It feels like this was going to be the coldest night of an oh so freezing winter in Vienna. It’s the night of the annually fm4-fest , an always sold-out festival organised by the public radio station that comprises indoor as well as open air shows. “We are lucky not to play outside,” Thao says and adds smilingly, “we are more used to the climate in San Francisco.” Before their performance at the close-by festival venue Thao and her band members Willis and Adam, who make up The Get Down Stay Down, warm up with an ambitious session at their hotel rooms. While for the energetic performance of “Know Better Learn Faster” the trio lines up around the bed, they further step into the bathroom for “Body”. And thus prove that they don’t need much room or equipment for a vibrantly rocking show. Thao puts her backs into the frontwoman role, Willis goes ad lib for creative percussion elements and Adam is obviously cheered up at the end of this. Hardly surprising as the hairdryer, that is used for a musical interlude, started blowing around his ears.

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