Show Review: Love Language @ Emos (9/14)

Our good friend Brian Gray was fortunate enough to make it over to Emos on Tuesday night in order to catch a great set from Love Language, one of Merge Records newest hit makers.  Read below for more details and photos.

Matt Oliver of TV Torso was up first, including a few stripped down solo versions of TV Torso songs.  Matt, an acoustic guitar and some tones to play by were able to fill the space.  The opening song, “Black Mask”, was a highlight.   Having seen TV Torso a few times, I will now keep his solo appearances on the radar.

Austin’s December Boys followed.  This was my first go with them, a band with a gentle mix of country and rock, definitely an Austin sound.  Had a brief conversation with Doug, mostly about their various relationships. Jesse on lap steel is a member of Heartless Bastards sharing mutual friends.  Again, I will keep an eye on their calendar to spend a little more time with them.

I caught the Love Language‘s set at the Music by the Slice day party this year which was presented by woxy.com (R.I.P.), and just missed them at EAR studios in 2009 for their woxy lounge act.  Prior to his taking the stage, I was able to share words with Stuart McLamb who was happy to be in Austin with out the grind of three or four shows a day.  The set built up quickly, “Heart to Tell” was an early peak.  Other highlights for me were “Sparxx”, “Lalita” and “Manteo”, all highlighting the band’s earlier work, with recent track “Brittany’s Back” mixed in.  They closed with an MBV cover, stepped up and plenty loud, perhaps my vantage point next to the stack enhanced that feeling.

I am curious if they’ll come back for a third year in a row at SxSW, maybe they’re addicted, but it was an excellent and obviously far more relaxed set from The Love Language.

You can check out all of Brian’s photos from the show, HERE.