Weirdly Wired

Learning that newcomer act Lightspeed Champion takes inspiration from a comic strip drawn by a teenager in his math textbook–and that the group’s new album, Falling Off the Lavender Bridge (Domino, 2008), shares a few things in common with indie-rock act Bright Eyes–was little surprise. When Lightspeed took the stage Sunday night during the “Weirdly Wired” party–consponsored by film site Indie Wired, among others, and held at the famed Austin City Limits TV studio in Austin, Texas–said influences stood out right like glow-in-the-dark Star Wars stickers on a teenage geek’s bedroom ceiling.
The gig was my first at South By Southwest 2008. The music portion of the festivities don’t officially kick in until Wednesday, but this is Austin, where new indie bands flow like water. It was also part of the SXSW film festival, which began a few days ago and, like the music portion, is infused with indie spirit.
Lightspeed is basically the work of one guy, Devonte Hynes, formerly of Test Icicles (and the author of said comic strip). Smiling big and shunning the calculated nervousness too many singer-songwriters still fall back on, he took center stage in the famous TV studio nerded out in a wacky earflap hat, big round glasses, and bright white sneakers. He sang confessional songs in a shaky-voice style that reminded me immediately of Bright Eyes–no surprise, then, to find Lavender Bridge was recorded in Omaha, produced by that band’s Mike Mogis, and features numerous players from the Saddle Creek family. Still, he’s an engaging personality, having crafted a friendly tone that’s both self-depracating and good-natured–quirky, yes, but (thankfully) not overly silly.
The party’s second act was Spinto Band from Wilmington, Delaware. You’d think by their T-shirts and boyish faces they were barely out of high school, but the group’s actually been around enough years to have cut a few albums for labels like Bar None and Spintonic. One of their best-known songs so far is “Oh Mandy”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osjinF6Swwk]
Which, it turns out, is not a cover of the Barry Manilow song, in case you were wondering. (Though the group is known to play the ’60s hit “I Think We’re Alone Now,” if you’re searching for cover-song references.)
At the party they were a lively bunch with a peppy noise-pop sound driven by three guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums. The influences that showed through included ’60s garage, Beach Boys, and ’70s Bowie, but at other times they came off sounding like an indie-rock Pulp. At times a little too bouncy, they nonetheless glowed with a fun spirit and beamed bright energy. For those keeping tabs on indie-music’s notable newcomers, both Spinto Band and Lightspeed Champion are worthy candidates.




By soweirdo