Austin Sound

Right at around 4 o’clock, Austin’s staple electronic act The Octopus Project took over Stage 4 with a slew of electronics and props in the theme of the band’s “friendly ghost” image. With a hearty crowd built up the band launched into a set of fimiliar Octopus Project staples, including songs from the new Hello, Avalanche, and then a few with vocals (gasp) that I didn’t recognize, meaning they’re either new songs or I’m a dumbass. With dancing props and songs at 150% their usual tempo, The Octopus Project put on quite a show; of particular note is the interesting hair-dichotomy on stage - one half of the Lambert duo has hair that flails around with every thrash of the guitar and the other, with perfectly groomed locks to match her dress, could be a spokesperson for women’s heavy duty hairspray. What does that have to do with their music? Beats me.

Though everybody is over at the smaller Stage 4 watching Octopus Project, the Black Heart Procession is putting on a spellbinding set. Their songs demand a bit more darkness, but the violin added to the group sounds great, and you have to admire creepy pianoman Tobias Nathaniel’s dedication to that knitted stocking cap in the heat. Pall Jenkins sounded great as well, his vocals mellow and eerie.

Will Johnson and Co. took the stage shortly after Parts & Labor. A quick disclosure: Centro-matic are easily one of my favorite bands, so seeing them consisted of about 99% loving it, 1% objective analysis. The band is known for their extensive back catalog, but also for their willingness to play nearly any song from any Centro-matic album; half an hour of show usually equates to a brief lesson in Centro-matic history. Today was no different as the band pulled out jams from across the spectrum. From under his trademark “Cotton” hat, Johnson announced “Calling Termatico” as a “song that used to be about the negative - now it’s about the positive.” Seems to me the whole set was about the positive.

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The Ivy League poppers have really tightened up over the past year. They’re carrying a bit more rock edge to their familiar super-sugary indie pop, which works well for the fest atmosphere. And they had a pretty good energy, though the Texas heat seemed to be taking a toll.

Looks like the punk stage is shaping up to once make this fest the most memorable, and local destroyers the Krum Bums wasted no time in wasting the place. With a circle pit ragin’, the band climbed the stage scaffolding, stage dived, and generally worked the place into an uncontrollable frenzy. Not the easiest pit to shoot pics from, but then if it were, something would be terribly wrong.

Beautiful and funky set from Dengue Fever on Stage 4, with a huge crowd checking it out. Chhom Nimol’s voice is mesmerizing and haunting, but there are some major grooves and fantastic world rhythms. So far the best show of the fest, but it’s still early.

Also, sorry for the screwed up posting times. We should have that fixed now.

Extending a thanks to Fun Fun Fun Fest for “making it summer again,” Brooklyn-based noise rockers Parts & Labor (one of our recommended bands for Saturday) hurtled into a set that brought their glorious melodies and howling noise-stylings to bear. Keyboardist/Electrician Dan Friel hovered over a pile of effects boxes creating sweet sine waves and sonic beeps that my ears aren’t soon going to forget (i.e. I should have been wearing better earplugs), and Guitarist Sarah Lipstate and bassist BJ Warshaw piled the noises on higher and deeper.

On the side of the stage I also saw members of Centro-matic setting up for their set, now less than an hour away.

Frank Smith just finished up on the small stage 2. They were rocking out, and it sounded pretty good, but compared to their other recent shows when they had more members on stage (including a saw!), performing just as a quartet watered down the sound a bit and made the set somewhat more generic. We are looking forward to catching more shows on Stage 2 though - it’s a great intimate setup.

1:10 - The Yuppie Pricks are playing Caddyshack, dressed up in full country club attire with a Sarah Palin dancer. Fantastic. They just unloaded “Greed Is Good.” The punk stage is definitely off to a solid early start.

Wow, this is insane. It’s Austin comedian Chris Trew, and I’m told the Coldtowne Comedy troupe. They’re throwing down some proslytizing rap, dressed as Jesus, a Christian Fundy, and, um, a Nazi? We’re not sure, but it’s hilarious. And they have some wringers in the crowd bursting out in tongues and convulsions. They should be playing Sunday morning!