the Paper Chase, Astronautalis

Friday night, I went to what might be the best show of the year. It was at Elysium, yeah Elysium. Astronautalis, who’s been described by All Music Guide as “if Beck were a decade or so younger and had grown up more heavily immersed in hip-hop,” played opener to the Paper Chase, my favorite Kill Rock Stars band right now.

Astronautalis had a great show, doing two freestyle numbers, where he solicits elements from the audience and he makes up the song/story/lyrics on the spot with those pieces. I heard a lot of stuff from his new record (“Pomegranate”) as well as from “The Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theaters.” Andy really cut his teeth doing battle rapping back in the day and his show Friday was proof positive of that. What am I saying? Any one of his shows demonstrates that. So damn good.

The Paper Chase, this was the first time I saw them and they didn’t disappoint. John Congleton is a monster on-stage, buzzing with nerves and tension unable to stand still. I generally don’t have much of an opinion about Dallas (no offense) but if this band is an indicator of what this city holds musically, I should give ‘em another listen. Yeah, the whole city. The four piece was tight, thrumming with jagged precision. Visually, the bassist Bobby Weaver gave me some of the best pictures, with his intense beard, height and unassuming glasses.

See the rest of the photos here.