Still Corners (and the not-so-still Night) at the Roxy

Last night Still Corners performed to a (not-so-still) audience at the Roxy. The first day of fall in Los Angeles was warm, yet gusty, with winds like no other blowing about Sunset Blvd. all through the night. I hadn’t been to the Roxy in over a year, and looked forward to making the trip to this iconic Hollywood institution on a Thursday evening. Many people of all ages from moms to middle schoolers came out to catch this London-based synth-pop group.

I arrived in time for opening act, Kid Bloom. This valley-grown group got the crowd grooving to their psych-pop tunes. Although the singer was stretching a little in his vocal abilities, he did his best to make up for it by running his hands through his beachy shoulder-length hair and lifting his shirt in singing agony multiple times. The crowd didn’t seem to mind.

Tour-mate Foxes in Fiction took the stage next and changed up the atmosphere with dreamy visual soundscapes. He appeared to play one continuous piece of music that were three individual tracks and was cut off slightly abruptly by the punk stage manager.

Still Corners opened with Strange Pleasures, and the audience responded almost immediately. Overall, their tracks are largely mellow, danceable at times, but something I’d intuitively sway to. Those who pre-gamed had very different instincts. A small group of people in the middle of the audience made it their mission to take the spotlight from the performers by being loud, shouting requests, bumping into people, and even attempting to stage dive at one point. Another young man slurred comments into my ear for a part of the show, and wouldn’t stop talking until I moved, and even after that onto his next victim. And I know  most of this is my own judgment and even projection. Maybe there’s a part of me that would like to uninhibitedly let loose and feel the music THAT much. But where’s the line between sharing enthusiasm with a performer and being downright obnoxious? I’d love to hear your thoughts! (Yes, YOU!)

Still Corner’s show was absolutely breathtaking, even with the audience distractions. I particularly enjoyed the closing performance of The Trip. They came out for a soft encore and just like that the night was over, and the Roxy spat us out into the breeze-filled night.

Watch Still Corners play The Trip here:

 

 

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High Highs, Cascades

 

AHH_FA_ITUNES-640x640ustralia native and Brooklyn based band, the High Highs released their latest album, Cascades late last year.
Filled with dreamy-pop tracks and ethereal male voices, Cascades is very similar to their previous album, Open Season. The first few times I listened to this album, I didn’t find it quite so captivating. I went to see the High Highs live, and that’s when I was able to appreciate the level of musicality it requires to produce an album of such subtle qualities.

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Seoul, I Become A Shade

 

SeoulI keep coming back and listening to this stunning album, I Become A Shade by indie dream-pop Montreal band, Seoul. This is one of those albums that really should be listened to in its entirety, as each song’s end leads into the next. The first song, “I Become a Shade” starts with dreamy vocals and ads some M83 inspired inverted arpeggios, this time repeating the verse of the music, then leading into the next song, “the Line” in after less than two minutes, which picks up the tempo of the album. Continue reading

The High Highs (…and NoHo Joe)

 

Last Tuesday, I caught the High Highs performing with Mothlight at the Bootleg Theater. This is not only a testament to the joys of seeing live music, but also an encouragement to have the courage to go solo!

I showed up on my own right about when the doors opened and headed for the bar. The woman from behind the bar with really short hair turned to me—it was Kera! Struck, I exclaimed, “Kera! From Kera and the Lesbians…and Avid Dancer!” We shared a brief but nice moment in which I told her I was a fan and truly enjoyed her band’s performance at Girlschool Field Day Weekend. She went on to serve others. Continue reading