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SXSW: Live From Austin

Listen Now: Dirty Projectors In Concert

Dirty Projectors Gallery
Joel Didriksen/kingpinphoto.com

The Dirty Projectors performing at The Parish in Austin, Texas.

SXSW 2009: Dirty Projectors

March 19, 2009 David Longstreth, the visionary behind Dirty Projectors, has a knack for deconstructing music and then reassembling it with distinct guitar-and-vocal arrangements. At Dirty Projectors' SXSW concert, the band presented new material from Bitte Orca, a new album due June 9.

It's telling that Dirty Projectors' MySpace page credits Dave Longstreth with "musical direction." What began as a vehicle for the eccentric songwriter gradually turned into a place to execute his vision of a cut-up world. He deconstructs his own music and others' — most recently, that of Black Flag — and reassembles it with his distinct guitar work and intricate vocal arrangements, with help from Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian.

The band recently collaborated with David Byrne on a track for the Dark Was the Night compilation, crafting a song that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Talking Heads' album Little Creatures. But for fans, the big highlight of The Dirty Projectors' SXSW appearances will be the chance to hear new material from Bitte Orca, due June 9. The band recently added two more touring members — bassist Nat Baldwin and vocalist Haley Dekle — adding to the crazy quilt of sounds. Hear Dirty Projectors recorded live in concert from The Parish in Austin, Texas.

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