indie – #DKLPHOTOS

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:

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PHOTOS:

Chet Faker | Red Bull Sound Select "30 Days In LA"

Chet Faker & Goldlink | Red Bull Sound Select "30 Days In LA"

To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE

December 16, 2014January 26, 2015 by dklee13 Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | Videos, ReviewsTags: #30DaysInLA, 30 Days In L.A., 30 Days In LA, Australia, band, Built On Glass, Chet Faker, concert, Concert Photo, Concert Photographer, Concert Photography, concert photos, concert pic, concert pics, concert review, indie, indie rock, kcrw, Live Music, Mack Sennett Studios, Nicholas Jame Murphy, Nick Murphy, NPR, photos, pics, Red Bull, Red Bull Sound Select, Review, set list, setlist, sounds like James Blake, sounds like Tom Krell, synthesizers Leave a comment

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:

James Supercave | Red Bull Sound Select "30 Days In LA"

To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE

December 13, 2014January 26, 2015 by dklee13 Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | Videos, ReviewsTags: #30DaysInLA, 30 Days In L.A., 30 Days In LA, alternative rock, Andrés Villalobos, band, concert, Concert Photographer, Concert Photography, concert photos, concert pics, concert review, indie, indie rock, James Supercave, Joaquin Pastor, Patrick Logothetti, photos, pics, Red Bull, Red Bull Sound Select, Review, Richy Epolito, synthesizers Leave a comment

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:

denitia and sene. | Red Bull Sound Select "30 Days In LA"

To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE

December 13, 2014January 26, 2015 by dklee13 Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | Videos, ReviewsTags: #30DaysInLA, 30 Days In L.A., 30 Days In LA, band, Brian "Sene" Marc, concert, Concert Photographer, Concert Photography, concert photos, concert pics, concert review, denitia and sene, Denitia Odigie, indie, photos, pics, R&B, Red Bull, Red Bull Sound Select, Review, synthesizers Leave a comment

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:

Phosphorescent | Red Bull Sound Select "30 Days In LA"

VIDEOS:

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To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE

December 12, 2014January 26, 2015 by dklee13 Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | Videos, ReviewsTags: #30DaysInLA, 30 Days In L.A., 30 Days In LA, band, concert, Concert Photographer, Concert Photography, concert photos, concert pics, concert review, concert video, indie, Matthew Houck, Phosphorescent, photos, pics, Red Bull, Red Bull Sound Select, Review Leave a comment

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 →

December 11, 2014January 30, 2015 by dklee13 Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | Videos, ReviewsTags: #30DaysInLA, 30 Days In L.A., 30 Days In LA, band, concert, Concert Photographer, Concert Photography, concert photos, concert pics, concert review, concert video, indie, Kyle Field, Little Wings, photos, pics, Red Bull, Red Bull Sound Select, Review Leave a comment

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:

Shy Girls | Red Bull Sound Select "30 Days In LA"

To Check Out Other Bands We Caught During Red Bull Sound Selects “30 Days In LA” CLICK HERE

December 10, 2014January 26, 2015 by dklee13 Categories: Concerts, Pictorials | Videos, ReviewsTags: #30DaysInLA, 30 Days In L.A., 30 Days In LA, band, bootleg bar, bootleg theater, concert, Concert Photographer, Concert Photography, concert photos, concert pics, concert review, dan vidmar, indie, photos, pics, R and B, R&B, Red Bull, Red Bull Sound Select, Review, second heartbeat, seductive music, sexy music, shy girls, Slow Jams, soul, soul music, voyeur's gaze Leave a comment

Machine | The Garage | 10/1/14 [Photos and Video]

THE ACT: Machine | Facebook | Instagram

SOUNDS LIKE:

THOUGHTS: For a new band, booking venues to play a gig is a hell of a task. I learned that recently when I tried helping a friend’s band out.

A few months ago, the drummer of a band I’m really into (Hopeless Jack and the Handsome Devil) let me know that he played in another band that was setting up a regional tour. The name of the band was Machine, a power duo consisting of Pete Thomas on Drums and Madeline Mahrie on vocals and keys. Though they are just a duo (like Hopeless Jack and the Handsome Devil), their sound is lush and mysterious. If you could make a music-baby from the genes of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, you may get something like Machine.

Being the naive optimist that I am, I told him that I thought I could help them find a place to play in Los Angeles. After weeks of looking, though I had the notion before, I fully realized that money talks, and when you don’t have the cash (or can’t guarantee patrons – even on a Wednesday), you don’t get the stage. Thankfully, I was able to find them a place to play (Thanks, Rob, I owe you a Jack … or two).

Pete and Madeline played for a small crowd, but played like they were playing for their lives. Even in front of a modest crowd, Madeline poured her soul out as she pounded away at her keys (a REAL portable piano, the first I’d ever seen). Because of the venue’s architecture (glass windows all around, which amplifies and the natural sound of the room), Pete had to reign in the amount of force with which he could bash his drums, but that controlled aggression came through, at least to me, in the performance, adding an even more intense depth to the music.

Madeline’s performance was a revelation. While watching her perform, I could only think to myself, “There should really be more people here to watch this music come to life.” There’s an audience for her music and I wanted so badly for more people to witness it. I wasn’t the only one impressed wight he performance. In fact, a woman who books events ended up exchanging contact information with the band with the hopes of booking them for a “Superbowl” event next year. See … I’m not the only one who loved their sound.

Take a peek at some of the video clips that I snipped together below. The lighting makes it difficult to see the performance, but it doesn’t matter. Just listen.

