As far as I am aware, “Lately,” the lead track of off Keep Your Eyes Ahead, which Portland, Oregon-based The Helio Sequence dropped a little over two months ago on Sub Pop, is not available as a single. But it’s shifting drums, jangly melodic guitar, and narrator-in-denial have all the makings of an indie anthem. The lyrics starts melancholy and dishonest–”Lately, I don’t think you of you at all”–and get better from there, often echoing ominously in the background in an almost unnoticeable way. “I don’t think about our face, or anything you said,” croons singer Brandon Summers, composing a small hymn to heartbroken denial.

Sadly, when I caught the two-piece at SXSW this past March, an audience member kindly informed me they had already played “Lately” before I arrived. I stayed nonetheless and was treated to an excellent performance for a thrilled, word-mouthing crowd. For having just two members, The Helio Sequence has a lot going for them on-stage: tight-knit playing, pedal antics, and even occasional harmonica.

Photos after the jump. (more…)

Your SAK correspondent covered this year’s musical madness in Austin on behalf of the New York Press. (Almost) daily blog posts, joyfully coming undone as the week progresses and the free beer sinks in, are here: Wednesday I was holding it together; Thursday got a little sloppy; Friday nearly killed me; and Saturday is MIA (such is the way music festivals go, friends).

Everything, of course, was handily wrapped up (and sponsor scrutinized) in the latest installment of Someone’s Listening In.

As photos are uploaded and de-red-eyed, look for more SXSW reflections in the coming the weeks. Here’s a taste of Lightspeed Champion: