Tuesday, June 10, 2008

SXSW 2008 Recap: The Virgins @ NME Showcase

The Virgins were the last band I saw at SXSW this year. I'm still in the process of posting all my other delinquent SXSW recaps, but I thought I'd continue with them because ever since their whole album was featured on myspace last week, I can't get them out of my head (especially the song "Fernando Pando").

When I saw them live in Austin, I was seriously expecting some serious Strokes lookalikes or something. I even overheard this guy next to me in the audience telling his friend how he had seen the lead singer strutting around Williamsburg like an übercool hipster. But when they came out on stage, I was surprised at how they actually look like virgins (the lead singer in particular)! I mean, in person, they look NOthing like their sleek press photos (I didn't know whether to praise their stylists and hair and makeup artist for a job well-done or to sue them for false advertising!).

But in the end it's all about the music, which was without a doubt fun and catchy. Plus by the end of the set, I had pretty much gotten used to their nerdiness. It definitely made them seem more genuine, likeable, and dare I say cute (in an oddly attractive way)! Revenge of the Nerds V???







P.S. I couldn't put my finger on it, but Liz to the rescue again! She described their sound as "80's crooner pop." Spot on! And I think the singer's sexy voice is like beer goggles to his geekiness. *swoon*

2 comments:

dvdherron said...

at first i was a little put off by how they went back and shined up their sound, but after giving the album a couple more spins i'm addicted. these songs really get stuck in your head.

have you heard the live set they did for daytrotter?
http://www.daytrotter.com/article/1299/the-virgins#

p.s. i love how you are keeping sxsw 2008 alive. seriously.

Andrea said...

omigod, you rock! not only are the songs amazing and downloadable but the last one they even recorded with ra ra riot (see my last post)!!!

p.s. dude, i still have LOTS of recaps in the works. in fact, at the rate i'm currently going, i might even have enough footage to keep me occupied till march 18, 2009!