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SXSW review: The Smith Westerns
Just when you thought the bands playing SXSW couldn’t get any younger than buzzy Surfer Blood, along comes Chicago-based garage pop outfit The Smith Westerns, who seem like they wouldn’t have been allowed inside the Scoot Inn Saturday night if they weren’t part of Pitchfork’s closing night showcase. Frontman Cullen Omori looked a bit like Wiley Wiggens in “Dazed and Confused,” with straight black hair covering his face as he sang. He was quite the comedian on stage, too, asking for more warmth in the monitor and saying things like, “we’re from Chicago, or (expletive)-cago, but don’t quote me on that. Ha!”
There was a smallish crowd on hand, which was better than nothing, considering a majority of the people were either inside or huddled around the fire pit in the corner (yes, there was a fire going at a SXSW showcase to keep people warm). The band was understandably a little loose when they started, but things picked up as the set progressed, with the Omori’s glammy vocals complementing Max Kakecek’s catchy guitar hooks. Part of the Smith Westerns’ appeal is their ability to walk a fine line between a sweeter pop sound and edgier material, and it felt like they really found their groove on “Be My Girl,” which unfortunately was also the end of the set.
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