Tacos With Twin Atlantic

Words by Mark Roemer, Photos by Zoetica Ebb
Glasgow, Scotland’s newest musical export, Twin Atlantic,  arrived in Austin, TX on their first trip to the good ole’ USofA.  And you could tell, too, by the way everything seemed so damn wonderful to them.  Having dinner with them was like having dinner with 5 musically virtuosic children in the way that children are sweet little sponges, eager to learn and experience everything around them.  That’s about the only way these guys are like kids.  Well that and the fact that they were drunk after two margaritas.  We took time out of their busy gigging schedule to sit down for the lads’ first-ever authentic Mexican meal, which they absolutely relished.  The venue was Austin foodie staple Gueros, home to the best Mole’ in TX. Every dish that was placed in front of us was examined, sniffed, tasted, analyzed in detail and then fully consumed.  It was a treat to see tacos, nachos and Austin’s famous queso appreciated anew and experienced on what was a culinary adventure for these Scotts.  For us SXSW vets, this food, while craved and appreciated, and devoured, is far short of adventurous eating.  It was truly fun to experience the band’s first margaritas with them.  You realize the complexity in everyday things, the beauty in the mundane, when you see/taste/feel those familiar things through the experience of someone else. The conversation was fun, too.  We talked about the band’s origins in the city, their process for writing songs and the brilliantly quick pace at which they write what they write.  Double Dose, one of my favorites, came together faster than any of their other tunes, about 20 minutes start to finish – less time than it took our waiter to refill the queso. The band told an amazing story of how the Smashing Pumpkins specifically asked for them to open their show in Glasgow. These genuinely affable guys are standing at the precipice of great things and massive recognition.  You can feel it as they go on about anecdotal touring disasters, and their should-be-a-reality-show-made-about-him tour manager.  The potential energy is palpable around this band and they are so damn friendly you want to see that potential realized.  I am joining their street team as soon as one is formed.