The Young: “Livin’ Free”
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They’re signed to Matador Records, and they’ve gotten nods from Rolling Stone magazine, yet the Young are still largely unknown in their hometown. But their second album, Dub Egg, looks primed to take Austin by storm.
The Young started out more as an idea than an actual entity about seven years ago. Guitarist and vocalist Hans Zimmerman had a small bedroom recording project that he wanted more fleshed-out, so he invited some friends along. The Young were born out of loose jam sessions, and they soon developed a small following through the old-fashioned way–word-of-mouth and a constant stream of shows.
In fact, a lot of what the Young do is old. They largely eschew social media–Zimmerman himself doesn’t even own a computer–and they recorded Dub Egg to analog tape in a cabin in western Bandera County. All that open space and free time lends itself to their overall sound: guitar-based rock that nods to ’70s forbears like Neil Young while still keeping things, well, young. Whereas their debut album, 2010′s Voyagers of Legend, was messy fun, Dub Egg polishes the melodies until they sparkle. This quality was immediately apparent when the Young stopped by KUT’s Studio 1A to play a trio of songs from the new record, including the glimmering “Livin’ Free.”
And if you can’t get enough of the Young, you can catch them tomorrow night at the 29th Street Ballroom as they kick off a summer tour that will surely be putting their name on lots of lips.
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