Fascinator| Twilight Concert | Santa Monica Pier | 8/7/14 [PHOTOS & REVIEW]

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In conjunction with G’Day USA, the Twilight Concert series presented “Australia Rocks The Pier”.

The second act performing on the Santa Monica Pier was Fascinator. Fascinator is Johnny Mackay, an Australian based in New York, whose music is an experimental, electronic, psychedelic trip. Though the act was probably better suited for a smaller club venue, I could tell that the audience was getting into it … the smell of weed permeating my nostrils was my proof.

The music, and performance, was a bit out there. With odd hat-masks, long full length garb, and a hype-man who danced around the stage, I could feel the groove, but kept sniffing the air to see if I could get a second-hand high. If only I wasn’t “working” …

Follow Fascinator on Facebook by CLICKING HERE

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

Phebe Starr | Twilight Concert | Santa Monica Pier | 8/7/14 [PHOTOS & REVIEW]

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

In conjunction with G’Day USA, the Twilight Concert series presented “Australia Rocks The Pier”.

The first act performing on the Santa Monica Pier was Aussie Native Phebe Starr. Like the opening act from the prior week, Phebe had been the winner of a competition to perform for the Twilight Concert audience.

I arrived at the pier after she had already started her set, but was able to get into the photo pit for the last half of her set.

Her music is synth pop akin to Lykii Li and Sia. Though I only caught a portion of her set, I could see the potential she has in developing her sound. She is in Los Angeles to record music, and it’d be interesting to see how Los Angeles inspires her songwriting.

Follow Phebe Starr on Facebook by CLICKING HERE.

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

Nikki Lane | KCRW’s “Country In The City” | 8/2/14 [PHOTOS & REVIEW]

CLICK HERE To Check Out The Blog Entries Of The Other Acts Performing At KCRW’s “Country In the City” Concert Series

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Opening for Wynonna Judd at the third, and final, concert of the County In The City concert series, inspired by The Annenberg Space for Photography’s newest exhibit,Country: Portraits of an American Sound,” was Nikki Lane.

Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Nikki spent part of life in Los Angeles working in the fashion industry before heading out to New York City. In the city that never sleeps, she went through heartbreak that inspired her to write some music about her emotional roller coaster. Thank god for break-ups, otherwise Nikki would never have been on the stage performing in front of an enthusiastic Los Angeles crowd.

Accompanied to the stage with her band and her mother, Nikki started into her set with a series of songs about her failed marriage. You could tell that the music was her therapy. She gave brief explanations, and regrets, about the first several songs.

“I should have followed the lyrics to the song. Sorry, mom,” she said with a smirk as she look stage left to acknowledge her mother.

Her music was country music for the modern audience. Since relocating to Nashville, her latest album, “All or Nothin'” was produced by The Black Key’s Dan Auerbach, and you can tell that Dan’s musical influence had rubbed off on her. The tunes were as country as county comes, but also had a little something extra from other genres to make a finicky music lover’s ears perk up with interest.

Before parting the stage, she thanked the audience and KCRW for inviting her to perform, acknowledging that this was the largest audience she’s ever played for. She definitely picked up a few fans from her performance, myself included.

I had the good fortune of meeting Nikki as she was selling her goods at the merchandise table. I purchased a couple of her LPs at the concert, and had her sign my copies. If she keeps on making good music, I’m willing to bet that won’t be selling her own merchandise for long.

Nikki Lane – Band Members

  • Nikki Lane: Acoustic Guitar and Lead Vocal
  • Ben Eyestone: Drums
  • Eric Whitman: Bass Guitar
  • Alex Munoz: Electric Guitar
  • Matt Stoessel: Pedal Steel

Set List:

  1. Good Man
  2. I Want My Heart Back
  3. Man Up
  4. You Can’t Talk To Me Like That
  5. Seein’ Double
  6. Faded
  7. 700,000 Red Necks
  8. Gone, Gone, Gone
  9. All or Nothin’
  10. Right Time

CLICK HERE To Check Out The Blog Entries Of The Other Acts Performing At KCRW’s “Country In the City” Concert Series

Omar Souleyman | Twilight Concert | Santa Monica Pier | 7/31/14 [PHOTOS & REVIEW]

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I missed Omar Souleyman when he played at FYF Fest in 2013.  When a close friend of mine told me the next day that Omar’s set was incredible … <slaps had to the forehead>

When I heard he was playing the pier, I knew it was a show I couldn’t miss.

I’ve always been fascinated with foreign music. I barely speak French. I hardly understand Korean. I obviously know nothing about the Arabic language. But good music is good music. Omar Souleyman’s traditional, electronic, Syrian folk-pop music is a groove inducing, infectious rhythm than really doesn’t need to be translated.

