The Leeds-based post-punk band Eagulls hit the stage at Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Texas, ready to deploy some serrated weaponry. From neatly attired singer George Mitchell’s assured yelp to a guitar attack that’s clean and direct, the group generated a stormy sound that roared and banged with sleekness and power, while hinting at the doomstruck beauty of forebears like Joy Division.
As with Perfect Pussy, who played a short, intense set at NPR Music’s SXSW showcase just before they took the stage, Eagulls’ name necessitates a bit of discussion on its own — in NPR Music staff meetings, it’s the band that launched a thousand clarifications involving Don Henley — but the music quickly drowns out any short-lived confusion. Playing dense songs of disillusionment from its new self-titled debut, Eagulls coolly re-created and reinvigorated a strong batch of fresh material.
Set List
- “Nerve Endings”
- “Moulting”
- “Amber Veins”
- “Coffin”
- “Footsteps”
- “Tough Luck”
- “Yellow Eyes”
- “Hollow Visions”
- “Soulless Youth”
- “Possessed”
Credits
Producers: Saidah Blount, Mito Habe-Evans, Robin Hilton; Technical Director: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Lizzie Chen, Becky Harlan, Eric Helton, Olivia Merrion; Video Director: A.J. Wilhelm; Audio: Timothy Powell/Metro Mobile, Josh Rogosin; Production Assistants: Kiana Fitzgerald, Christopher Parks, Mary Pryor; Special Thanks: SXSW, Stubb’s BBQ; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann