Photo Gallery
Augustines Setlist (main set)
The Bots Setlist
Augustines Tour Dates
11/09/14 Karlsruhe, Germany Substage
11/10/14 Munich, Germany Freiheizhalle 11/12/14 Dusseldorf, Germany Zakk 11/13/14 Leipzig, Germany Taubchenthal 11/14/14 Berlin, Germany Heimathafen Neukölln 11/15/14 Warsaw, Poland Hybrydy 11/17/14 Linz, Austria Posthof 11/18/14 Zurich, Switzerland Exil 11/21/14 Rotterdam, Netherlands Rotown 11/23/14 Paris, France La Maroquinerie 11/26/14 Belfast, UK The Belfast Empire Music Hall 11/27/14 Dublin, Ireland Whelans 11/29/14 Newcastle, UK Riverside 11/30/14 Glasgow, UK Queen Margaret Union 12/01/14 Manchester, UK Manchester Cathedral 12/03/14 Portsmouth, UK Wedgewood Rooms 12/04/14 Cardiff, UK The Globe 12/05/14 Wolverhampton, UK Wulfrun Hall 12/07/14 Brighton, UK Concorde 2 12/08/14 London, UK Roundhouse The Bots Tour Dates
11/04/14 Houston, TX Warehouse Live - Studio
11/05/14 New Braunfels, TX Billy's Icehouse 11/06/14 Bryan, TX Grand Stafford Theater 11/07/14 Austin, TX Hotel Vegas 11/08/14 Dallas, TX The Foundry Bar 11/09/14 Austin, TX Auditorium Shores Read More
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The best live band currently touring is Augustines, a Brooklyn, now-Seattle based three-piece that wrapped a thirteen-month tour last week at The Turf Club in St. Paul. As someone that has seen probably a thousand concerts, I can speak from experience when saying the band’s live experience more than transcends the typical concert and is an interactive and cathartic experience, unlike any other.
The Bots
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The 41 min. set started with the crunchy ‘Won’ from the new album and quickly won over the crowd primarily in attendance for the headliner, then new album opener, ‘Ubiquitous’ followed. Banter was kept to a minimum due to their short set time and where drummer Anaiah Lee hid in the corner last time, the drums were up front and stage left, with Augustines’ gear giving him little room to retreat to.
Mikaiah spinning
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Augustines
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Singer/guitarist Billy McCarthy is the heart of the band, with multi-instrumentalist Eric Sanderson the soul, and UK drummer, Rob Allen, the beat. A friend peered down at the setlist taped to the stage and remarked, “That’s just the first half, right?”, and he would turn out to be correct.
“This is a celebration for us”, McCarthy mentioned after the opening number, referring both to the show itself and it being the last date of the current tour. “A song about a church”, ‘Chapel Song’, settled the band somewhat as the band apologized in St. Paul, for a short set the night before in Chicago. McCarthy’s early banter between songs showed the weariness of being on the road for such a long time, but it soon softened, due to the spirited reception from the crowd.
‘City of Brotherly Love’ with its piano-driven melody and heartfelt lyrical delivery was both delicate and impactful, and the song from which the tour is named, ‘Walkabout’ resonated live as it did as seen in recent Downey/Duvall movie The Judge. Even their guitar tech Alex participated, playing for several songs mid-set.
After 70 minutes, the set really elevated into memorable heights, with the band coming back for an acoustic encore, off-mike at stage center, starting with “The Avenue” and a stirring “Tenement Teeth”.
"Clown Lounge"
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Songs like the much-requested ‘Weary Eyes’, ‘ East Los Angeles’, ‘New Drink for the Old Drunk’ and closing ‘The Trouble with River Cities (a Pela song)’were indescribably resonate with impassioned delivery, in the most intimate setting possible. The trio hugged at the end of a long night and tour, their sweat-stained shirts clinging to each other and a roaring crowd around them in all directions.
After the next few weeks off, both bands hit the road again- The Bots with a short Texas tour, while Augustines play Europe, including a much-awaited night in Dublin, where McCarthy’s ancestors are from. Those that are in attendance that night no doubt will have the luck of the Irish and be privy to a life-affirming, transformative concert experience.
Augustines at Turf Club, St. Paul, MN (11 October 2014) |
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