Afternoon Bike Ride - “For the Breakdowns”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Sadurn, Big Thief, Water From Your Eyes

Advice for listening to Afternoon Bike Ride’s latest record Glossover: turn it up. Not in a head-banging, cranking to 11 way, rather to literally turn the volume up to appreciate the details of the band’s quiet, textured take on melancholy folk-rock. Acoustic guitars and twee melodies are there, sure, but around that core are elements from EDM and ambient electronic music. While most artists would take house rhythms and bass beats from the genre to deepen a folk-based sound, Afternoon Bike Ride do the opposite. They pull melody and harmony instead from their electronic influences, creating a palette that moves from ghosty and mysterious to breezy, lounge grooves. All of this is done with the upmost subtlety, sometimes unnoticeable unless listening intently. It’s hard to find a unique lane in the indie folk genre, making Afternoon Bike Ride all that more noticeable within a deep SXSW roster. The Montreal-based trio has two showcases lined up so far, Thursday at Swan Dive for M for Montreal and Friday at Hotel Vegas for The Nothing Song. (Kevin McStravick)