Tune-Yards
Auditorium Shores, Nov. 5A slash of white paint across her face and dressed in puffy pink-tulle sleeves, DIY princess Merrill Garbus, otherwise known as Tune-Yards, dropped some seriously loopy funk on Saturday afternoon. The set list was populated almost entirely by tracks from her second and latest LP, Whokill, from the wry posturing of “Gangsta” and slyly feminist “Es-So” (you can get that kind of sound out of a ukulele?) to the cheerfully submissive sexuality of “Powa.” Overheard in the audience: “I can’t stand her recorded work, but her live stuff is amazing.” It’s safe to say everyone in attendance agreed with the latter sentiment. Accompanied by bassist Nate Brenner and two neon-green-clad saxophonists sporting matching headbands, Garbus proved herself a bit of a sorceress, sending cascades of sound swirling down and around like a mist, calling them back at whim. This is a lady who seriously loves her job, if pogoing while strumming the ukulele during “You Yes You” is any indication. Topping off the set with the scorching “My Country,” Garbus thanked her Austin audience profusely. The pleasure was all ours.
This article appears in November 11 • 2011.