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Showing posts with label February. Show all posts
Showing posts with label February. Show all posts

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Twenty One Pilots at The Troubadour




Show: Twenty One Pilots
Venue: Troubadour, Los Angeles
Date: 2/20/13
Show #8

Last night I went to see a band called Twenty One Pilots at The Troubadour. Never heard of them? Well learn their name, because they're going to be big. Twenty One Pilots are a pop/rock/punk/rap duo from Ohio currently signed to Fueled by Ramen. A friend had told me about these guys a few months ago and from the moment I watched their video for "Guns for Hands" (which is an awesome video!) I've had their album Vessel on loop and knew I had to see them live.

I missed the first opening band the Echo Smiths, but made it in time to see another buzzworthy band called New Politics from Denmark. They're known for their latest single "Harlem" which just got picked up by KROQ.

The lead singer had moves like (no, not Jagger) Tyson Ritter from the All American Rejects, and the drummer looks like Adam Levine, so in addition to their fun upbeat songs, they're also easy on the eyes. Also, the lead singer is quite the break dancer!




After New Politics came Twenty One Pilots. This was one of those shows you get a special feeling about and by the end you find yourself asking the question "Holy shit, what did I just witness?". This was their first time playing in Los Angeles, and they made it quite obvious this was show was a big deal for them. All the record exec big wigs were sitting in the balcony watching the show and crowd reaction with great intent. I'm proud to say I don't think the crowd could have been any better or more responsive and totally shattered the LA crowd stereotype all bands dread. When we were asked to jump, we jumped, when we were asked to scream, we wailed and when we were asked to go nuts, we lost it and given the amazing show we were all witnessing, it was easy.

They actually did something I have ALWAYS wanted to see a band do, and that's make fun of how everyone pretends to say this is their last song, when we all know they're going to come out and do an encore. Lead singer Tyler did just that. He said "I'm going to say this is our last song, you're going to say aww, boo! But we all know that's not true, and you'll all cheer and scream for one more song, and we'll play another one." In fact, when the cheering started for one more song, they didn't even leave the stage, and instead assisted in cheering for one more song, which they then of course did, and ended with "Guns for Hands". I thought it was funny that even after all of that, everyone still stuck around staring at the stage waiting for another song, as if to have a real encore, but that didn't happen.

One of my favorite songs of theirs is actually a slower number called "Car Radio", which I recorded:


Semi-Automatic






I can't wait for these guys to come back to LA (which I'm going to predict their next show will be at a much bigger venue... maybe the Wiltern?). Until then, go get their album Vessel!




Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Mat Kearney at The Mayan

Show: Mat Kearney
Venue: The Mayan, Los Angeles, CA
Date: 2/23/12
Show #8

I had the pleasure of seeing Mat Kearney at The Mayan last month. Where the hell is The Mayan you ask? It's definitely not on the list of normal LA venues. The Mayan is actually a nightclub downtown, which they turned into a concert venue for the night. This show was originally supposed to be at the Music Box in Hollywood, but it recently closed and is pending a renovation under new management, so they moved it here.

Great venue! If it weren't for Mayan markings everywhere you turn, I would have thought I was actually at the Music Box. Looked just like it. Same setup (gen admin floor, seating upstairs) and about the same size too. My only complaint was the distance from the barricade to the stage.

The opening act Robert Francis was so great! I highly recommend you check him out. He performed like a seasoned veteran who had been doing this all his life. The songs were catchy, gritty and soulful. I'll be keeping an eye out for him in the future, i'd love to see him again.

Mat was great as usual. He always looks so comfortable on stage and belts everything out so effortlessly. One of the big highlights was when he brought a fan on stage to perform with him. I always love seeing artists do that.

I took a ton of great videos from the show. They can all be seen on my YouTube page here.



Mat jumped off the stage into the crowd right in front of me in the middle of a song! I was a little caught off guard so the pic is a little blurry but you get the idea.





Sunday, February 26, 2012

Young The Giant at The Wiltern


Show: Young The Giant
Venue: The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
Date: 2/11/12
Show #7

I almost didn't make it to this show, on the count that I also went to The Fray this same night. I actually had this ticket first, but when The Fray added the Troubadour show, I knew that would have had to take priority over Young The Giant. However, instead of selling my ticket, I thought, hey, maybe I can make it to BOTH shows! People that I told this to thought I was crazy, and I'll admit I may have even agreed at one point but thought it was worth a shot. Long story short; as soon as The Fray finished, I sprinted out the door and hauled ass over to The Wiltern and made it for the last 45 minutes of the show! The guys scanning my ticket at the door gave me looks like "uhh do you know what time it is?".

Anyways, SO glad I got to see these guys! They sound amazing live. The lead singers voice is so unique, strong, and different, I was curious how it would stand up hearing him live and it was great! He has so much energy on stage, and I noticed that that from the moment I walked in, and even on a slower song because I could see the sweat dripping off of him from way in the back.

One of the best highlights were when Sexy Sax Man made an appearance! He did a little jig across the stage in the middle of a song, classic. Video below.


 The place just erupted when they did "My Body", myself included, so I apologize for the shaky video but I couldn't NOT move during that song! Video below.

Overall the show was a ton of fun (and I only saw 45 minutes!) and I highly recommend going to check them out if you get the chance.Sorry, no pictures due to getting there so late and being in the back, but I took a ton of videos!
Islands

Strings

Apartment

God Made Man

Sunday, February 12, 2012

The Fray at The Troubadour

Show: The Fray
Venue: Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA
Date: 2/11/12
Show #6

Last night, I was one of the lucky few who got to see The Fray live at the Troubadour. If you're not familiar with the Troubadour, it's an amazing small capacity venue in West Hollywood, CA. Tickets sold out instantly. To see a band as big as The Fray in such an intimate setting was one no one wanted to miss.

There was no opening act, just The Fray. They opened the set with one of my favorite songs "Turn Me On", off their new album "Scars and Stories" which came out on Tuesday.




















Some of the highlights of the night include:

1. "Never Say Never"/"Wannabe" mash up (Yes, as in The Spice Girls)


2. Isaac jumping off the stage to sing "Happiness" from the middle of the crowd (Video)

























3. Emmy Lou Harris coming out to perform "Boulder to Birmingham" (Video)






The show as a whole was amazing, and to top it all off, I got the set list!
























Videos I recorded last night:
"Turn Me On"
 
"The Wind"

"Rainy Zurich"
 

"Boulder to Birmingham"
 

"Run For Your Life"

"Happiness"

 More pictures