maus haus, 60 watt kid and andy tisdall @ el rio
On Saturday afternoon, I saw Andy Tisdall’s CD release party with Maus Haus, 60 Watt Kid (myspace), and the Plagiarists (myspace) at El Rio.
60 Watt Kid
There’s something about afternoon shows, especially outdoor ones, like on the back patio of the El Rio. Especially summer afternoons. Put the same bands on the same bill in the afternoon and at night and the afternoon will just feel more relaxed, more communal. At least that’s how it feels to me.
I only caught a couple songs of the Plagiarists set. I liked what I heard but I didn’t really hear that much.
Next up was 60 Watt Kid (who apparently is about to become non-local). I last saw them–in fact, the only time so far–at SxSW. One one thing that I remember from that set was that they were crazy and that was my strongest reaction to this set as well.
While some songs were just slightly experimental pop, others had leadman Kevin popping or narrating a complex dream story in the middle of the audience (while, it should be noted, some audience members were intertwined doing interpretive dance/ yoga). One moment he was playing some heavily echoed keyboards and the next he was thrusting his fist into the air and screaming or on his knee and head on the ground.
poppin’
Honestly, I didn’t get all of it.
Maus Haus
Maus Haus came up after setting up the small stage with their extensive collection of instruments. My recollection had at least four synths, electric piano, an omni chord, kaoss pad, baritone and alto saxophones, flute, and drums (and spare percussion).
Last time I saw them, their first show ever, I had the feeling the audience was “collectively experiencing something special” and I got a certain vibe this time as well, like we were witnessing something that ought to be bigger than what it was.
Overall, my sentiments were pretty similar to last time. I’m not sure why I like Maus Haus (as I don’t like some similar sounding bands or some of their influences) but I do. They put on an energetic set of their experimental pop tunes, each of which has a way of coming across as spontaneous and new, even when I know the band has played it before.
The main reason behind the show as Andy Tisdall’s CD release. He started out solo on guitar and banjo before four members of Maus Haus joined him on stage as his backing band. Tisdall’s songs and presentation didn’t do it for me and I decided to leave about halfway through his set.
