Austin has seen a number of solid orchestral pop and rock outfits in recent years, but perhaps none have created more buzz than Mother Falcon. The young group, which boasts around 20 given members, wowed the crowd at SXSW when they were given the opportunity to play the Austin Music Awards, but they have been equally swelling huge crowds along Red River as well. Their debut EP, Still Life, is an amazing example of expansive and intricately arranged movements carved into pristine and concise pop. Strings dominate and dance behind the emotive vocal turns, balancing the distinctive croon of Tamir Kalifa against harmonies between Nick Gregg and Claire Puckett. While the band’s album is mesmerizing (and they are planning on recording a full-length later this year), they are best beheld in their sprawling live sets. You can do just that this Sunday, May 23, as they play the aftershow for Of Montreal at the Mohawk. In other words, plan to stick around.
Profile: Mother Falcon
Year Formed:
2008
Members/Instruments played:
Laura Andrade - Cello
Rita Andrade - Viola
Italo Benavides - Cello
Diana Burgess - Cello
Kira Bordelon - Violin
Clara Brill - Violin
Nick Calvin - Cello
Maurice Chammah - Violin
Yun Du - Violin
Nick Gregg - Vocals, Cello, Mandolin, Guitar
Austin Harris - Violin
Tamir Kalifa - Vocals, Accordion
Matt Krolick - Trumpet
Gilman Lykken - Bassoon
Josh Newburger - Violin
Claire Puckett - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Matt Puckett - Vocals, Saxophone, Glockenspiel
Luke Stence - Bass
Isaac Winburne - Saxophone, Percussion, Piano
Former Bands/Side Projects:
Several of our members - Nick, Matt K, Tamir, and Isaac - are also in SiP SiP, which has been gaining some notoriety as a party band. Tamir also busks regularly around Austin with his accordion. Matt P currently plays in the kid’s band Tim and the Space Cadets, who are playing Lollapalooza this year. Kira, who just joined us, also plays with Petals, an (almost) all-girl rock band. Claire Puckett pushes the classical guitar aside to rock the bass in the folk rock band Patches. We could go on and on and on about the former projects we’ve been on…
Albums:
Still Life EP - 2010, Self-Released
Influences:
Everything from hardcore rap to classical. We’ve got a ton of people who all have different musical tastes.
Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:
One of our favorites has got to be being compared to the lifting off of the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars. Yeah, that’s pretty epic.
Favorite local bands:
SPEAK, Marmalakes and Balmorhea
Favorite local venue:
Parish
Upcoming shows scheduled:
May 23rd - Of Montreal After Party @ Mohawk. $5, free if you bought Of Montreal Tickets. Doors open at 10, show starts at 11.
Shows over the next month that you’re excited to see:
A lot of us are going to be out over the next month, but a few of us plan on going to Voxtrot’s farewell show on 6/3.
Some of your favorite albums from the past year:
Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear, Forgiveness Rock Record - Broken Social Scene, Teen Dream - Beach House, The Warm Up - J. Cole, Deliverance - A Hawk and a Hacksaw
Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:
Arcade Fire or Grizzly Bear or Jay-Z
Austin Sound questions:
How difficult is it managing shows, recordings, and just generally being a band with so many members?
It’s actually not too bad now - we just set up Google Groups to handle e-mail between everyone and it’s made communication with 20+ people a lot easier and faster. Finding time to record has definitely been difficult as we’re currently planning to record a full-length at the end of summer/beginning of fall when people are back from vacation, but have not yet left for school.
What are some of y’all’s favorite still life paintings?
We actually didn’t have just paintings in mind when we named the EP, but in terms of paintings we really like there’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Seurat, The Dance by Matisse, and The Scream by Van Gogh, just to name a few.
Song Introduction:
Mariold was written by Nick G while he was in China. It was greatly influenced by John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.
Sound Off:
When we drive around in a caravan of cars, we like to stick our arms out both sides of the car and pretend they’re wings. When we turn one side will raise their wing and the other will lower it. It’s a lot of fun.
Mp3 from Still Life:
Marigold
Websites:
http://motherfalconmusic.com
Myspace
