f you've ever heard an Angie McMahon song, then you've heard just how big her voice can be, and how cleverly she can craft a phrase. In person, though, she's more soft-spoken, her words carefully chosen—the former due to a compromised immune system thanks to a pretty hectic touring schedule. Not that McMahon's complaining. The Australian singer-songwriter is on one of her rare (for now, at least) visits to the United States, where she just wrapped her first U.S. tour, which included several headlining gigs, a stop at South by Southwest, and—no big deal—opening for the Pixies in Knoxville. "We had a gig in Nashville that was a headlining show and it was really chill—it was a cool little venue which are the most fun to play," she said. "And then we drove three hours to Knoxville to open for the Pixies at the Tennessee theater, which is this giant old cinema from the ‘20s. It was amazing. I’ve found the crowds really attentive. The hardest gig that we’ve played was the Australian South By showcase, because Australians are very chatty. That took a lot of energy. But mostly, the crowds have been so nice. The crowds in Australia differ based on what city you are in; some are drunk and rowdy, some are silent. Here I’ve found them to be super supportive."
