Neon Indian

Strangely enough, Neon Indian seemed more at home on the cavernous festival stage of the Fader Fort than they did just a few weeks earlier when I caught them at NYU. Maybe it was the fresh air and balmy weather, but their songs just seemed more natural, more lived in. Their set was brief, as most SXSW sets are, but hit on all the favorites - "Deadbeat Summer," "Should Have Taken Acid With You," "Terminally Chill." It was an introspective show, as lead singer Alan Palomo hardly acknowledged the audience, let alone spoke to them. But that detachment seems about right coming from a band whose heady vibes are built around escapism and reflection. In a weird way, seeing them perform in such an impersonal space, I started to feel like I knew this band a little better.