After only two albums, Two Door Cinema Club has officially reached a main stage-level of fame as a band.
Appearing on the Bud Light Stage Sunday at the Austin City Limits music festival, the Irish indie rockers had a huge crowd in the palms of their hands, playing a hit-filled set culled from 2010’s Tourist History and this year’s Beacon.
Walking out around 4:15 p.m. – preceding Iggy Pop and the Stooges and the Red Hot Chili Peppers – Two Door revved things up early with their latest single, “Sleep Alone.” The rolling drums were broken up by a surf-inspired undertone that grew more sweeping by the verse, just prepping everyone for the payoff.
Two Door Cinema Club didn’t need any bombastic pyrotechnics or anything, though. If anything, the band’s head-nodding rhythm section, tight harmonies and building melodies make Beacon an easy listen, and the tracks might even sound better live than on the album.
Highlights to the ACL show included other Beacon hits like “Sun,” “Next Year” and “Handshake” before their epic closer, “What You Know,” brought it home.
It seemed like the entire audience shrieked with delight at the first few guitar strums of “What You Know” and jumped along as the backbeat kicked in.
The last time Two Door Cinema Club played ACL, it was on a much-smaller stage, and frontman Alex Trimble noted that fact, thanking the audience for sticking with them throughout the years.
The eager audience was happy to voice their support during this raucous show.
Photo courtesy of Sandra Dahdah.