EAST Interview: Kat Murph of Vertallee Letterpress
Headlining is the magnanimous Kevin Fowler, a classic country star whose tunes are super-singable—Fowler should draw one of the weekend's most distinguished cowboy-hat-wearing crowds, and acts as the Sunday show most likely to inspire a line dance or hootenanny dance party. Taking the stage at 6:30 is the aforementioned White Denim, one of Austin's favorite acts and a band attracting national and international attention as if they were a hardcore lightbulb and music-lovers were so many flying insects. The Denton/Austin trio specializes in an immediately enjoyable brand of garage pop punk, and each member of the band acts as a perfect piece for the function of the greater, sloppy whole. No slouches themselves, Heartless Bastards play before White Denim, and are going to rock out like madpeople with fuzzy bluesy guitar, addictive keys and drums, and impassioned vocal theatrics. The Cincinnati outfit is reputed for their energetic live show, and it'd be hard to think of a better act to watch—and be reinvigorated by—during the early evening.
Holding down the mid-day is an array of three talented musicians from California: Joe Bonamassa, Tristan Prettyman, and Priscilla Ahn. Playing first of this bunch is Los Angeles' own Priscilla Ahn, a talented songstress delivering dazzling sweetheart vocals and subtle instrumentation to the stage—she seems to be one breakthrough song away from entering the mainstream public's consciousness. After her is Tristan Prettyman, a San Diego singer-songwriter in the classic mode who saw her latest album's lead single, "Madly," featured as iTunes free single of the week, a boon of recognition and publicity that lifted her album, "Hello...x" past 18,000 in sales in its first week, and demonstrated that her still-developing sound has plenty of potential. Closing off the afternoon is another Los Angeles act, blues stunner Joe Bonamassa, a man whose husky, ferocious voice sounds like it comes from a man much older. Bonamassa, who can play the role of wicked virtuoso on the guitar, is the type of guy who will draw a crowd from afar—expect to see that phenomenon occurring around four o'clock.
The staple for the stage's early-day lineup—and one of the entire weekend's most intriguing early-day acts—is none other than Austin's Scott H. Biram, man of fire and brimstone and guitar licks so brutal they frighten children and animals. Biram, a one-man freight train, blends blues and country with a raging delivery that makes it no wonder he can't be killed. Playing before Biram, and getting the day started nice and reasonable-style at noon are The M's, a jangly indie quartet who's traveled all the way from Chicago to entertain the early birds with Dr. Dog-esque pop melodies. When all's said and done, the Austin Ventures Stage shapes up as a pretty fabulous place to park for the day, or just to wander to and maybe hear someone you've never heard before. Good times will be had, we promise.
Kevin Fowler [MySpace] [Official]
White Denim [MySpace] [Official]
Heartless Bastards [MySpace] [Official]
Joe Bonamassa [MySpace] [Official]
Tristan Prettyman [MySpace] [Official]
Priscilla Ahn [MySpace] [Official]
Scott Biram [MySpace] [Official]
The M's [MySpace] [Official]
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