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Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | VideosTags: Air and Style, Air+Style, Concert Photography, concert pics, Concert videos, Josh Carter, Phantogram, Sarah Barthel, setlist
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Tag: Concert Photography
Snoop Dogg and Levi’s Pre-Grammy Concert | The Hollywood Palladium | 2/5/15 [PHOTOS]
Chet Faker | Mack Sennett Studios | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/29/14 [Review & Photos]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: Chet Faker | Facebook | Twitter
SOUNDS LIKE:
THOUGHTS:
Chet Faker. Girls love him. Guys wish they could write music like him.
I saw Chet Faker earlier this year at The Roxy. Musically, there is no question that Nicholas James Murphy a/k/a “Chet Faker” has the musical goods. His sound (soulful, downtempo electronica) is baby-making music, plain and simple. It’s still early in his career (he’s only released one full length album, “Built On Glass” and a couple of extended plays) so it’ll be interesting to see how his sound develops going forward.
What I was more interested in observing this time around was his actual stage performance. At the Roxy, Chet Faker spent the length of the performance behind his keyboards under dim lights. On a couple of songs, additional musicians took the stage to perform as part of a backing band. This time around, with Red Bull as the sponsor of the event (and presumably a bigger budget), that his stage performance could have bit could a bit … more. The lighting at Mack Sennett Studios was definitely a step up from The Roxy’s lights, but on the large stage, it was again Chet behind his keyboards.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love his music. I even brought my LP copy of “Built On Glass” just in case I could catch him for an autograph. But truly memorable musical performances are not only auditory; there has to be a visual component to it as well … for me, it takes both aspects to make a show complete. Chet looked so isolated on the large stage. I was really hoping that he could have hired a backing band play his arrangements, or at least a some video screens to actually see what he was doing at the keyboard consoles. I mean, you can see moving around behind his instruments, but it would have been so much more effective if there were more “action” on stage. I mean, take Flying Lotus, for example. Flying Lotus performs behind his consoles, but he’s got an elaborate laser/lighting show going on around him simultaneously.
I’m not suggesting that Chet Faker needs some intricate laser light show. I just wish I could have seen what his hands were doing. There musicality and artisanship in watching a professional maneuver a drum machine and keyboards. It would have been nice to see the action on the keys.
SETLIST (unconfirmed)
- Blush
- 1998
- I’m Into You
- Terms & Conditions
- Intro
- Ciggs & Chocolate
- On You (with Goldlink)
- No Diggity
- Drop The Game
- To Me
- Gold
- Talk Is Cheap
VIDEO:
PHOTOS:
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
James Supercave | Mack Sennett Studios | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/29/14 [Review & Photos]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: James Supercave | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SOUNDS LIKE:
THOUGHTS:
If you are the kind of person who likes to check out new bands in concert, it would behoove you to not limit your perception of said band on just one performance. Personally, if I even slightly enjoy new band’s performance, I do my best to try and catch them again at a later date. There are a myriad of reasons to do this: (i) because a band that you are waffling on just could have had an off night, (ii) different venues offer different atmospheres which could really impact a band’s performance, or (ii) over time, said band’s performance could have gotten better or worse.
I saw James Supercave earlier this year at the Santa Monica Pier when they opened for Cults. I enjoyed their performance then, and I anticipated that their performance this night would be equally enjoyable. I was wrong. They were immeasurably better!
This time around, they had an energy and stage presence that I don’t recall from the first time I saw them perform. Joaquin Pastor, the lead singer, seemed to exude a subdued confidence that I don’t recall noticing the first time around; actively interacting with his band through the set. Maybe it was because he wasn’t wearing sunglasses this time around, and you could really see the music’s emotion in his eyes. Whatever it was, it was something that I noticed.
His bandmates, likewise, seemed to have more energy as well, and under the heavy purple lights, I found myself enjoying their onstage movements … and their music … especially when the rhythm picked up.
I was hoping to catch the guys after the show to ask them whether or not they would have agreed with me about comparing the two shows, and their own personal thoughts about their performance, but I wasn’t able to. Oh well. I suppose I’ll have to make it a point to go see them again.
