Caribou/Fuck Buttons @ Emo's

I both love and hate the fact that I live so close to Austin. Every time I am there I decide that I will soon be moving there (which obviously never happens). It is home to SxSW and ACL, and has also been branded "The Live Music Capitol of the World". The city is a music blogger's best and/or worst friend. Unfortunately, I have a bad habit of going to as many live shows as possible. The bad part of that habit is that I do not like to miss any shows. If I lived there, I'd be broke.

Really though, if we moved to Austin, who would be here to report on all of the great Houston happenings? Plus, a road trip to see two incredible bands like Caribou and Fuck Buttons always ends up being a good time.

Read more about the show

Caribou

Fuck Buttons

After spending most of the day exploring the many wonders of Austin, including a brief jaunt to The Parish Room for the B-Boy City International Hip Hop Festival, we made it to Emo's just before the start of Fuck Buttons set. We found a nice little spot right up front, stage-left, just as Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung started playing with all of their toys. Said toys included several mixers, a heavily-decorated-with-animal-stickers MacBook, a children's tape-recorder with attached microphone, a floor tom, keys, pedals, knobs and most importantly (fuck) buttons. Instantly these two Britons used an assortment of their equipment to make a sonic wall of noise. This wall was filled with beats and melodies that all came together to produce a type of music that I have never before witnessed live. I have had their debut album Street Horrrsing for a few weeks now, but couldn't really get into it after the first couple listens. I knew that it was something that I would have to see live to completely appreciate, and that proved true on Sunday night.

Fuck Buttons did not cease to amaze throughout their whole opening set. My mouth stood wide while they shifted through many of the songs off their new album. As I looked out through the crowd, I could see that I wasn't the only person that was in awe. The short set ended just as quick as it started. Upon the final wall of noise, the crowd was left standing still, amazed at what they had just been a part of.

I hope these guys continue to play a bunch of shows over here in the States. In the future, I would love to see them on a bill with a band like Explosions In The Sky or Mogwai. Let's just hope they make it back around here before too long (If you read this FB's, please play in Houston!).

After the sonic assault that was the Fuck Buttons, we regrouped and replenished. Daniel Snaith, better known as Caribou, was responsible for one of my favorite albums of last year. From the opening notes of "Melody Day" to the electronic tinges at the end of "Niobe", Andorra made me an instant fan. As soon as Cereal and I found out they were stopping in Austin during their intense 46-city/48-day tour we purchased our tickets. Usually we do not get excited about smaller out-of-town shows, but I could not pass up the chance to see how Snaith translates his electronic-based tunes into a live setting.

I immediately was excited when I saw two sets of drums at the front of the stage. Usually the drummer is not highlighted for more than a brief solo or two, but during Caribou's performance, the crowd had no other option than to watch the percussive stylings of Snaith, and recent replacement-drummer Ahmed Gallab. Snaith was not only featured on percussion, but also took stabs at guitar, what looked like a recorder, and also, quite frequently, he fiddled around with mixers and other electronic equipment. Ambient guitar from Ryan Smith was layered on top of the percussive and electronic beats and sounds provided by the up-front percussion section, while Andy Lloyd held down the low-end on bass. They played through many of the songs off Andorra including set-opener "Sandy", as well as "Melody Day" and "She's The One", the latter of which I really fell in love with after watching this. I was very impressed with how their sound came out live, although I confess that I ended up sitting on the bleachers for the second half. After a drive to Austin, gallivanting around the city and the hill country, watching some sick breakin' and poppin' at the Parish Room, and Fuck Buttons noisy melodical barrage, I found much more comfort there than standing around in the crowd.

The show was well worth the trip. I have to say though, that I went to see Caribou, but left wanting more of Fuck Buttons. I am not saying that Caribou was bad, I made it clear above that I was thoroughly impressed, I was just blown away by Fuck Buttons set.

Eggs' Rating:

Fuck Buttons: 8.7/10 yolks (thats .1 more than Pitchfork if you're all counting), for providing me with something new and different in a sea of overrated "Pitchfork-Approved" bands.

Caribou: 8.5/10 yolks, for getting me to Austin on a cool, rainy Sunday Afternoon, and for coming through on their promise of providing a kick-ass show.

Eat Your Damn Breakfast!

-Eggs