This Austin trio has a very '90s feel, but in a good way. They have an indie pop sound that touches down in some familiar territory. The vast majority of songs are plump with rich, affective hooks. Their newer songs are produced by Louie Lino who works with Nada Surf and Matt Pond PA among others, and that influence really shows. ...

Last time Thao Nguyen was in town, she was the opening act for Xiu Xiu, and it couldn't seem like a stranger pairing. Thao, with her bubbling, strumming, child-like pop, offered about as startling a juxtaposition as possible to Xiu Xiu's fitfully emotional and generally traumatized approach—in a way, it was like all of the good childhood memories gone terribly, horribly awry. Since then, Thao and her band have solidified their presence in the minds of music fans, as their most recent album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, has managed to stand up to the test of a little time. So on this visit to Austin, Thao, who has graduated to "unquestioned headliner," has a more sensible tour partner in Horse Feathers, and the two stunning acts will be making Wednesday night at Emo's about at satisfying as possible....