Of Montreal Bring the Heat, Noise, and Feathers

It's not hard to argue that the internet has done quite a lot to democratize people's taste in music. When asked to name a favorite genre most people demure to the standard response "oh, a little bit of everything." The people got just that on a frigid Friday night at Emo's. San Antonio favorite, and soon-to-be Austin resident, DJ Jester the Filipino Fist incited the crowd to gather closer and enjoy his mash-up stew. A little bit of 90's grunge, a dash of hip-hop, and a healthy dose of contemporary club tracks helped warm up the receptive crowd.


Elekibass Drop Some Japanese Culture and Psychedelic Retro-Pop

Supporting act Elekibass, hailing from Japan, definitely helped solidify the Land of the Rising Sun's reputation for breeding some pretty far-out acts. Taking the stage clad in suits of electric colors, feather masks, and top hats the Japanese retro-pop stylings caught the crowd by suprise but by the time the band piled off the stage for an Ozomatli-esque conga everyone was feeling the "ai" (Japanese for love. Look it up if you don't beleive me).

Of Montreal's chords float above the crowd, helped along by feathery pink wings.

Despite a mercury that dipped into the 30's the crowd was already so packed it wasn't difficult to get a good sweat on. Taking the stage to the over-the-top classical thunder of "Carmina Burana" the band launched into a high energy, danceable set culled from across their entire catalogue.. The only dark spot on the otherwise stellar set came when several audience mebers held up an Outback Steakhouse banner (an obvious jab at the use of the melody from "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games" in the restaraunt chain's tv spots). Kevin Barnesfinsihed the song and then let the offenders have a piece of his mind. Reassuring everyone after his brief tirade that he wanted to "bring back the posative vibes" the band launched into "Rapture Rapes the Muses". Barnes and his gang of feather winged, sequined, and velvet clad indie-poppers closed out the raucous set and took the stage for an extended encore comprised of an extended medley of "Oslo in the Summertime", "Forecast Fascist Future", and "Requiem for O.M.M."