VIDEO:

PHOTOS: I used my 50mm prime lens, set my aperture to 1.4 and adjusted my ISO to the highest it would go on my camera. I’m realizing that I need a better camera for these situations. The photos didn’t come out nearly as well as I would have liked, and, heaven forbid, I converted a couple photos to black and white (something that I am not that fond of doing). Oh well … just more impetus for me to catch them again the next time they are in Los Angeles. Hopefully, by then they’ll have a venue with better lighting …. or I’ll have purchased a new camera. We’ll see.

October 21, 2014 by dklee13 Categories: ConcertsTags: concert video, gypsy jazz, indie, Machine, Madeline Mahrie, Peter Thomas, piano, Portland, rock n' roll, rock your socks off, Sex with Sound Leave a comment

Shy Girls | The Spare Room and Bootleg Bar | 12/12/13 and 12/13/13

I was driving around town while listening to KCRW when the silky vocals and opening keyboard chord progression of a smooth jam gently flowed through my car’s speaker circuits. A rhythm guitar stealthily crept in, sweeping into a late 80’s, early 90’s, drum program with a subtle flourish line added to the chords that caught my attention. I know it’s dangerous to fiddle with your phone while driving, but I had to open up Shazam to find out who the artist was. It was Shy Girls and the track was “Voyeurs Gaze”. A throwback to the smooth R&B I grew up with.

When I got home, I immediately got online to listen to more tracks by Shy Girls. After listening to tracks from their latest EP “Timeshare”, I pulled out my credit card and purchased the LP. I’m selective about the vinyl that I buy, only purchasing records that I could let the pin drop and let play without having to get back up to skip tracks. For me, “Timeshare” was one of those albums.

After finding the artist’s Facebook page, I noticed that they had two scheduled performances the following week in Los Angeles, one at the Spare Room and the other at the Bootleg Bar. Being that the artist was from Portland, Oregon, I decided that this may be my only chance to see them perform for a while, so I planned on attending both shows.

I had a feeling that the shows would have been perfect for a date with a significant other, but c’est la vie en Los Angeles. The music is sensual. Being single, and living in Los Angeles (where convincing people that the music you like is in fact good is like pulling teeth), I’ll admit that I had second thoughts at the idea of going solo. I shrugged it off.

I was right. On both nights, Dan Vidmar and his band brought a mood I haven’t heard at a concert since I saw at Maxwell at the Hollywood Bowl. Like Maxwell, Dan Vidmar made good use of his breathy, falsetto singing engaging the audience to willingly become seduced. If I were at the show with a date, I would have made my move after the first song.

If “Timeshare” is the precursor to a full length album, there’s a lot for me to look forward to, and hopefully, by the time he goes on tour to support that album, I’ll have a date for the show.

The lighting in the venues was extremely difficult to deal with, but I did what I could. Unfortunately, the Flickr slideshow below is not currently available on mobile devices. If you are on a mobile device, please click THIS LINK to get redirected to the set of photos.

December 31, 2013 by dklee13 Categories: ConcertsTags: band, bootleg bar, bootleg theater, concert, concert pics, dan vidmar, indie, Maxwell, music, photos, pics, R and B, R&B, Review, second heartbeat, seductive music, sexy music, shy girls, silverlake, soul, soul music, still not falling, under attack, video, voyeur's gaze, when I say I love u, without 1 Comment

Dead Sara | The Port Of Los Angeles | September 14, 2013

Click here to check out the other blog entries I wrote up for the bands (The Section Quartet, Nightmare & The Cat and Deap Vally) I was able to catch at the 2013 Port Of Los Angeles Lobster Festival.

Dead Sara: THE reason why I went to Lobster Fest at the Port of Los Angeles in the first place. I saw Dead Sara at the El Rey earlier this year, and their show kicked ass. In fact, it’s probably in my top 5 for “best shows of the year” in terms of sheer, overall awesomeness. My only regret from that show was that I wasn’t able to get a decent picture of Siouxie Medley shredding on her guitar.

Objective for their Lobster Fest gig? Snap that elusive picture while avoiding an elbow to the chest in the pit. LOL. I met up with members of the The DEADicated and joined them upfront against the railing. One of the members had been there since noon so as to ensure getting a front row spot. Now, THAT’s dedication.

Dead Sara have been in the studio recording new tracks for their next album and everybody there knew it. A lot of the conversations before their set consisted of “What do you think they’ll be playing?” and “Do you think they’ll play any of their new stuff?”. The anticipation was high. Extremely high.

As Dead Sara took the stage to set up, I shouted, “I love you Siouxie!” then ducked behind another member of the DEADicated. I noticed Siouxie look up from tuning her guitar, but I didn’t point myself out. Talk about total, juvenile crush move there. Actually getting embarrassed thinking about it. LOL. I noticed to my left that there was a young girl and her father. I warned them that the crowd up front may start to get a little rowdy when the music got more intense, and told them that I’d do my best to make sure that his daughter wasn’t trampled.

The set started, and Emily started with the more mellow “Sorry For It All”, but as soon as the guitar lick for “Test On My Patience” kicked in next, the crowd started to swell and get anxious. As soon as “Monumental Holiday” started, the moshing commenced. I’ll admit, it was kinda tough to take pictures, protect the little girl next to me, and mosh, but really, it’s hard to care when you love the music so much. After “Monumental Holiday”, Dead Sara unveiled, to the crowd’s delight, one of their new songs “Mona Lisa”. Two songs later they unveiled another named “Greaser”. Videos taken of each are immediately below:

After “Greaser”, I decided to leave my spot up front and see if I could get better shots elsewhere. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and by that time, the battery in my camera had expired. C’est la vie. I was able to get a few cool shots of band, and Siouxsie, but I still feel like I can get better with my Sony Cybershot. Well … looks like I’ll have to catch them again when they start gigging later this year. Ohhh, yeah … late November maybe? At least those are the rumors …