Scribbled in chalk on the board outside the venue was an opening act called “Lonnie Holley featuring Ghetto Cross.” That turned out to be famed African American visual artist and educator Lonnie Holley accompanied by Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound) and Cole Alexander (Black Lips). The trio’s set was a wonderful improv jam session consisting of three 15-20 minute-long songs. Cox moved between his guitar & pedals to the drums, Alexander pounded away on his bass, and Holley delivered steady stream-of-consciousness lyrics as he played the keyboard. It was Holley’s passionate, emotional delivery that made it work – no one could take their eyes off of him.
Lower Dens followed with their set and then Cox returned to the stage for over an hour with the rest of his Deerhunter crew. We’ll have more photos and videos from Deerhunter and Lower Dens’ sets in the days to come.