Running, of sorts, as best as one can on the last day of SXSW, to the Empire Control Room, I caught the last minutes of Rumblebucket and their confetti shower, a fray that would continue through to the Palma Violets set soon after.
I’m guessing that the fifth Beatle joining Alexander “Chilli” Jesson (bassist/vocalist) and Samuel Thomas Fryer (guitarist/vocalist) for the start of the set was with the band, acting as the Palma Violet’s version of Bez as he sang along and then jumped into the crowd. Quite appropriately, the title track from the new album, “Danger in the Club,” followed and the crowd gleefully made it so.
The daytime rock and roll square dance continued as Palma Violence, which my hotel roommie would later dub them, made it through to “Tom the Drum,” “Chicken Dippers” and “Best of Friends.”
And that was the essence of this mid-day show, an impromptu party of dance buddies, strangers sharing the spilling beer to the joyful sounds of guitars, drums and keyboards, and on occasion, feet flying high in the air, as if we’d all known each other for years. Not like any more spirits were required to get the kids going, but for good measure, PV threw in some “Last of the Summer Wine.”
All the while keyboardist Jeffrey Peter Mayhew came away unscathed and unfazed. Can’t say the same for the rest of us, thankfully.
VIEW THE COMPLETE PALMA VIOLETS GALLERY
Palma Violets stay on the road in the U.S. post-SXSW, playing Burger Records’ Bugerrama Four out in Southern California, a return to the U.K. in April for a slew of venue dates, and then back to the states for a series of shows in May, which includes a stop in Denver at Larimer Lounge on May 29.
Danger in the Club by Palma Violets is out May 5, 2015. Pre-order here:
iTunes
Rough Trade Limited Edition Fan Pre-order
March 24 – SF, Rickshaw
March 25 – LA, Echo
March 28 – The Observatory, Santa Ana, Burgerrama Four
April 16 – Southend – Chinnery’s
April 17 – Norwich – Waterfront
April 20 – Hull – Fruit
April 21 – York – Duchess
April 22 – Wakefield – The Hop
April 23 – Hebden Bridge – Trades Club
April 25 – Cardiff – The Buffalo
April 26 – Leicester – Queens Hall
April 27 – Stoke – Sugar Mill
April 28 – Northampton – Roadmender
April 29 – Reading – Bowery District
May 10 – Carrboro, Cat’s Cradle
May 11 – Washington, DC, Rock & Roll Hotel
May 12 – Philadelphia, Johnny Brenda’s
May 14 – Ferndale, The Loving Touch
May 15 – Toronto, The Garrison
May 16 – Montreal, Petit Campus
May 18 – New York, Bowery Ballroom
May 19 – Allston, Great Scott
May 20 – Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 21 – Pittsburgh, Brillobox
May 22 – Columbus, A&R Music Bar
May 23 – Chicago, Lincoln Hall
May 25 – Minneapolis, 7th St Entry
May 26 – Omaha, The Waiting Room
May 29 – Denver, Larimer Lounge
May 30 – Salt Lake City, Kilby Court
June 1 – Seattle, Tractor Tavern
June 2 – Portland, Doug Fir Lounge
