chadavid's Profile

The Greatest Set Change of All Time

For those unfamiliar with The Devil Stole the Beat- we were collective of sorts, who's seeming sole mission was to promote indie rock shows with little or no promotion and only do it 2-3 random times a year.  It was comprised of Shawn Moseley (at the time an Epic Records A&R rep), Caren West (PR guru) and me... Chad Shearer (graphic designer).

For this particular SxSW showcase (a TDSTB first) we set up shop in the back parking lot of this quirky little clothing store called Cream Vintage.  Shychild, Oxford Collapse, Diamond Nights and We Are Scientists all filled the bill.

Intermittent rain and a couple mile distance for the main SxSW attractions kept attendance at a small, but quality group of hipsters.  The three of us would jump over to the next door bar (showcasing thrash metal) for a little shelter and some liquor drinks between sets.  We could see the parking lot through the gate, so... it was cool.

It was at the conclusion of the Diamond Nights set that I saw what will most likely go down as one of the best set changes I will ever see.  Thrashing about like mad men, lead vocal Morgan Phalen was whipping the band to dizzying heights. And at the very point they reached their apex... BOOM!  It was done.  Mic dropped, sticks tossed, guitars reverbing against the amps.

We commented on what a quality set and were about to turn back into the bar, when three preppy kids caught my eye.  We Are Scientists strode to the stage, yanked the chord out of the still kicking guitars and lit into their first song.  In total it must have been 30 to 45 seconds from the last screech of Phalen, to the first note from "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt."

It was the highlight of SxSW 2006 for me.