Austin – When I first saw the slender and plaidly decorated Dent May materialize out of the shadows on that dimly lit stage of the Holy Mountain, I immediately knew I had found a kindred spirit. But the odd thing was, I think everyone in the crowd had the same feeling. The young musician’s amateur dance moves and computer-science-major appearance spoke to the inner geek within all of us, and in this uniting force, we all shared in a collective admiration for our awkwardly graceful performer.
There was something so accessible about May’s demeanor. He just seems like the kind of guy you want to sit around and play video games with while scrutinizing the latest episode of The Walking Dead. With this, the experience felt more like a party or a social gathering than a concert. It was kind of like a date that you see on a television show, creating an adequately dancey atmosphere while providing the dramatic builds and breaks that make any scene memorable.
A remarkable characteristic of Dent May is how unself-conscious the nature of each song is. Rather than a complexly poetic version of his inner thoughts, the songs felt more like a transparent glimpse into some of the less complicated worries and woes of May’s day dreamy mind. This kind of energy made for a very untroubled, yet lively, Saturday night.
Though it is cliché, the very popular single, “Born Too Late” was undoubtedly the high point of the night. Perfect in its simplicity and catchiness, this tune colored the close of evening quite nicely, and had the crowd in enough synchronized motion that it could have easily been the song’s music video.
However, the best was yet to come. Not only was the show’s final selection dance-filled, but it was also full of surprises. One moment found May on top of the stage’s side speakers, while the next saw him simultaneously crowd-surfing and crooning the La La La’s of Dent May and his Ukulele’s “Meet Me in the Garden”.
Sometimes, the most seemingly casual nights on the town turn out to be the most noteworthy, and such was the case for the truly endearing Dent May. Whenever you feel like life is getting a little too worrisome, put your problems on the back burner and find refuge in these pleasant, but quirky, songs about life, love, and the inability to pay rent.
Photos By Ruth Griffin
Ruth Griffin
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