Tombs – “Gossamer”
Next was Pelican, who if they’ve ever suffered from meandering live presentations or sleepy shows, that was certainly not the case this night as the Chicago quartet was as tight and taught as we’ve ever seen them. Careening through barn-burners from City of Echoes and ripping through tracks from their completely excellent new Ephemeral EP, Pelican practically stole the show with a wicked set of their finest work. Punctuating the set with a one-two punch that included the group’s cover of Earth’s “Geometry of Murder”, the band left the stage to raucous applause in what truly was the performance of the night. Consider us at Cannibal Cheerleader converted Pelican fans.

Pelican – “Embedding the Moss”
Last was the headliner Isis, whose own Aaron Turner performed the soundcheck, standing every inch a metal god, decked all in black with a long beard, greasy hair, and intense eyes (all that was really missing was the corpse-paint). As the band ripped and tore through the majority of their absolutely phenomenal new LP Wavering Radiant, the seemingly subdued and altogether sedate audience began to mosh, raging and furiously spinning in time with the monstrous riffs. Save for a few painfully obvious Tool fans trying to force a metal epiphany and feeling the sound with their hands to the heavens all night (groan) the band absolutely crushed with Turner belting out the bellowing howls with a tinge of psychedelia the night through. For the encore the group pulled from their Celestial back catalogue and a sleepier number that sank the night into oblivion. All in all a genre defining night and one best spent nowhere else in Austin. Shame to the locals who missed out, but if you’re on the parade route for this tour, definitely check in, if only to grab the new Pelican EP (on vinyl starting in Alabama for those audiophiles amongst us).

Isis – “Ghost Key”
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NEW PELICAN EP
Seeing as we enjoyed the new Pelican EP so much live we figured we’d share a little big more about the new release from the Chicago-based quartet in its own post. Featuring three new songs that signify a more “riff-oriented” that is purported to be reflected on the band’s forthcoming fourth LP due by year’s end, Ephemeral features a title track, the blistering opener “Embedding the Moss” and the incredible Earth cover “Geometry of Murder”. To say that Pelican have never been heavier would be an understatement, as the band have officially blown out their bass with this bone-crushing new style. Performed live the tracks inspire such a display of feet-stomping revelry as anything Isis did, so be prepared for some incredible listening experiences. Highly recommended.

Pelican – “Ephemeral”
Pelican – “Geometry of Murder (Earth Cover)”
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NEW CRYSTAL STILTS VIDEO
It has come to our attention that while in our personal lives we think of Crystal Stilts as not only one of our favorite new bands but easily the best act riding the new ‘lo-fi’ wave with their dark and dreamy delivery, we have never covered the band on Cannibal Cheerleader before. Let’s take this opportunity to not only share the band’s new video for “Love is a Wave” but to tell everyone that this band is truly one of the best around. Go ahead, give a liten – you’re worth it.

Crystal Stilts – “The Dazzled”

Comments? Anyone else going to see Ponytail tonight? Video from this and that show to come hopefully next week!