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SXSW review: Here We Go Magic
The first impression that Here We Go Magic gave off tonight during their 9 p.m. Club de Ville set was one of confidence. The music was powerful and compelling, an early set on the first day of music that flew by before it even seemed to get started.
A year ago, lead vocalist/guitarist Luke Temple released the band’s self-titled debut, which he wrote and recorded himself. The album was innovative but had a purposefully lo-fi production value, something that some music fans enjoy but others vocally do not. Over the last year Temple has assembled a band to work out the material live. They’ve toured with Grizzly Bear and the Walkmen and made an appearance at the Austin City Limits festival last October.
Judging by tonight’s set, touring has been good for the group as they ready the release of their follow-up album, which was recorded with a full band. Unlike the album, the live versions of the songs are not washed over with a layer of fuzz. Opener “Only Pieces,” began with poly-rhythmic percussion that increased in intensity until the bass and drums crashed in until the song fades away with hand claps.
On the new song “Collector,” the band plays with a droning rock sound, which is punctuated by a sort of falsetto call-and-response. Someone unfamiliar with Temple’s music might label him as yet another disciple of David Byrne, and while his vocal styles on that song and another new number, “Casual,” might recall the Talking Heads frontman, he sings with a level of comfort that shows that he owns the material.
The band closed with two of their strongest songs “Fangella” and “Tunnelvision,” which, even if the new album is a hit, will probably remain crowd favorites.
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