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Fun Fun Fun review: Kylesa
I’ve seen Kylesa virtually every time they’ve played Austin since their first time here in 2003 at the long-defunct Sacred Cup. I walked in curious and walked out a huge fan of their recombinant metal, equal parts basement punk, psychedelic rock and Southern sludge.
I have seen them play good shows (that first one, the time at Emo’s they busted out “Set the Controls For the Heart of the Sun,” their first time back with returning bassist Corey Barhorst) and less good shows (that Mohawk gig, oy).
But I was never prepared for them to become such a consistent band. Starting with last year’s “Static Tensions” and continuing on this year’s critical breakout “Spiral Shadows,” Barhorst, guitarists, singers and founders Phillip Cope and Laura Pleasants, and dual drummers Carl McGinely and Tyler Newberry sound as focused as they’ve ever been, even at 2:30 in the Sunday afternoon. As Pleasants noted, “It is really daytime right now.” Indeed. Metal is not usually awake at this hour.
McGinely and Newberry worked in galloping lockstep, with polyrhythmic flourishes here and there. Sometimes Cope joins in on a stand-up tom-tom. Barhorst, whose thrashing is a crucial part of their live energy, will sometimes drop the bass to add spacy keyboard flourishes that recall spilled bongwater on Pink Floyd records. Pleasants remains their most public weapon, her guitar shredding and banshee wail a genuine shock to those who have never experienced it before.
Well played, guys. See you next time.
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