The Octopus Project Played Mercury Lounge

On Sunday night we made our way down to the Mercury Lounge to catch Austin's The Octopus Project. The band, who have been around for near ten years, were completely unknown to us - we went purely on the basis of a friend's recommendation. Well, rest assured dear reader: we were not disappointed.

The band played a set of intricate music that transcended genre, save for the fact that it all rested squarely in some realm of electronica. That being said, it was by no means a "typical" electronic set. Songs drifted from techno-y, to ballady, to rocking, to just flat out trippy. What's more, the band members switched instruments at a frenetic rate, and demonstrated ridiculous levels of proficiency throughout. Perhaps most notable was Yvonne Lambert, whose mastery of the theremin almost defied comprehension.

We'll be frank: after listening to The Octopus Project's tunes, we thought it would be a decently tolerable show, and we'd come away feeling like it was a night well spent. The reality is, we walked away feeling like it was one of the best night's we've spent in a long while. Existing somewhere in the realm of the Flaming Lips at their most punk rock, The Octopus Project delivers a live show that simply must be seen. Do it. Now.



The Octopus Project Summer 2009 Dates
08/04 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
08/05 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat's Cradle
08/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Starbar
08/07 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's
08/08 - Houston, TX @ Free Press Summer Fest
08/13 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush
08/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
08/15 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
08/17 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
08/18 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
08/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
08/22 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge

Stream: The Octopus Project - Golden Beds EP