Ever been to a watch a band not knowing what to expect, and then been blown away?
Stepping into Stubb’s on Red River, we didn’t know what to expect from Quiet Company. Great articles have been written on the band, and their accolades are widespread.
We expected something special, but we had no idea how electrifying the performance would be.
The crowd was gathered in anticipation, and there was a palpable energy in the room. Taylor Muse, lead singer, stepped up to the mic and welcomed the crowd with a sly smile. He had this look in his eyes that reminded me of a tiger trapped in a cage, waiting to be loosed.
Shaggy hair, ties, bearded faces and chucks. An eclectic mix of style and fashion lined the apron when the five members of Quiet Company took the stage at Stubb’s.
Quiet Company Takes the Stage At Stubb’s
Starting with the very first drum beat from Jeff Weathers and ending with a crowd-mandated encore, Quiet Company rocked Stubb’s like very few have ever rocked the place before.
Quiet Company has a love affair with their fans. It’s rare that you see a band have so much interaction and rapport with the crowd. The only other Austin band in my recent memory that comes close to having this level of rapport with their fans is Saints of Valory, but that’s another story.
Quiet Company’s leadman Taylor Muse invited fans on stage to dance while they played. Fans quickly took them up on their offer, filling the stage in seconds. The place was going nuts. This wasn’t a concert; it was a party. And every fan was a guest of honor.
Taylor Muse is nothing short of brilliant in his role as the front man for Quiet Company. His charisma and non-stop energy took the crowd on a thrill ride. High notes, low bass, soft melodies, loud guitar, fast drums, and a stupid amount of energy. Quiet Company takes you on an awesome roller coaster ride when they perform, and no one wants to get off. The band even has a trombonist in Cody Ackors who adds a brass flair to the group. As if they needed any more flair.
Officially, there are five members of the group: Taylor Muse (vocals, guitar, piano, glockenspiel, harmonica and too many more instruments to mention), Thomas Blank (guitar, piano, melodica and also too many more instruments to mention), Matthew Parmenter (bass, vocals, banjo, stylophone…you get the picture), Jeff Weathers (drums and percussion) and Cody Ackors (trombone, vocals, bass, piano and guitar).
And let’s not forget Paul Osbon, the group’s manager, who also gets on stage with the band from time to time. Paul provides vocals, as does Leah Muse (wife of Taylor) and Betsy Aune (wife of Thomas). It’s one big happy family with Quiet Company.
Quiet Company Dominates SXSW Music Awards
The aforementioned explains why Quiet Company dominated SXSW’s 30th Music Awards this year. Taking home a record-breaking ten awards, Quiet Company became the most decorated band in a single year in SXSW history.
What awards did Quiet Company take home? Check this…
- Band of the Year
- Musician of the Year (Taylor Muse)
- Album of the Year (We Are All Where We Belong)
- Song of the Year (“You Me & The Boatman”)
- Best Indie Band
- Best Rock Band
- Best Drums (Jeff Weathers)
- Best Male Vocals (Taylor Muse)
- Best Songwriter (Taylor Muse)
- Best Producer (Matt Parmenter for We Are All Where We Belong)
It kind of makes you wonder if anyone else even showed up. Quiet Company obliterated the competition.
If you haven’t heard of them yet, get on it. Get to know these guys while you can still dance on stage with them.
You can check out Quiet Company’s official website here.
And to serenade you while you’re heading out the door, here’s the music video for Quiet Company’s award-winning song, “You Me & The Boatman.”
@EricHighland asks:
What do YOU think of Quiet Company?
Photos courtesy of QuietCompany.com and Leah Muse. All not-too-well-lit crappy iPhone shots taken spur of the moment by the author.
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