Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2010 > March > 18 > Entry
SXSW review: Star & Micey
Memphis trio Star & Micey are proteges of Big Star drummer Jody Stephens and record for Big Star’s old label, Ardent, where Stephens now serves as studio manager. Their 9 p.m. Thursday showcase at Barbarella was billed as “featuring Jody Stephens,” and Stephens came out before them to offer a tribute to his bandmate Alex Chilton, who passed away Wednesday, saying “he’s been part of my creative soul” and thanking everyone for the outpouring of support. The scheduled Big Star show Friday and discussion panel Saturday would go on in tribute to Chilton, he announced.
Big Star is not actually an obvious influence on Star & Micey, although Stephens was one of the guests on their 2009 self-titled debut. Singer-guitarist Joshua Cosby, guitarist-vocalist Nick Redmond and bassist-vocalist Geoff Smith, all in their mid-20s, have more of an indie-pop/Southern rock sound, with a little bit of folk and soul thrown into the mix. Vocal harmonies are their strong suit.
Cosby has a strong tenor, and he and Redmond have a tight blend that makes them often sound like the “two brothers without the same last name” they claim to be in their bio, while Smith frequently adds the third part for an element of the unexpected.
The bluesy “So Much Pain” was the obvious crowd favorite, drawing loud applause when the band announced it. Redmond’s nifty electric solo rode nicely atop Cosby’s acoustic rhythm guitar. The poppy “Carly” could have been a lost ‘70s soft-rock hit, with its catchy, broken-hearted chorus, although Smith’s toy xylophone part, which cleverly shaded into “Frere Jacques” and back, might have been a little much for FM programmers of the day.
Having no regular drummer, the band played most of its set with a drum kit divided between the three of them, working the kick drum, tambourine and cymbals with pedals. That seemed to work fine with the trio’s easy-going sound, but when Stephens joined them on drums for the last song, “Nelson,” the energy level increased exponentially.
Follow Austin Music Source on Facebook and Twitter.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: SXSW 2010
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.
By woodenalligator
March 19, 2010 5:14 PM | Link to this
No offense reviewer but the 3rd paragraph in your Star and Micey review is backward. You read the bio wrong Joshua Cosby and Geoff Smith are the two main vocalists the ‘same brothers of different mothers’ quote is about and who started the band.. Nick Redmond an incredible gifted musician was their producer who joined later and made the band the best thing to come out of Memphis in a long time. Nice review though thank you.
By rustyjames
March 20, 2010 12:48 AM | Link to this
WE LOVE STAR & MICEY!