Audio By Carbonatix
The Octopus Project,This Will Destroy You, Ume
Granada Theater
May 23, 2009
Better Than: Watching three exuberant non-Texas bands trying to have some fun on a Saturday night
Three Texas bands delivered well-crafted, wildly diverse music to an appreciative audience at the Granada on Saturday night.
Opener Ume provided a tight set of riff-driven power rock. Guitarist/vocalist Lauren Larsen tossed off complex riffs with amazing fluidness–although, for too much of the set, her amazing riffs and vocals were lost in the sound mix.
Larsen’s one of those guitarists for whom the instrument is a seemingly natural extension of her body; she plays with a combination of ferocity and ease.
Following Ume was This Will Destroy You, whose epic post-rock songs
were dense, swelling and as thunderous as a spring storm in Texas. This band continually improves, and Saturday’s performance was
mesmerizing.
The evening closed with a completely different take on
indie instrumental rock–this one bouncy fun–delivered by Octopus
Project.
The quartet of multi-instrumentalists seemed determined for
everyone to have fun. And how can you not smile, watching band member Yvonne Lambert
do her magic on a Theremin? It helped, of course that, accompanying the music, was a zany visual
show.
Three excellent bands, three musical
styles, one great night.
Critic’s Notebook:
Random Note: There’s more to Ume’s Larsen than than guitar chops: She’s close to earning her Ph.D in sociology, although she’s temporarily shelved her studies to focus
on music.
Check out more photos from the show in our slideshow.
