As Chronicle scribe Luke Winkie wrote in April for an Austin Psych Fest Live Shot, a reunited Olivia Tremor Control proved too much for the sound mix, coming off as imprecise as the famed Athens, Ga., music collective was pinpoint pop on records.
Nevertheless it was a welcome return for the group, who last played Austin in 1997 at the late Electric Lounge downtown on Bowie Street. That performance was everything the most recent wasn’t – sweaty, intimate, revealing.
Fifteen years later on East Riverside Drive, Olivia Tremor Control instead turned in a typical festival set – big, sloppy, fun – on the same weekend that fellow Elephant 6 collective alum Jeff Magnum made a rare stop at the Moody Theater.
After stalking the merch table at Emo’s and purchasing a remaster of OTC’s celebrated sophomore release, 1999’s Black Foliage Volume One, I tried keeping an eye out for the band there after their set, but lost track once the Black Lips began rocking the house.
Hearing the announcement just now of Doss’ death at the age of 43 from as-yet-unknown causes, I was grateful that Luke pulled off an interview with the singer prior to his Austin revisit. Re-read it here.
Time for me to tear the shrinkwrap off my 2-CD Foliage set and help send Doss off this mortal plain by relishing some of his musical accomplishments.
This article appears in July 27 • 2012.