It doesn’t get much more underground than the way PopWreckoning kicked off its coverage of South by Southwest 2009. Tucked away in the basement of The University of Texas KUT 90.5 communication department, 90′s radio contenders Fastball threw together a bit of a casual setlist for fans and select media.

Opening strong with two numbers displaying the band’s versatility, the band began the evening with “Running Away”, a straight forward guitar number, before switching to “Always Never”, a piano number highlighting Fastball’s inability to be put into any box. However, remembering not to step too far away from the soapbox that put them in the place where they were sitting. In reference to the band’s hits, Miles Zuniga stated bluntly “This has been nice. Sometimes, when you play radio, they ask can you play one more? I’d be out of my head, if i didn’t go out of my way to ask you to play one more,” before playing a beautiful rendition of the groups 1998 hit, “Outta My Head”. “I was hoping Willie Nelson would cover that song. So Willie, if you’re listening…”

Sandwiching cuts “Angelie” and “Soul Radio” from the new album Little White Lies, which drops April 14, on either side of the Supergrass cover “I Should Coco”, Fastball states a claim that few would believe; this band which often finds itself typecast somewhere between “one hit wonders” and “a thing of the past” can and still does have a place in modern music. Their songs sound new and refreshing, freeing themselves from the tags often found with artist trying to recollect the spark of a once shining career. Unlike fellow 90′s standouts Third Eye Blind, who recently found their way back to music, Fastball has reinvented itself into something substantial, instead of grasping tightly to the fame, while gasping for their last breathe of exposure.

But you can see for yourself by catching them at Ace Lounge at 1am on Wednesday, and a free show at Auditorium Shore at 4:45pm Saturday.

Setlist:
Running Away
Always Never
Out of My Head
Angelie
I Should Coco (Supergrass Cover)
Soul Radio
Vampire
She’s Got Rain
//
Falling Upstairs

Fastball: website | myspace

Photos by: Bethany Smith

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