Two minutes with Steve Garcia of Austin's the Diagonals

By Chad Swiatecki | Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 08:01 PM

The Diagonals will make you dance, often times despite themselves. An Austin five-piece that recalls early R.E.M. with the instrumentation and twisted sensibilities of the Deathray Davies, there's a lot here to like even if lead singer/guitarist Steve Garcia and company aren't the most energetic showmen up on stage.

Since the streets are swarming with people this week and getting a quiet moment is all but impossible, Garcia agreed to be the guinea pig for what will likely be a running bit here this week: "Two minutes in the bathroom (at Emo's IV) with…"

Austin360: Would you want to punch me in the face if I said I detected an early R.E.M. influence in your music?

Garcia: Not at all. The first show I ever saw was R.E.M. show. We drove down to Detroit, my mom drove us and we got to see them on the Reckoning tour. It was awesome because we got to go backstage and we met Bill Berry and Peter Buck and my friend gave Peter Buck this bandana and made this big deal about it. Then, when they came out to play (Buck) was wearing that bandana up on stage.

It seems like everyone in town has already run into Michael Stipe this week…

Really?

That's what I'm told. I just got in, but I guess there are sightings of him all over the place. So if you run into him, what would you say to him?

Um, forget the '90s? I didn't like any of those R.E.M. albums from the '90s at all. But other than that? 'Hey Mike, let's jam!' (laughs) It would remind him of his youth.

30 seconds left; give people a reason to come see one of your shows.

I think we're pretty good, if you like kinda jangly stuff. I consider us a dance band, but we're often so boring up on stage that it's sometimes hard to get that across. You know, that wasn't exactly the best quote. Can I go again?

Nope.

(The Diagonals play at 10 p.m. Sunday at Emo's Jr., 603 Red River St.)