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Silversun Pickups, Airborne Toxic Event, St. Vincent Score New Fans at SXSW

Opening Metallica’s not-so-secret SXSW surprise show Friday night, Los Angeles buzz band Silversun Pickups had the gig of a lifetime. And they knew it: drummer Chris Guanlao couldn’t resist taking a snap of the crowd with his digital camera. Winning over approximately 2,000 very antsy Metallica fans is no easy task — especially for a band whose sound is rooted in mid-’90s alternative rock. “It’s coming, I promise,” said frontman Brian Aubert to the salivating Metallica fans parked at the front of the stage. “The Spin Doctors are coming.” With a fuzzy, glowing sound like a meanderthal version of Smashing Pumpkins, the Pickups won over the crowd almost instantly — cheers after the first song and a few pumped fists by the end. When they kicked into the raucous conclusion of “Lazy Eye,” the big single from their debut Carnavas, it became clear how the band’s new album keeps the power cranking nonstop. (Check out some of Silversun’s set, above.) (For more photos live from SXSW, check out our gallery.) Earlier in the day, America’s most prolific riff merchants, the Hold Steady, kicked off their Club DeVille’s set with Separation Sunday’s “Hornets! Hornets!,” before launching into “Sequestered in Memphis,” from their latest album, Stay Positive. The small stage didn’t provide the gregarious Craig Finn a lot of room to spazz out, but he did his best with what he had, flailing his arms and holding up his hands beside his head like an indie-rock Richard Nixon. Meanwhile offstage, bromance was blooming, as groups of male buddies linked arms and hopped up and down. Later that night, Los Angeles’ Airborne Toxic Event had Ace’s Lounge packed to the rafters (special thanks to the club’s owner for sneaking Rock Daily in). The band was dressed dapper and had sharp tunes to match, churning out introspective rock that wasn’t afraid to shake its booty. Violist Anna Bulbrook wandered into the crowd and onto an amp, but bassist Noah Harmon took the biggest leap of faith, jumping off hi

Published: 2009-03-21
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News, SXSW