Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > March > 22 > Entry
SXSW Review: Jana Hunter
(8:10 p.m., Saturday, Beauty Bar Backyard)
Jana Hunter really got dressed up for the occasion. She wore shredded Vans, gym shorts, and a worn-out tank top with a sports bra underneath for her Saturday showcase. That didn’t stop a swarm of photographers from descending on the wide open space in front of the stage at the striking of her very first note.
It was probably a bit unsettling for the Houston native who now calls Baltimore home. She was already frazzled by technical difficulties that would ultimately subject her voice to an echo chamber, and she no doubt knew the loud bands that had already kicked off the night at surrounding venues were going to make it really tough for her to convey her lilting, tension-wire voice. Now she was the center of attention in a really small space. Good thing she and her two bandmates took a ceremonial shot of brown liquor at the onset of their set.
Nothing Hunter played was recognizable. Instead of the hurts-so-good, slowed-down pace of old-school Cat Power that inhabits her most recent album, the exquisite “There’s No Home,” her drummer and bassist played loping rockers over which Hunter would often plaster scuzzy guitar work. By the last song, the outside interference had apparently gotten to be too much, as Hunter opted to run a loop of her voice and focus on her notes. But despite it all, she never once complained.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: SXSW 2009, SXSW 2009 reviews: Day 4
Comments
Click here to report comment abuse.