Things were relatively tame at the Uproxx House late Saturday night. That is until Bill Murray walked in and the entire venue swarmed him, cell-phones snapping away at the actor. His presence, unfortunately, meant music momentarily took a backseat for most present.
Best Coast frontwoman Bethany Cosentino refocused the crowd well enough, commencing her band’s set with “Last Year,” from 2012 LP The Only Place. The Los Angeles group – a recording duo fleshed into a touring quartet – teased new songs from their forthcoming third LP, California Nights, due in May.
“This is our ninth of nine fucking South By Southwest shows, and I couldn’t be happier this shit is over,” said the overalls-clad singer. “Thank you for coming, though.”
(File under: Things Not to Say to a South By Crowd.)
The evidently worn-out foursome continued, revisiting 2010 debut Crazy For You with “When I’m With You” and stellar single-girl anthem “Boyfriend.” Heads bopped to jingle-like single “The Only Place,” which could soundtrack a suntan lotion commercial.
“They should make some more references to where they’re from,” quipped a smart aleck nearby, understandably tired of many California references. Lucky for him, a cover of (Long Island shock-rockers) Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” closed the 40-minute set, Cosentino dedicating the rendition to that group’s drummer A.J. Pero, who passed away on Friday – an auspicious, warm gesture, and free of West Coast allusion.
Complete SXSW Music coverage at austinchronicle.com/sxsw/music
This article appears in March 20 • 2015.