Party Ends

   Red’s Scoot Inn is a tejano bar in east Austin that has an outside area that can be rented out for cheap and you can do whatever you want more or less at it while the bar carries on with it’s normal tejano East Austin activities inside.  At the first of a series of concerts currated by local music champ Miguel entitled Bliss Out!  The venue was kind enough to unplug the jukebox and allow a PA with the sounds of MEJETAIRLNER, STHIL, Operator, the Serious Daters and DJ sets by STAY GOLD take over.  We told you about this last week so here we are back with some pictures and a recap.  

   After Stay Gold warmed up the Lone Star guzzling crowd, MEJETAIRLINER took over armed with a Mac Book and a slick sequencer type thing.  (Forgive my gadget ignorance)  The one-man electronic outfit walked a fine line between Shoe Gaze and Drum n Bass that was interesting and provided a lush and thick sound scape to a room that typically gets lots of Accordion n Bass.  I would love to see MJA again, as my first exposure to it was quite positive.  

   STHIL (Search The Heavens If Lost) is comprised of a young couple who dance, sing and have more energy than most performing musicians.  Energy and enthusiasm really goes a long way for me; with STHIL I found myself completed captivated.  Armed with a sequencer, keyboard and live vocals the two popped and bopped up and down, interacted thru the crowd and more or less performed most of the choreography of Roxie Hart (who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn't going to make her a star) from Chicago. With that jazz performer mentality the duo had a LOT to bring to their finale, Saturday Night Live’s epic cowbell sketch anthem: Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”  Cowbell and all, the band made my head nod their entire set.  Stream their album here.

   Operator drew the most people; their buzz around Austin has been unquestionable.  A violinist, bass, guitar, all sorts of synthesizers and a female singer make the band very accessible to a variety of interests.  The band is young in that they have not played very much out, but where they have played has been notable.  Almost immediately they have had shows at Emo’s and the Mohawk.  Their synth-pop styling is danceable and enjoyable and the word is spreading as eyebrows are raising all over. There were minor sound problems that seemed to really disenchant the violinist of the group who wasn’t able to perform for the beginning of the set.  The vocals are striking and accompany the keyboard perfectly to achieve a Stereolab type sound.  I would love to see Operator again in a better sound environment and when they are 100% “on.”   

   The Serious Daters had a headlining spot on the lineup and only the lead girl showed up.  Way to be professional and ahem “serious.”  The member who showed, Laurelin from the Shells, played a handful of acoustic guitar love songs that were endearing and cute, I would love to have heard them more fleshed out though… next time around I suppose.   

Check out some pictures from the evening here.

MP3 - Operator - Too Late

MP3 - The Serious Daters - Foggy Nights