A new record and tour for the first time in seven years, as well as the first time the Deal sisters would be playing together since forever, had many Breeders fans bubbling with excitement. But, that excitement waned when the new record was kind of a bust—or at least a grower that hasn’t quite yet rooted. Still, they played Coachella, the Glass House and down in San Diego, which were either too hot, too alcohol-free and too far to check them out. The stars aligned, however, to get the chance to see them in Austin a week after they blew through California. Hanging out in the humid Texas night in a place that made you feel like you were at a BBQ back home waiting for your friends’ band to play helped make this night a plus from the beginning. The kindness of the Austin people, coupled with the energy—perhaps drunken–made the Breeders comfortable, and in turn, playful and grateful throughout the night. The band only played about two or three new songs, instead relying a big healthy dose of their hits, a handful of really great Amps songs, and covers of Guided By Voices and the Beatles, the latter of which brought the house down. The often at odds Deal sisters seemed to be having all sorts of fun playing together—Kim took a song off and got on her knees to bang her head and throw horns while Kelly took a guitar solo, then Kelly returned the favor by dancing go-go girl-style during the Amps’ “Empty Glasses.”  There was also plenty of funny banter coming from Kim, some of it intelligible at times, some of it way over the audiences head, but her participation with the crowd seemed to make her even more endearing. By the end of the night, while many in the crowd were screaming and stomping their thank you to the band, both Kim and Kelly came back out to shake hands and thank the first two rows of standing folk. It was a moment of mutual appreciation for a really good time.

— Alex Roman