South San Gabriel opens the night around 930p. That is to say, Will Johnson lets some rumbling, ethereal low “D” chords dribble out of his amp and hover over our heads for a bit, setting the tone for the rest of the evening. For the unfamiliar (read: non-alt-country fans and/or people who have not spent a lengthy amount of time in Texas the last decade or so), South San Gabriel is actually an offshoot project of the evening’s headlining act, Centro-matic, the difference here being they bring a few guests up on stage, go for the atmosphere and play nothing but softer, sadder, more subdued songs than they presumably will in a couple of hours. We’re getting both versions of the band this evening because they’ve recently released Dual Hawks, a double album – both band names on the same label, one record per band name – and they’re touring to support it. (This is the kind of thing that happens when you have somebody like Will Johnson writing way too many songs.) I’m actually listening to the second album on vinyl right this second; give me a few days to let you know which iteration I prefer. All I can say at this point is that having past and present members of David Byrne-approved Brave Combo contribute to your ambitious “double band double album” can surely only help. Back to the set: The pedal steel is in full effect and admittedly, the heartbreak-in-the-desert vibe is sinking deeper into my skin with each warbling word, each extended note, each sip of whiskey. The set eventually ends as it began: on a very quiet note. This tour marks the first time they’ve taken this particular iteration of the band on the road, outside Texas. Hopefully it won’t be the last.
»continue reading Spaceland, 9/2/08: South San Gabriel, Sleepercar, Centro-matic