PHOTOS:
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
denitia and sene. | Mack Sennett Studios | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/29/14 [Review & Photos]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: denitia and sene. | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SOUNDS LIKE:
THOUGHTS:
Opening the 29th Red Bull Sound Select 30 Days In LA concert at Mack Sennett Studios was the R&B duo denitia and sene. Denitia Odigie and Brian “Sene” Marc use synthesizers to bring out a pulsing rhythm over which they croon and coo over. Their latest release, “the side fx. EP” was released by Red Bull Sound Select.
As an opener for for Chet Faker, their performance was a solid appetizer. Although there were a couple of moments where the vocals could have been better in tune with each other, the soothing effect that their music had over the audience definitely brought the sultry and seductive air to the venue.
PHOTOS:
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
Phosphorescent | Park Plaza Hotel | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/23/14 [Review, Photos & Video]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: Phosphorescent | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SOUNDS LIKE:
THOUGHTS:
Matthew Houck, a native of Athens, Georgia, is Phosphorescent. His music can be described as indie country and it has drawn favorable comparisons to Bob Dylan, with publications like the London Evening Standard declaring him “the most significant American in his field since Kurt Cobain” (source: Allmusic.com).
His last album, “Muchaco”, was released in 2013 was critically well received and perhaps a bit more experimental than his earlier output. Americana sounds incorporating electronic instrumentation doesn’t necessarily seem to a logical fit, but it works. Backed by a full band, the instrumentation didn’t obscure the singer’s voice, which can be described as “soulful folksy” and seemed to inflect a deep rooted emotional history of life spattered with hardship.
I’ve read that his songwriting, especially his lyrics, is superb. Since I was consumed with adjusting settings on my camera throughout his performance, I frankly couldn’t focus on the stories being sung. But based on what I heard, I’ve definitely earmarked his music to listen to in the future.
PHOTOS:
VIDEOS:
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
Little Wings | Park Plaza Hotel | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/23/14 [Review, Photos & Video]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: Little Wings | Facebook
THOUGHTS:
Kyle Field is Little Wings. He’s been called a “musician’s musician” and his music has influenced a lot of popular artists (i.e. Feist’s named her film, Look At What The Light Did Now, after a Little Wings song). Continue reading
Shy Girls | Park Plaza Hotel | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/23/14 [Review & Photos]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: Shy Girls | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SOUNDS LIKE:
THOUGHTS:
I’m a sucker for new R&B music. When I heard KCRW play Shy Girls’ Shy Girls’ “Voyeur’s Gaze” on Morning Becomes Eclectic in 2013, I was hooked. When I saw that they were opening for a band named Phosphorescent, I immediately bought a ticket. I had no idea about the headlining act, but that didn’t matter. It had been close to a year since I saw them perform, and I was jonesing to see them perform again.
The performance was short, but it was everything that I anticipated: smooth vocals over a tight knit band playing music with an 80s and early 90s R&B vibe.
The first two times I saw Shy Girls perform live, they didn’t play the song that hooked me in the first place, “Voyeur’s Gaze”. When I had asked them about why didn’t perform that song since it was the song that KCRW decided to spin, they indicated that the arrangement was a bit too complex for them to play live. They remedied the omission this time around and it was, to my complete satisfaction, performed as a song in the middle of their set.
Apparently, I was the only one in the audience excited to hear the tune. Instinctually, I yelped out a very audible, “Yes,” when the opening vocals and keyboard chord progression were played. I got a few giggles from some of the audience members around me, and under my breath, but audible, I felt it necessary to qualify my blurt with, “Can’t help it, it’s my favorite song of theirs.”
I soon realized that the crowd wasn’t here to listen to Shy Girls smooth R&B jams. I further deduced that headlining act’s style of music was at the opposite side of the spectrum because if the audience wasn’t feeling what Shy Girls was putting forth on stage that night … well, they were here for something else.
And it’s a bit of a shame. Shy Girls is a Red Bull Sound Select artist. I would have thought that Red Bull, the host of the concert series, could have done a better job at procuring a line-up that was more consistent. I went to the Chet Faker 30 Days In LA show later in the month, and I can easily say that Shy Girls would have KILLED IT if they were one of the opening acts for that evening’s music. In fact, switching James Supercave from the Chet Faker night, with Shy Girls would have been my choice.
