Mother Falcon - “Marigold”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 9

Pairs Well With…Arcade Fire, Typhoon, The Family Crest

Austin’s own Mother Falcon started out as a collective of high school orchestra students. Since then, they’ve set records at NPR’s Tiny Desk (for most members crammed in), reimagined Radiohead’s OK Computer (aptly titled MF Computer) and routinely played live shows with 20 musicians. Mother Falcon doesn’t just invite musicians to sit down and sing background vocals - everyone actively plays an instrument. Their music demands you actively engage as well, as their enthusiastic chamber-pop begs to be heard live. The ten string players steer them into symphonic rock, but they’re also armed with horns, guitars, a ukelele and more to ensemble a miniature orchestra singing rock-structured songs. (Drew Doggett)

2016 Review: Austin orchestral pop juggernaut Mother Falcon released their third and strongest record in 2015, adopting more hooks and danceable twists than Good Luck Have Fun’s folk-based predecessors.  Tracks like single “Kid” and “Naked + Afraid” are deeper and catchier than expected, while “Water” is a display of the band’s genre-melding, dramatic songwriting.  Best yet, Good Luck Have Fun features a true Mother Falcon symphony - the seven-part Starnation Suite is a studied, detailed opus that is amongst the best instrumental work in the band’s catalog.