CLICK HERE FOR MORE SXSW 2018 COVERAGE!
AUSTIN, TX- For most of our SXSW artist coverage, we’ll keep it relatively short and sweet. We have over 80 artists to cover, so cut us some slack! 😉 We’ll basically be formatting each post into two parts: (1) Why our contributor wanted to see this act and (2) what our contributor thought of the performance”. Easy peasy. If you want to learn more about the act, make sure you click through to their social media links to get in the know. You won’t be disappointed!
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Why I Wanted To See Billie Eilish: At only 16 years old, Billie Eilish has caused quite the frenzy over the past year or so. I saw her perform 3 songs at showcase hosted by her record label in a bar last year, but I’ve been dying to catch a full performance from her because, like her rabid fans, I absolutely adore the etherial indie electro-pop that she puts out. With something like 6 scheduled performances at SXSW, I decided to attend her performance at the Central Presbyterian Church with my rational being that setting would really allow her musicality to shine.
What I Though Of Billie Eilish’s Performance: All I can say is, “Wow.” Without drunken crowds talking over the music, or multitudes of hands in the air holding a cellphone in the air trying to take a crappy photo or video of Billie, seeing Billie sing- accompanied by her brother Finneas- in a church was, for lack of a better word, glorious. The respect paid to her was astounding as the only thing you could hear was her music and, per chance, a pin drop.
It was an acoustic set, so the booming bass and frenetic snares from her songs that really make songs like “COPYCAT” pop were gone, allowing the songwriting of Billie’s compositions, and her voice, truly shine. Downtempo, emotional songs like “Ocean Eyes” were made even more vulnerable in the acoustic setting; stripped down in a way that allowed only Billie’s dulcet voice, music and emotions to echo through the holy venue’s rafters.
In a moment of levity, she questioned whether she was allowed to curse in a church, but before dwelling on it for too long, jumped into a mildly uncensored version of “my boy” (which are, by my understanding the original lyrics, which were obviously changed for her Interscope release).
Of the 6 shows that I could have picked to see Billie Eilish live for the first time, I’m certainly glad I chose this one. All I can say is that if you ever get the chance to hear Billie sing a stripped down, acoustic set in a church setting, you better do it. You’d be a fool if you didn’t.
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CLICK HERE FOR MORE SXSW 2018 COVERAGE!
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LIVE CLIPS
Billie Eilish at Central Presbyterian achirch for SXSW 3/16/18. Thoughts and photos coming to @BlurredCulture soon. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/Q3fFUhyqnb
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) March 27, 2018
Billie Eilish at Central Presbyterian achirch for SXSW 3/16/18. Thoughts and photos coming to @BlurredCulture soon. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/pXIjuRoe4R
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) March 27, 2018
