The music world begins to learn the name Son Little, but it’s heard his voice before. Under his given name Aaron Livingston, the Philly native offered a soulful invocation on the Roots’ 2011 album Undun.
That same yearning voice began a capella under an outdoor tent Tuesday night on Rainey Street at Blackheart, belting out the opening lines of brooding soul ballad “Your Love Will Blow Me Away When My Heart Aches.” Dressed in a black t-shirt and playing guitar backed by bass and drums, Little leaned on 2014 debut EP Things I Forgot in a 20-minute set.
Beginning with a riff on Bob Marley’s “Exodus,” Little mourned fallen friends on hypnotic lament “Cross My Heart,” the verses thumping in a war chant. Rain clouds threatening overhead, “The River” then spilled tambourine-driven blues on the set finale, proving Son Little knows Son House.
While Little has deep soul roots, nothing about him feels retro. The music’s forward thinking, with subtle undercurrents of experimental, electronic inflections, and a nod to hip-hop in both timing and lyricism. He brings a Cody Chesnutt vibe, and carries some RJD2, with whom he collaborated as Icebird.
Playing a new, reggae-tinged tune dedicated to “all the young people dying in the streets,” Little wondered “Does anybody know just who I am?” It’s only a matter of time.
Complete SXSW Music coverage at austinchronicle.com/sxsw/music
This article appears in March 13 • 2015.
