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SXSW review: She and Him
Before one says anything about She and Him’s performance at Auditorium Shores Saturday night, one must say this: M. Ward, Zooey Deschanel and their bandmates all deserve a medal for the grand accomplishment of even showing up.
Plagued by sound problems that would persist throughout the show, Deschanel and Ward didn’t even take to the stage until 9 p.m., 20 minutes after their scheduled start time. The crowd was appreciably large but far smaller than you’d expect for the headliners at the traditionally popular Auditorium Shores stage — which might have had a thing to do with the biting, blistering cold and substantial gusting winds that buffeted the audience. Many were clad in blankets and Snuggies and couples huddled together out of necessity and not just affection.
Those circumstances are less than desirable, and it would have been hard to blame Deschanel and Ward for simply walking away or canceling. And although their forty-five minute performance wasn’t exactly one for the books, it went off about as well it could.
Sound difficulties started early, with Deschanel unable to get reverb on her vocals for a somewhat faltering, disengaged take on “Black Hole,” a problem that continued on a slightly more passionate version of “That Won’t Stop Me Crying.” Deschanel and Ward and their backing band loosened up and grew stronger as the set went on — save for an undercooked take on “Volume Two” single “In The Sun.”
Ultimately, the problem wasn’t with She and Him — given the temperature and wind, so blasting you could hear it through the microphones, it’s a miracle Ward could play the guitar at all. Weather and technical issues conspired to drag down the show, but regardless of who or what natural phenomenon was responsible, you’d be hard-pressed to argue that braving the elements was worth it — even for a chance to hear a peppy version of “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” live.
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Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: SXSW 2010
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By suzuki
March 21, 2010 8:44 AM | Link to this
Nice review, Patrick. I was wondering how those shows went and if anyone turned up to listen. I hate to be a nit-picker - I know 5:07 is awfully early for proof-reading and this is a blog, so the expectations are lower - but I believe it’s “smaller than”, not “smaller then”.
Editor’s note: Thanks, Suzuki. We’ve fixed it. Expectations are not lower, but we’re definitely suffering from SXSW fatigue!
By Phillip Pastrano
March 21, 2010 11:10 AM | Link to this
The mistake was booking She and Him to headline anything. They have not been around long enough to hardley even be second bill. yes I know M. Ward can headline but this is not M. Ward its She and Him. The music also is not music fest freindly. They are much better in small setting that any thing like what Auditoriam Shores is. I know that this can be said for most bands but some bands are even better in large setting but not this band. This sounds more like SXSW planners trying to be too hip for their own good not thinking about the bigger picture. Whomever made that decision to book them must have been their fravorite band or something.