Music Day 1: Ezra Furman

I’m always a little suspicious of any songwriter with a “wounded bird” persona, but it’s part of the territory in the world of singer-songwriters, many of whom are truly wearing their hearts on their sleeves and exorcising their demons. So it was definitely endearing when Furman, who seemed like a skittish rabbit when talking to the crowd, defended the sincerity of all of the bands playing SXSW and declared, “This is our band and we’re the best band here”. Under the shadows of the lone sycamore tree that shades the Creekside Lounge deck, Furman and his band, the Harpoons, offered an infectious blend of sensitive singer-songwriting with straightforward Modern Lovers-style punk pop.