Indierect Selections
Exodus, Wednesday, March 16
There’s something surreal about having a shit-ton of feedback assault your ears at 1pm. The local collective known as Indierect delivered this attack with one thing in mind: “We’re just trying to get local Austin bands together with national bands,” says showcase organizer Daniel Perlaky, who has a half-dozen other shows lined up during the festival. Athens, Ga.’s Polemic kicked off the afternoon with their noise, something akin to hearing L7 practice next to Don Caballero. Next, San Antonio’s Animals of the Bible funneled their drums/synth/bass concoction into a dancey/skronky/screamo party soundtrack. From Arkansas, Tel Aviv brought a more subdued electro sound that nestled the growing crowd into lovely calm. Earlier, Perlaky had mentioned that the next band, Ghostland Observatory, was going to be the next huge thing out of Austin. “I’ll bet my life savings on it,” he said with a smile. Singer Aaron Behrens strutted around in tight pink jeans and sunglasses, all Jagger swagger and Prince falsetto, while drummer Thomas Turner cooked up hip-shaking techno heart-attack beats. After several adrenaline-boiling numbers, the duo unleashed a slow jam (think George Michael circa “Careless Whisper”), in which Behrens hit notes that would make the Purple One cry. The next song picked jaws off the floor, with Behrens doing some sort of erotic snake gyration to a funky beat. After that, Houston noise freaks Fatal Flying Guillotines had no choice but to rough us up like little schoolgirls. The DIY spirit of the afternoon was only reinforced when two parental types in the back exchanged these words: “I don’t remember music being this loud. This is loud!” “Just shut up and drink your gin and tonic. It’s rock & roll.”
This article appears in March 18 • 2005.