TC Superstar
This past Saturday night, I found myself at the outdoor stage at Cheer Up Charlie’s in Austin, sipping on a vegan white Russian (coconut milk-- for the curious), sweating through my sweater in a packed crowd dancing to live synth pop. The act was TC Superstar. And I do mean act.
At any given point, there were no less than 7 Superstars on stage. They were all dressed in identical high-rise plush pink sweat-shorts, with matching tucked-in oversized t-shirt, and similarly painted nails. Generally, only three of the members were making the music. One on keys, doubling as the percussion; another playing guitar, and the lead singer playing guitar on most songs as well. The band’s singer was flanked by four talented, synchronized backup dancers. Backup dancers is a misnomer. With the singer, they formed a front line and were essential to constructing the playful charm of TC Superstar’s live performance. Every single song in the set, they performed choreographed original dances too, with skill. Monkey see, monkey do. In the audience, we responded with less-skillful freeform movements of our own.
Twist it. Bop it.
You know “that band,” the one you’re always trying to see but can never make it to a show? TC Superstar was that band for me for a bit. TC Superstar is at Hotel Vegas… can’t go. Cheer Ups… can’t go. Mohawk… nope. They play all the time; I was just blowing it. And I had good reason to feel the sting of FOMO. I’d heard rumors… “great live show”, “choreographed dancing”, “matching outfits”, “synth.” The appeal was there. Besides, I sat next to Connor, the band’s singer, in Statistics in high school. He’s fucking smart.
So, yeah, I panicked a little when I saw that TC Superstar was opening for Mac Demarco and Bane’s World at the Long Center in June. The band is leaving soon to go on a nationwide tour (although the word on the street is that their van has been having troubles, send help). I felt like I could be missing the origin of something special, beautiful, or at the very least, cool. Naturally, I had to see them perform their new album at Cheer Up’s before they left for tour. This was the show that mattered. My expectations were repaid in spades. TC Superstar is fun.
Singer Connor McCampbell in his element
The album itself, titled “R&D” is an impressive sophomore release. Production is high quality. The songwriting never feels cheap. The whole thing is strung together in a pastiche narrative by the love story of the fictional Ricky and Dana, as well as interview samples from the group’s members speaking on the subject of love. The sound is poppy but not sugary; soft and energetic without a trace of caffeine. It plays through very nicely, and also contains a number of standout tracks such as “Dana Be Mine”, “One and Only”, and “Into You,” if you like to cherry pick.
Without a doubt we can expect to see more exciting things from TC Superstar. Through what appears to be hard work (*gAsP*), TC Superstar is quickly coming a long way from playing the Spiderhouse Ballroom and Co-Op parties at The University of Texas. This is your chance, DON’T BLOW IT.
I don’t want to be overly prophetic (I would hate that, as a matter of fact) but you don’t want to be sitting around in a few years, squinting at a dim computer screen, grumbling to yourself about why a digital ticket requires $7 for “handling fees”, shelling out $40 to see washed up future Mac Demarco (looks & acts the exact same as non-washed up Mac Demarco) opening for TC Superstar at the Long Center. See the pastel wonderkid band while you can; while there’s still room in the crowd to dance at their shows.