Sam Champion @ Texas Garage - 15 March 2008 (SXSW Day 4, Pics)

Sam Champion kicked off The Green Owl Getdown at JELLYNYC's Texas Garage on Saturday and shrugged off the assorted hindrances that might have sidelined lesser bands - a heavily delayed start time, security's unwillingness to actually let people up to the top level of the garage, and most annoyingly a power outage that killed their entire backline just five songs in - with the same nonchalant coolness and unflappable confidence that defines their distinctive take on classic, ass-kicking rock and roll.

No power? No problem. Guitarist Sean Sullivan simply took his shirt off and caught some rays by the rooftop pool until the confused "sound guy" reset the circuit and resumed the rocking. Though we haven't given SC proper shine on EF as of yet, rest assured: this is one of my favorite bands in New York and well beyond, and we'll be giving them a whole lot more attention in the coming months with the release of their new album. I've seen these guys countless times, and whether headlining a packed house at Bowery or playing a sparsely attended eye-opener set (as on this particular occasion), they bring it each and every time. Crackling rhythms, slithering guitar lines, and irresistible hooks oh my. More photos after the jump...





Listen: "Your Party Was Yesterday?"

Visit Sam Champion on MySpace.