Pictorial: Love X Stereo at SXSW

There are certain bands that I never tire of seeing live, mostly because I like their music and know that they will always put on a great show. Love X Stereo has been one of those bands for the past few years, ever since the first time I saw them in Toronto when they overcame a horrible venue to put on a show that grabbed my attention. So I made sure that I was able to catch their daytime show at the Culture Collide showcase called “Container Collide” at South by Southwest (SXSW) last month. Plus, if I haven’t mentioned before (and I know I have), there is just something even more fun about live music on a patio stage.

The weather was perfect for an outdoor stage – sunny and mid-20s. Now I’ll never turn down a chance to catch any band live but a band I like, playing on an outdoor stage, in great weather… that’s like the trifecta of musical happiness. And my inner photographer loved the natural light – it meant I could take a fraction of the shots and still get some good ones. Ah, the happiness but I digress as I’m sure you’re not here to listen to me wax poetic about natural light photography and how much I love it – I do, I really do. So let’s talk more about the show.

Love X Stereo

Their set was brimming with positive energy, good vibes and passion. It truly was a fun set to both watch and listen to. Shows like this are one of the reasons that I love SXSW – the daytime shows are usually laid back and often in cool venues – and this one was no different. And not just because the Canadian in me loves patios.

It was super fun seeing Love X Stereo, the electro-rock duo made up of lead singer Annie Ko (check out our interview with her last year) and Toby Hwang, catch the attention of the crowd. Oh, there were a few fans there to see them in particular – you could tell as they were right at the front, eagerly paying attention as Love X Stereo got ready for the set – but I’d say a large portion of the crowd wasn’t really familiar with them. That didn’t last long however. As soon as the set began, the crowd became an audience and moved closer to the stage.

For those in the audience that already knew them, it was fun getting the early preview to the new songs from their upcoming EP, which is coming out soon. Annie’s powerful vocals coupled with the energy of the show set the mood, grabbed the audience’s attention and didn’t let go. But whether the audience was already a fan or new to the band, it was a fun and energy packed set that I’m sure converted more than a few people into new fans.

Final Thoughts

I’ve had the chance to see Love X Stereo several times over the last couple of years and it’s always a fun show but this gig was one of my favourites. The energy was high and positive, plus it was fun watching them convert the milling crowd into a rapt audience. Got to love a show that leaves a smile on your face and a desire to buy their new EP (actually I already did).