I’ve seen Limbeck before, but their SXSW showcase on the Friday night at the Rio Grande was affirming of one fact that’s all-too-often overlooked in critiquing live music - No one could ever say these guys don’t have a really fucking good time on stage. Beyond their blatantly catchy, Big Star-inspired chimey twang take on the poppy gems the kids these days love, this band can’t seem to have a shit time if they tried - one of the best parts of seeing Limbeck live is that you’d swear they think every show is the best show they’ve ever played.Hailing from Orange County, CA, these guys put more miles on their Econoline each year than many bands do in an entire career. No pocket of the nation goes untouched by their infectious, whiskey- and Mexican food-fueled tunes and mile-wide grins. Currently touring to support their third, self-titled album for Midwestern mall punk shelter Doghouse Records, Limbeck shows no signs of slowing the breakneck pace that’s been building a steady buzz around the band for the past 5 years.

The rhythm section of John Phillip (drums) and Justin Entsminger (bass) are always rock-locked in on a walking beat, allowing lead guitarist Patrick Carrie to flex his considerable creative muscle in coaxing some sweet Gram Parsons-like melodies out of a beaten but triumphant Telecaster. Not lost in the mix is singer and guitarist Robb MacLean’s propensity to say it all by saying so little - his unique timbre makes Limbeck recordings instantly recognizable and his sparse lyrics allow the listener to fill in the blanks with his or her own personal anecdotes.

The long and short of it is this: if you want to dance your butt off and you’re a fan of having some unpretentious fun, get ye out to a Limbeck’s set when they stumble through your town. Oh, and buy ‘em a drink - they just might play you a few tunes acoustically on the sidewalk outside the club like they did for me in Ann Arbor a few summers back.

MP3: Limbeck - Honk & Wave

MP3: Limbeck - Big Drag

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