The highlight of the evening was when Shy Girls’ covered Brandy’s “Sittin’ Up In My Room” (a demo recording of which is above). It was simple and sublime. It was a performance of an R&B classic that anybody with an inkling of appreciation for type of R&B music would have loved. I just wish more people could have truly appreciated it.
VIDEOS: The Instagram videos that I uploaded somehow got corrupted. 😦
PHOTOS:
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
Adidas Original ZXFLUX Experience and Cashmere Agency Present “Respect The West” Artist Showcase | The Well | 11/22/14 [Photos, Review and Video]
Words by Kate M. | Photos by @Methodman13
For the past several years, Adidas Originals and Cashmere Agency has hosted an annual, private artist showcase titled “Respect The West”. This year it was held at The Well in downtown Los Angeles on 11/22/14, and featured the performances of YG, Hit-Boy, Audio Push, Nipsey Hussle, BJ The Chicago Kid, Thurz, R.J., and Raven Felix. The evening was hosted by Fuzzy Fantab and Rikki Martinez and was one of the better hip-hop shows I have seen in a while because it had a veritable vibe compared to most shows. It was a fantastically organized and designed event! It was authentic hip-hop in an unaffected setting, a tight designer sneakers exhibition and a chill crowd past the ropes.
The Respect The West showcase was held in conjunction with Adidas Originals’ pop-up store, at the same location, giving shoe hawks the opportunity to check out adidas new line of ZXFLUX shoes with the aptly titled exhibit “The ZXFLUX Experience”. Our favorite shoe? The LA ZXFLUX Clippers design (editors note: The founder of MusicOfMyMind14 is a longtime, diehard Cippers fan…).
On this Downtown LA night, guests were lined up down the block to walk through the double glass doors with the Adidas logo at The Well. On other side of the glass doors you entered into a mahogany paneled exhibition room with white benches accenting the concrete floor and the ZX Flux line on display on the walls – dope sneakers! From the exhibition, down a short hallway, it changed from mahogany and white to an intimate warehouse music venue.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
I arrived during sound check to see a complete, but refreshingly unpretentious stage, white brick walls that looked like they had stories to tell, a concrete floor and double white steel doors to the outside.
My favorite spot was right in the front, stage right. From that vantage point, I could see each of the artists getting ready to take the stage. There were only about 5 minute breaks between sets which made the vibe even better because the artists were just being artists, flowing over with natural energy – no over-the-top production, no problem – guests were all in and responsive to the vibe. The bass was loud, the vocals were clear and the rap, and some R&B, was on!
Raven Felix | Facebook | Twitter
The night’s first performance was Raven Felix, a female MC from The Valley. Raven Felix has clear, rapid rhymes and her beats and vocals range from an ingénue tenor to commanding M.I.A. tones. Her lyrics, “I’m 16 and my sh*t’s clean. . . ” and it’s kind of true. I don’t know what her future holds but I liked her voice, awesome beats and confident performance. Her debut mixed tape is called “Valifornia,” how dope is that? I don’t know what sets her apart from other MCs, but she certainly has personality, a voice and talent and her delivery is clean.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
RJ | PU$HAZ INK MIXTAPES
Raven Felix was followed by RJ. I don’t know too much about him, other than he is an artist signed to YG and DJ Mustard’s record label, Pu$haz Ink. Rj definitely brought serious energy to the stage, jumping on top of the speaker system, getting the crowd hyped.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
Thurz | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Next up was Thurz. Thurz is so unique right now. This rapper throws down lyrics over beats that are funk and disco sounds. I think when his set started, people stopped a beat and turned to see what was going on and then got into the dance vibe. He also reminds me of The Roots, circa, “The Seed,” and his “Right Now” lyrics remind me of growing up in LA, “like the alley near Rosewood and Fairfax.” It’s really cool how he can rap clear, modern, relatable lyrics on an unexpected style of beats – dare I say there is a poet’s attitude in that?
