This Will Destroy You, Lymbyc Systym, Joemca played Union Hall
Download “Thread” | By the time Austin’s post-rock, instrumental quartet This Will Destroy You began to set up after Joemca’s opening set, the crowd in the cozy basement had thickened and moved right up front. The intense scrutiny that followed from a wall of faithful fans as the four members quaintly plugged this and that on a stage that is perhaps only a foot high is one of the rarities offered by the dimly lit Union Hall. There was a persistent guitar hum that Chris King eventually shrugged off with a mildly (very mildly) frustrated smile, but the sound that followed was pretty explosive for that tiny room (and the hum all but forgotten). At other shows I’ve seen there, including Andrew Bird’s secret gathering with the amazing Martin Dosh, and St. Vincent’s wildly expressive set, I don’t recall the sound being so well-suited for these muddy walls. The band members were pretty quiet, not uttering a single word, except when a drum stick flew off Andrew Miller’s hand, and Jeremy Galindo mouthed “thank you” to the fan who picked it up and returned it. The set, though, was consistently solid and immersive, and Andrew Miller was insane on the drums.
