Concert Review: Illiterate Light at Barracuda, Austin

There’s more to blues-psychedelic rock duo Illiterate Light than the small farm ethos they fully embrace in blue denim overalls and flower-print crop tanks. Their live show isn’t just the high-energy demonstration of two virtuosic front-men, Jeff Gorman (guitar and foot-activated synth bass) and Jake Cochran (drums)–it’s the spirit of a millennial’s age of anxiety transfigured into a timely, dazzling, and eco-conscious anthem.

The Virginia-roots band got their start touring the east coast three weeks at a time on bike, sustained only by their music and peanut butter. Illiterate Light’s folk influence–namely, Neil Young’s humanitarian lyricism combined with Fleet Foxes’ indie sensibility–infuse the duo medium that’s been popularized by the likes of White Stripes and Black Keys with something a little more personable and organic, as in non-GMO, yet totally unpretentious (think of your friendly neighborhood Wheatsville Food Co-op).

“In the Ground” kicked off the band’s live set at Barracuda on February 24th. The medium-tempo rock ballad constitutes an ode to willful ignorance as an empowered act of self-care. Jeff’s sleepish vocals shimmered over a brew of powerful subtones, snare hits, and swinging rhythms, immediately submerging me into a trance. I felt lulled by ribbons of atmospheric guitar only to be stirred awake by a powerful arena-rock build up that shook the venue. A final reprise of a head-banging riff seamlessly transitioned into a hard-rocking reflection of political angst, “Nuthin’s Fair”, off the band’s 2018 debut E.P.

Halfway through the electrified set, Illiterate Light stayed true to its fossil-fuelless mission and shut the PA off, leaving room for an acoustic rendition of “Sometimes Love Takes So Long”. The intimate setting of this wilting yet hopeful heartbreak tune easily became the night’s most memorable moment; Jeff and Jake delighted in their unplugged stage presence. After sincere banter describing their musical influences, Illiterate Light played one more tune sans power: the deliberately-timed Neil Young tribute, “I Wanna Leave America”, about political restoration and optimism post-Nixon.

Having satisfied their acoustic performance, the band leaped into the second half of their set featuring impassioned anthems such as “Better Than I Used To” and extended instrumental jams such as the grotesque, southern gothic “Vampire Blues”. For their last number, the duo invited show opener and Nashville artist Shane T to the stage where they cadenced on “Growin’ Down,” a feel-good embrace of all things uncertain.

Illiterate Light’s show is Rock Escapism at its finest. Their sound is a conscientious force that seeks to emancipate “light” from all its shackles–corruption, anti-environmentalism, even adulthood–and free us to feel like children playing in the mud. Whether it’s through sensible folk rock lyrics, psychedelic hard rock thrashers, or form-defying solos, Illiterate Light sets out to reaffirm the intrepid optimist inside all of us; they’ve demonstrated quite clearly that they don’t need the electric powerhouse to inspire and charm their audience.

What will this eclectic duo do next?

Clearly, bicycle-powered sound systems.

Originally published by Euphoria ATX for In2une and AWAL/Kobalt