Echo Project - Homies and Houseguests

Started my musical day with a band called Louis XVI. I had actually seen Louis once before, at one (perhaps the final) Music Midtown. At the time, I didn't really dig 'em. I thought the band was too affected, trying too hard at a rock persona. Today was differnt. The band has clearly grown up and, in a way, grown into the image. The histrionic are tones down some and finally the music and performance lives up to the self-hype.

I left Louis XVI early because I wanted to catch the set by Augusta boys Dead Confederate. Despite the fact Dead Confederate isn't much of a daylight band, the band's dark Southern boogie, dangerous and brooding, seemed to go over well. Perhaps next year they can campaign for a better slot.

Next I wandered over to catch Avett Brothers, an act with an increasingly impressive career scheduled to play the Imperial Theatr Nov. 9. It seems the band has recently added a cello player, with real success. Sounds good.

What continues to impress me about the Avett's is the band's seeming efforless but cleary careful arranged style. It encourages listeners to fill in gaps, to imagine and believe that the sound they are hearing is much more complicated and complex than a four-piece string band should be able to produce.

I also caught small bits and pieces by both Son Volt and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The nice thing about Echo's expansive size is that walking from one stage to the next often grants you a couple songs easy listening.

I plan to catch some of the Thievery Corporation before heading back to Augusta this evening. I'll try and offer an impression of the set before I hit the road.