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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > March > 21 > Entry
SXSW Review: Superdrag
(11 p.m. Friday, Pangaea)
Superdrag, Knoxville’s perennial underdogs of power pop, blasted through a short set of three-and-a-half-minute pop nuggets during their powerful set at Pangaea.
The “ultra lounge” with bottle service appeared to be one of the most unlikely places to catch a band that spent the better part of the last two decades traveling around the country in a van, living out of the lint in each other’s pockets, but there appeared to be fans in the roped-off area that were taking advantage of the club’s exclusive (and expensive) bottle service. The attention to alcohol was quite ironic considering frontman John Davis’ reported battle with alcoholism and his re-born Christian sobriety that suffuses its way into his newly penned lyrics.
Superdrag reformed last year after a 5 year hiatus; their set included a sampling of songs from their lengthy career and several new tracks off their new album “Industry Giants,” which was released on Tuesday. Retooled (and seemingly quite sober), the new Superdrag actually featured the return of the original lineup: vocalist / guitarist Davis, bassist Tom Pappas, guitarist Brandon Fisher and super-steady drummer Don Coffey.
The band opened with “Slow to Anger,” the opening cut from their new album. With Davis repeatedly scream-singing “slow to speak, slow to anger” during the verse, the lifted biblical passage transformed into a mantra, appearing aggressive in tone instead of a plaintive adage.
“Keep It Close to Me” and “Down on the Inside” followed quickly, cracking forth out of a glowing tube-amp distortion squall from their dual guitar attack. Davis diced up buzzsaw leads on his Gibson SG during the bridges and choruses, recalling the elements that allowed Superdrag to put the power in power pop.
The band also made sure to include their 1996 radio/MTV hit “Sucked Out.” The song blasted with fury and contempt of a music industry that is now taking it hard on the chin just as Superdrag is elevating like a fiery-winged phoenix. After a rollercoaster ride of a career that began in 1992, Superdrag is clicking right back up the hill again.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: SXSW 2009, SXSW 2009 reviews: Day 3
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By Eric
March 23, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
“Down on the Inside” is actually called “Do the Vampire”. Either way, the show was awesome.
By Monte
April 1, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this
I was one of the VIP’s in the roped-off area… the bottle service was for the Billboard executive and his girlfriends. This show was amazing! LONG LIVE SUPERDRAG!