SXSW 2021 was a strange one – right in the middle of a pandemic, all acts were asked to deliver a virtual concert for SXSW attendees to view at home. As odd as that sounds, several bands got extremely creative and left a real mark on the viewers. Norway and Taiwan in particular come to mind, with all the bands from those countries taking a problem and creating an opportunity.
One of the more memorable showcases came from Taiwanese band The Chairs. The trio put together a great set of music in what I can only describe as an indoor fishing warehouse. The setting was unique and the band’s blend of low-fi/tweeish music featuring Mandarin, English, Hokkien and Japanese really left a mark.
Luckily, the band finally makes their way to Austin this year. I’m excited to see what they bring.
The Chairs play Elysium on March 14 at 9:00pm.
