertaining, rump shaking show.

Low Line Caller, who up until about a year ago was strictly instrumental, opened the evening with moving shoe gaze/experimental rock numbers topped with lyrics that were anything but shoegaze. Their current line up boasts Josh Rosenblatt, Eddie Torres, Jason Brint, Raz Kanpur and Marc Ferrino. No more double drum, no more double synth, but trust me they don’t need it. Often compared in the past to Explosions In The Sky and This Will Destroy You, the addition of Marc Ferrino has taken them above and beyond this no-vocals-niche into something entirely new and exciting. “Over The Counter Kids” was a good example of what LLC does. It had a great musical base that wasn’t destroyed by sing-along able lyrics. Their songs focused on the quality of their instrumentation - their sound. Vocals were just another layer of that, not an addition on top of it. Ferrino used his voice in a way that allowed for a magnificent interweaving of syllable and song.

In Ferrino’s other project, Black Before Red, his vocals are more of a driving force in the songs. Take that guitar out of his hands when he fronts Low Line Caller and his versatility and vocal creativity (not to mention quirky dance moves) were an entertaining compliment to the well structured and thought out instrumental tracks. There is a James Mercer/ Chris Martin essence about him, but together they weren’t as pop-tastic as The Shins, and not quite as mellow and dramatic as Coldplay, which gave them a unique style that sets them apart from their peers here in Austin. Their experimental style of ambient progressions was improved by the lack of a second synth allowing for a more genuine, integrative end result rather than a bombarding wall of sound. The song “Thief,” melded snare clicks by the drums, claps, an ebb and flow of guitar and synth crescendos, and an instrumental mirror of vocal notes and tones. It was beautiful, and catchy. Not an easy thing to do.

But hey! It wasn’t all about Low Line Caller. Closing down the outside stage that night with their 80’s driven punk influenced post-rock were the Lemurs all pumped about the release of their new EP. And I’ve got one word for you - Collaboration. Million Little Bits has appearances by Pink Nasty, Deidre Gott, Cari Palazzolo, Christine Aprile, Michael Kingcaid, and Marc Ferrino. Whew. There’s a mouthful. All but Michael Kingcaid made appearances, adding layers of harmony to the lead vocals. Opening number, “Nina,” featured Pink Nasty, and was the perfect transition onstage from Low Line Caller to the Lemurs. Lead vocalist Mitch Billeaud, had a Jack White quality, and the music was heavy in a White Stripes way, but the vocals were less abrasive. One of the greatest qualities the Lemurs presented is their diversity, with each song truly sounding different.

Danny Reisch and Justin Mosley played a very surf inspired rhythm section while accompanied by Davy Click adding the same kind of riffs on lead guitar. That was paired with Josh King’s hefty amount of electronic sounds and keys. Billeaud even broke out an analog vocoder for the track “Waiting Outside,” with added harmonies from Deidre Gott. You could pinpoint their unique style, but there was so much variety from song to song. One could have compared them to a number of people ranging from David Bowie to Hot Hot Heat. Marc Ferrino joined the stage for an epic closing song, “Lonely,” which only left everyone in the crowd needing more. Engaging tunes and a seizing good light show had peeps walking away with a good feeling. The show consisted of all five tracks off their new EP, plus a couple oldie but goodies. One in particular that I like, “Breaking You Down” is still stuck in my head. Seriously.

And it wouldn’t be the only one. All their songs must have a secret mathematical equation embedded within the notes causing listeners the inability to forget them. Million Little Bits is now available, and be sure to catch Low Line Caller’s EP release party for High Def Soft Core Oct. 3rd at The Mohawk. The Lemurs plus Low Line Caller equals a damn good show. Both rose above the hype and showed they really have something to offer listeners.