SXSW Day 4: Thus Love, Model/Actriz, Sudan Archives, Mariah the Scientist

I started my Thursday at Hotel San Jose, where queer post-punk band Thus Love was playing an unofficial showcase. The band is from Brattleboro, VT and their first album has been out for less than a year, I've been obsessed with them for a while, and truly they did not disappoint. On stage, the three piece absolutely tore it up. Musically, their songs are sludgy and riff heavy, energetic as punk should be but with all the twang and complexity of "post." Even in mid-day lighting, Thus Love played like they were the last show of the night. The lead guitarist and bassist moved around so much on stage-- lunging forward, crouching over pedals, crossing back and forth-- so much that it seemed less like a performance and more like an extension of each strum. Behind them, but never in the background, symbols crashed and drums pounded. Most of the audience were curious passerby's but by the end of the set we had all been converted into Thus Love enthusiasts.

It's the joke of our generation, but really it's a reflection of our collective unconscious. I'm talking about the fanfic trope we all know and love, the "I'm reading a book in the audience of a concert and the lead singer makes eye contact with me" trope. One Direction fan or not, I think everyone secretly (or not so secretly) hopes a band notices them in the audience. Model/Actriz takes this trope to the next level, but as a experimental noise rock band. For the first song, the lead singer turned fervent, recitative vocals towards a random woman near the side of the stage, holding eye contact for so long that it went from flattering to uncomfortable to impressive. Model/Actriz's set only got more entertaining as the bunny-hat-wearing vocalist hopped off the stage and spent the rest of their set stalking the audience, picking people to stare down, lean on, serenade. The crowd only became denser as the show went on, getting closer to the stage where the rest of the band played so hard the dried blood on their guitars explained itself. Their music was noisy and heavy and good, but paired with their crowd work Model/Actriz raised my standards of what an amazing show looks like.

So far, we were two/two for incredible shows. From the first trill of her violin, Sudan Archives easily took our count to three. The experimental R&B artist was electric on the Moody Theatre stage, accompanied by a keyboard/synth and violin which was maybe the most unexpected and genius combo of sounds I've ever heard. Sudan Archives embodies style in every way, from the catchy pop hits she plays to a perfectly smooth stage presence. Her music has edge, full of energy and joy, woven with screeches from her violin, electric looping pedals, and lyrics perfect for singing and screaming along to, which the audience joined in on with their energy to match. Everything about this artist was cool, and that's the best way I can put it. After watching her play, I felt like I was riding a proximity high. Of the whole festival, Sudan's performance has become one of my favorites, and her music has been on repeat.

Next to the stage was Mariah the Scientist, an R&B/Soul singer-songwriter. Her music was smooth and heartfelt, matched with electric beats that were perfect for dancing to. Even her sadder songs were powerful, sung by her clear, silky voice. Then, Mariah switched up the tempo a bit as she promised the audience that we'd "turn up" together, and the phone flashlights were put away as the dancing continued. It was clear that the people around me knew her lyrics, and I could see why-- her music was the perfect combination of emotional and upbeat that was perfect for any situation. Mariah herself was also so charming (she actually studied biology, so her stage name is perfect) and made the theatre seem like an intimate venue by the way her voice soared up to the nosebleeds.