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
Bj The Chicago Kid | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Wow, ya, Bj The Chicago Kid. I love this artist’s clean, muscular vocals and his classic R&B sound is commanding. When I listen to him do his thing, I don’t even feel time passing. The son of choir directors from Chicago, this kid has collaborated with artist such as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul. His style is full of Motown sounds with a modern perspective and modern collaborative beats. His voice is big and I don’t think he needed a microphone for this venue. I just wrote this and I’m going to listen to him again right now. “Good Luv’n,” “Real Love Never Dies,” “Go Girl, “Can’t Hold My Liquor.” Are you kidding me!? He’s soooooooo freakin’ goooood!
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
Audio Push | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Audio Push’s energy in all of their performances is unmatched. I have seen this rap duo twice and this performance was even better than the last one. Oktane and Price are Audio Push and I think style, rap and rhythms are the words I think when I want to describe these artists. They are in the studio now working on their next album and they performed tracks from their up-coming album, including a new track with Wale.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
Nipsey Hussle | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
This is the first time I saw Nipsey Hussle perform- I had even bought tickets once and had to miss the show, so I was looking forward to this one. Nispey is, after all, a prolific, successful and consistent rapper who embodies everything you would expect from the Southern California West Coast hip hop sound, so I had some expectations. He played a short, 3 song set, which was fine but it’s hard for me to really guage his performance based on such a short set. I expected him to want to own the stage, but this being my first time seeing him perform, I really couldn’t get any sense of his personality.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
Hit Boy | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Hit-Boy brings hits! Polished beats and rap sounds is what this man is about. He’s a sharp producer and he knows what he’s doing. You can tell by his laid back but powerful performance. This night he brought his HS87 crew up on stage to perform, as well, a showcase within a showcase of talent. He has produced for some of the biggest and most successful artists in hip hop and I love that he can perform, too. His performance was smooth and oozed laid back confidence. If you haven’t heard his tracks, listen, he’s so great if you can’t vibe to his sounds, I don’t know what to say.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
YG! Everyone who knows me, knows I love YG, and his performance had the hype I feel for him. He was authentic and he was in the moment with the crowd . . . . or maybe that was me thinking he was talking to me when he asked, “B*tch, who do you love?” Um, you, YG! Seriously, he was in the moment because I was there to witness him bringing the crowd into his rhythm, lyrics and energy. It was so easy to get lost in his performance in this unaffected setting. At times he rapped without beats behind him and that was mad awesome to hear! He performed his hits “My N*gga,” and, “Who Do You Love,“ and more. The YG and DJ Mustard collaboration (My Krazy Life) is about West Coast rap a with mainstream turnt up beats and you could really hear them this night. YG released his debut studio album this year, My Krazy Life, and followed it up with his first movie, a 30 minute short film and soundtrack, Blame it on the Streets, which recently screened at L.A.’s Chinese Theatre. I knew nothing about RJ of Pushaz Ink when he took the stage, but I am glad he took the stage twice. Why? Because I was fascinated by him and because his deep, clear, articulated vocal quality is easy to listen to and I think this quality is good for rap and I think it sets him apart. Even though he can hold his own, I wasn’t sure where he was coming from when he performed. I am going to keep my eye on him so I know better for next time, I would see him again, but would like to know more about him.
Be Sure To Check Out The Entire Photo Album Below!
VIDEO CLIPS:
PHOTOS:
Future Islands | The Wiltern | Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In LA” | 11/20/14 [Photos & Video]
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
THE ACT: Future Islands | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SOUNDS LIKE:
THOUGHTS: (Excerpted from the Full Length Concert Review that you can read by CLICKING HERE)
“[…] When Future Islands walked out on stage, you could tell that the crowd that was unmistakably on a mission to move and be moved. Singer Samuel Herring began with speaking a heartfelt introduction that bonded us both and served as preparation for a ceremony of unabashed intimacy.
[…]
[…] Between primal outbursts of energy, blessing the crowd, eating his own sweat, and a Hulk-like tear through his shirt, the shamanistic vocalist prodded out our repressions as he shared with us his confessions. Balloons released from above as the night came to a close and Future Islands made sure there wasn’t a single thing you hadn’t danced out by playing three encores. By the end of the performance, the air was thick with the sweat of released emotional baggage […].
PHOTOS:
VIDEO CLIPS:
To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE
#DKLPHOTOS 