Show Pics: I Break Horses @ Stubb’s (5/18)

We certainly intended to bring coverage of the M83 show, but a PR SNAFU prevented me from shooting them. I really didn’t want to sign that release anyway; it had a really strange clause about no digital editing. Really? Images from a DIGITAL SLR and no digital editting?

Not deterred, because I really wanted to see Sweden’s I Break Horses. I love Hearts. Love it. “Winter Beats” and “Wired” have been in rotation around the house for a while now. Could the band pull it off live? Head past the break for pics of their set, a few of my favorite shots of the year so far…

Not bad, Austin. You showed up for an opener, or maybe it was the threat of doors at seven, an hour and a half before the opener took the stage got you out. Regardless, happy to see that many people in the house for the first band of the night. And I think I Break Horses had a few fans; there was some singing and a few shouts of “I love you”.

As mentioned above, I was wanting to hear “Wired” and “Winter Beats”. They were both fantastic. Both slightly rearranged for the live setting, but still achieving the intended effect on the listener. Vocals from Maria Linden were solid, though pulled back a bit, and Fredrik Balck’s work behind the drum kit was not limited to setting time as he spent brief moments setting up the minimal backing tracks for an “electronic” act. Their touring band-mates filled in the recorded blanks. Great set from an opener and I will continue to encourage show-goers to come out early.

As for M83, always something missing. They were very good, but always something just not exactly right. They were celebrating show 100 and sprayed the crowd with champagne after “Midnight City”.

And once more, the Austin crowd I praised earlier just could not shut the f*ck up. We moved twice to finally end up surrounded by fans that knew enough to not talk during a show people spent $40 to see. We spoke with a couple that drove in from Dallas. Feel bad for them, they didn’t want to move and the major offender in that locale would not be silenced, no matter the eye-daggers I threw. If you friends talk during shows, tell them to go out back or shut the hell up.

Thanks.

There are a few more pics at the photo site…