The Preservation: “Modern Dance”
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Mario Matteoli has been a fixture in the Austin music scene since he was nineteen. For years, you could see him around town (or at a number of clubs around the country) as the frontman for the Weary Boys, a cow-punk quintet known for its raucous live shows. In 2006, Matteoli left the band for a solo career, releasing two well-received albums that showed the singer in a more laid-back mood. During those recordings, he found his future wife, Cayce, who appeared on the records as a back-up singer.
While touring as a duo, the couple decided it was time for a new band. In 2009, the Preservation was born. It’s a new look for Matteoli–he’s back as the frontman, but his songs are sharper, owing a great deal to early ’70s AM radio pop and Bob Dylan and the Band. He’s got tremendous support from the musicians around him. Cayce Matteoli lends her voice well, as do most of the other members, resulting in rich four-part harmonies. Even if they don’t play with the same reckless abandon as Matteoli’s former band, the Preservation are rousing in their own right, relying on tight arrangements that are both danceable and memorable.
That seems to be the point of “Modern Dance,” today’s song of the day. On top of a bouncy keyboard and an even bouncier bass line, the Matteolis deliver one sugar-sweet hook right after another. The song comes from the Preservation’s debut album, Twin Sisters, which sees its release tonight at the Swan Dive. The fun starts at 9 PM and also features like-minded popsters (and locals) Leatherbag and Wiretree.
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