On the final night of this year’s PlaySTL Fest, noted Atlanta songster Bradford Cox headed over to the 560 Music Center building for the most anticipated set of the 3-day St. Louis music shindig. Cox, also the front man of the 5-piece Deerhunter of Microcastle-fame, was alone, performing under his solo moniker Atlas Sound. Cox has used Atlas Sound as a tripped-out solo outlet since his less-documented middle school days, and last year released the full-length Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel to positive reviews. In October of 2009, Cox will be releasing the highly anticipated follow up, Logos, which was featured prominently during his Saturday night performance.
Strapped with an acoustic guitar, a couple loop machines, and a harmonica, Cox ripped through a combination of Logos tracks, unrecorded newbies, a Deerhunter crowd-pleaser, and a bluesy Elizabeth Cotton cover that got the crowd wailing about some guy named Ruben. Though it seemed only a handful of the concertgoers were familiar with anything played, the crowd was nonetheless captivated by Bradford’s reverb-soaked loops, twangy strumming, and soulful crooning. Cox kept the crowd guessing, switching back and forth between electronic loop-driven mashups and harmonica-infused gems that recalled a young Neil Young, one of his “personal heroes,” he told me after his set.
A highlight, about halfway through the set, was a stripped down acoustic version of the Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) collaboration “Walkabout,” which will be featured on Logos, and is currently making the internet rounds.
While it may have been a letdown for Cox to come from New York’s ATP Festival, attended by thousands, to an under-attended former synagogue in St. Louis, there was no sign of said bumout. He even seemed to like the low-key St. Louis crowd and, despite his pre-show apprehensions concerning the venue crew’s competence, had “rare” compliments for the sound and atmosphere of the modest ballroom. Lord knows, we’ll be happy to have him back.
