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SXSW review: The Life and Times
Are you sick for brutally awesome power trios? Does your heart palpitate during math rock time signature changes? Does your soul long for in-your-face progressive rock birthed from the late 20th century underground indie rock scene?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you should have witnessed The Life and Times — your next favorite band — play an ear-punishing set on the Wave Rooftop during their 9 p.m. SXSW set.
The Life and Times — vocalist/guitarist Allen Epley, bassist Eric Abert and drummer Chris Metcalf — worked their way through broken guitar strings and a static-ridden amplifier backline to pull-off a crowd pleasing set.
Musically, The Life and Times are very similar to Epley’s previous band, the criminally under-appreciated shoegazing math rock band Shiner.
During the entirety of the set, Metcalf’s polyrhythmic stop-and-stutter bass lines cushioned Epley’s adrenaline-packed rock while Metcalf whirled his four limbs around the drums as if he were fulfilling a blood vendetta. Epley’s vocals were ethereal. Sigur Ros, Sweredriver, The Doves and My Bloody Valentine have all slipped a dose of influence into Epley’s songwriting ether, but the The Life and Times synthesized their inspirations into textures and soundscapes that are much more profound and original than the typical amalgamation of influences.
“My Last Hostage,” from their full-length album “Suburban Hymns,” proved a jaw-dropper; the middle-eight section circled like a six-string screeching cyclone and left nothing in its wake (except smiles from newfound fans and likely a little fear from any of the bands that had to follow up their performance).
Musicians in the audience appeared to love The Life and Times; you could see them inching closer to the stage to watch what chords and tunings were being used. Here’s hoping their fan base grows into music for the masses. Thursday evening’s SXSW set to an international crowd was definitely a leap in the right direction.
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