Glass Eye
Copa, Saturday, March 18
The reappearance of Austin’s Glass Eye after 16 years was, for those that remember when, an event. The audience was an international mix of old friends, who seemed to have weathered that time by shedding some hair. Vocalist/guitarist Kathy McCarty introduced the showcase with the promise of “a set list of hits,” which led vocalist/bassist Brian Beattie to translate that as “which ones we remember and which ones can we learn.” This was no nostalgia trip however. It was big smiles all around, especially from keyboard player Stella Weir and the sound of a band playing angular, yet melodic post-punk that seemed remarkably fresh. They included a couple tunes from their new disc, Every Woman’s Fantasy (RexyRex); Beattie sang the intensely rockin’ “Cicada Buzz;” and Weir took the spotlight for the dissonant “Poison Water.” The inclusion of darkly memorable “Christine,” the somber drone of “Dempsey Nash,” and the gleeful closing medley of “Living With Reptiles” and Paul Simon’s “Cecilia” left the band, and the assembled faithful, breathless and feeling noticeably youthful at the close of another SXSW.
This article appears in March 24 • 2006.