Wearing large sunglasses, a thick mustache and traditional Syrian garb, it was just him and his DJ sending sonic waves out onto the pier and into the beach. Looking over the crowd, all I could see were hands in the air, and bodies gyrating to the beat.

Though the traditional meanings of his music may have been lost on the crowd, it really didn’t matter. The crowd was lost in the foreign sounds of one of Syria’s most prolific recording artists.

Follow Omar Souleyman on Facebook by CLICKING HERE.

 

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

Free Concert Alert | Jagwar Ma & Fascinator at the Santa Monica Pier | 8/7/14 [Preview]

CLICK HERE to check out the other acts I plan on checking out this Summer at the Twilight Concert Series at the Santa Monica Pier!

Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier

On Thursday, July 31st the fifth concert of Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert Series features Jagwar Ma;  an Australian psychedelic/dance band from in Sydney. I first saw this band perform live at Coachella this year. Their debut album “Howlin'”, with their neo-psychedlic, dance out, received high praise, and they are currently working on their sophomore album.

Their music reminds me of the Stone Roses, and I really, really dig their sound. I snapped a few decent pics of them at Coachella this year, but I’m hoping to do better this time around.

Follow Jagwar Ma on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Also performing on the pier, opening for Jagwar Ma, is the New York based band Fascinator. I’m not too familiar with this band, but they’ve seem to got the same vibe as Jagwar Ma, so it should be a full evening to trippy music to enjoy at the pier.

Follow Fascinator on Facebook by clicking HERE.

To see the full list of acts performing at the Santa Monica Pier as part of the 20th Annual Twilight Concert series, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to check out the other acts I plan on checking out this Summer at the Twilight Concert Series at the Santa Monica Pier!

Free Concert Alert | Omar Souleyman & De Lux at the Santa Monica Pier | 7/31/14 [Preview]

CLICK HERE to check out the other acts I plan on checking out this Summer at the Twilight Concert Series at the Santa Monica Pier!

Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier

On Thursday, July 31st the fourth concert of Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert Series features Omar Souleyman is a musician from the northeastern region of Syria. His music, traditional Middle Eastern songs in Kurdish and Arabic, incorporates various musical styles like dabkefolk and electronica.

I wanted to check out his set at FYF Fest in 2013, but as his set time was delayed, I missed his performance in order to check out some other bands. A close friend of mine who stayed until he took the stage told me the next day that Omar’s set was incredible, and that I was a fool for missing it. Oi … <sound of heart breaking> ….

Needless to say, I am beyond thrilled that I will be in the audience for his performance at the pier. For those of you with an eclectic taste in music, I highly recommend emerging yourself in the seductive and rhythmic sounds of the middle east with Omar this coming Thursday.

Also performing on the pier, opening for Omar Souleyman, is the Los Angeles based “post-disco dance-punk” DIY duo De Lux. Having been compared to bands like The Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem, I’m looking forward to hearing this band for the first time to see what they have to offer.

Follow De Lux on Facebook by clicking HERE.

To see the full list of acts performing at the Santa Monica Pier as part of the 20th Annual Twilight Concert series, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to check out the other acts I plan on checking out this Summer at the Twilight Concert Series at the Santa Monica Pier!

Yuna | Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier | 7/17/14 [PHOTOS & REVIEW]


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KING | Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier | 7/17/14 [PHOTOS & REVIEW]

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Opening for Yuna at the second installment of Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert series was KING, a trio of women whose soul infused electronic sound really impressed me. Relying only on their voices, and an electronic keyboard, the audience reveled in some soul music that has had the soul-community buzzing about them as of late.

They vocal blending was about as good as I’ve heard since my collegiate chorale days. Often times, I couldn’t tell who was singing, as their voices really meshed as one.

As the sun set, their jazzy vibe complimented it perfectly. Couples held each other a little tighter, and bodies were grinding slowly to their sensual sounds. I can only imagine what it would be like to see them performing in a small, smoky jazz club. That’s where’d I’d LOVE to see them perform next.

I wasn’t able to find a setlist for, or video clips of, their performance, but if you happen to know where I can find some, let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the blog! In the meantime …

CLICK HERE to check out a collection of Instagram videos of most, if not all, of the songs KING performed at this concert.

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

Yuna | Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier | 7/17/14 [INSTAGRAM VIDS]

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

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Below are Instagram clips from most, if not all, of the songs from Yuna’s set at the Santa Monica Pier as part of the Twilight Concert Series. Enjoy.

 

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

KING | Twilight Concert Series | Santa Monica Pier | 7/17/14 [INSTAGRAM VIDS]

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!

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Below are Instagram clips from most, if not all, of the songs from KING’s set at the Santa Monica Pier as part of the Twilight Concert Series. Enjoy.

 

CLICK HERE to check out other acts performing a Twilight Concert at the Santa Monica Pier!