Live Review Dream Wife, Partybaby and more close SXSW 2017 in style at DIY’s Maggie Mae’s showcase

With St Paddy’s Day celebrations in full green-clad swing outside on 6th Street, and in a venue that shares a name with a song by part-Scottish-part-English husky crooner Rod Stewart, Maggie Maes has – accidentally – ended up giving a few coincidental nods across the Atlantic, tonight. Fitting, then, that Liverpool duo Her’s open up proceedings at DIY’s takeover of the Austin institution, accompanied by a tiny cardboard cut-out of honorary member Pierce Brosnan. He even has his own microphone, the lucky bloke..

Munching M&Ms for sustenance between songs, regally announcing the entrance of capo 2 - “you know what capo 2 means!” exclaims Stephen Fitzpatrick before ‘What Once Was’ – and lying down on the side of the stage for a quick bass solo from his Norwegian bandmate Audun Laading, Her’s make a fine art out of goofing about and technical prowess alike, Stephen leaping between yowling highs, and gravelling baritone without breaking sweat. One member of the crowd is overheard calling the pair “adorable,” and it’s true; there’s something instantly charismatic about Her’s which proves pivotal.. It takes their jangly, oddball pop songs into another league, and its a revelatory show from these bloody talented pair..

Continuing tonight’s thread of coincidental links, Norway’s Sløtface are next up, taking to the stage after having a dance about to Her’s in the crowd beforehand. Their infectious strain of pop-punk chucks references all over the shop – Patti Smith, Empire Records, Netflix, IKEA, and Bon Iver all getting lyrical shoutouts – and along with firm favourites, brand new cuts from the band’s in progress debut album look set to become future staples. They’re sounding heavier and meaner than ever. It suits vocalist Haley Shea, who goads the crowd before, chucking out a load of t-shirts and prowling the audience during close ‘Shave My Head’. It’s (boo, wah) Sløtface’s final SXSW show – but what a way to see things out.

Following them are Weaves, who have always been a ferocious live prospect. Tonight at Maggie Maes, though the Toronto bunch seem to take swing at previously impressive shows, and bat the whole thing totally out of the park. Wildly careering, volatile, and bursting with experimentation, the band somehow manage to keep the chaos under control (just), teetering on the edge at all times. The very picture of unbounded glee, Jasmyn Burke parades the stage, cheerfully mixing infatuation, winky face innuendo and disarming moments of honesty; “You’re looking sweet with your slices of pizza and your fucking,” she declares in the gaudy rock out ‘Candy’. It’s never quite clear where Weaves are heading; one minute Jas and Morgan Waters look half way through an argument, the next he’s blowing into his guitar and producing unholy sounds, as you do.