The visceral rock from Ovlov struck a chord among the 400 or so music fans pumping their fists at the Velveeta Room. The animated Ovlov, which hails from Newtown, impressed during its South By Southwest debut in March in Texas.
The band’s collection of hard hitting tunes, which are inspired by such alt-rock iconoclasts as Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement, sated fans in the Sixth Street venue, who were in search of something heavier during South By, which in terms of sonics, was a bit lighter this year.
Ovlov excels when it comes to delivering brawny rock, which the group has been serving up on and off for a decade.
“We’ve had our ups and downs over the years but playing in Austin during South By Southwest is awesome,” vocalist-guitarist Steve Hartlett said after the band finished its 45-minute set.
Well, it better be awesome since SXSW isn’t easy for bands. It’s difficult to park and load in at some venues.
“But it’s so worth all that you have to deal with,” Hartlett said. “I would advise a band that’s thinking about playing down here next year to do it. When I looked out at how people were reacting tonight, it was just amazing.”
Ovlov also performed at a number of parties. It’s not uncommon for recording artists to play 10 shows in five days at South By. “You need to get as much out of this experience as possible,” Hartlett said. “You got to be smart about it.”
After the show Hartlett sits with his brother Theo, Orlov’s drummer. It was even more of a family affair when their brother Jon, who played bass, was with the band but he left the act in 2015.
Brothers in bands can be a toxic mix. The common denominator between such iconic rock siblings as Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame and Ray and Dave Davies from the Kinks is that neither of the brothers speak.
But Steve and Theo Hartlett often glanced and smiled at each other as Ovlov bludgeoned the audience with its fuzzy, grungy guitar-driven rock.
“We’re fortunate since Theo and I get along very well,” Hartlett said.
The sounds of the Clinton era obviously inspired Ovlov but secular music was verboten in the Hartlett household.
“Everything I listened to up until middle school was Christian rock,” Hartlett said. “But I picked up a guitar. I wanted to be a musician. The more I explored, the more interesting it became.”
Ovlov is working on a new album. “We’re hoping to keep this going for quite awhile,” Hartlett said. “I would rather this not be an on-and-off kind of thing. If we can keep this intact, I think we can actually take this to an interesting place.”
Judging by the reaction the band received in Austin in front of a group of strangers, who had never heard Ovlov material, there is hope.
“The cool thing is playing a song before people who don’t know you and by the end of the song, they’re into it,” Hartlett said. “I saw a lot of that tonight. We just want to build on all of this.”
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to correct a reference to band members being required to purchase a wristband to play the festival. South By Southwest officials say this was not a requirement.
Information: facebook.com/ovlovbook
