| L.P. Rocks It At The Viper Room Written by: D. E. Keith/ Photos by Sandra T. Molina |
Editor’s note:
Although this review was written during the summer, it still bears running now
since L.P. is still on tour throughout the end of the year. LP and her band
returned to Los Angeles on October 28 proving once again that her music is
creating a major buzz in this "hard-to-win-over- town."
Anyone who has attended a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles knows
that a flimsy excuse for a stage curtain is drawn around a rather small stage
before each act is introduced. Rarely does this practice build excitement or
anticipation for most performing Indie bands - that is until L.P. played
there on a Friday night in June.
L.P. is an Indie artist from New York. Rarely does an out-of-state Indie
artist draw much attention or a decent crowd in Los Angeles. Plus, a 10 p.m.
show isn't exactly the greatest time slot on a Friday night in any town,
including L.A. – until L.P. came to town.
Upon arriving at the Viper Room just in time to catch the not-so-
impressive nine o’clock main attraction, I anticipated that the decent-
sized crowd would start to dissipate before L.P.’s set. Instead the crowd
grew! Even more impressive, the crowd continued to grow even after
L.P. kicked into her opening number. And this crowd was actually paying
attention, listening and getting into the musical energy of the band.
What on earth could cause this type of reaction? Is it even possible without
any radio or ad exposure? All I can say is - Thank God for the Internet! That
should give you an idea as to the incredible talent of this artist and her band.
L.P, has an awesome vocal style and range. She is also a powerful songwriter
and her stage presence is mesmerizing. She has a Jagger-esque androgynous
sexual appeal that is rarely seen in most artists today – Indie or mainstream.
She projects this sexual quality from center stage, and she isn’t shy about
flirting and enticing both male and females in the audience – all with a sly grin
on her face giving you the impression that everyone is fair game.
If that isn’t enough for you, check out her band. L.P. and company
are incredibly strong musicians. These guys know how to effortlessly weave
their riffs around each others individual style and make the overall effect
throb with delight. The throbbing rhythm is powerful and the sound is tight,
tight, tight baby! With every song, the entire band worked the crowd into a
frenzy, building tension and excitement while promising release and they
delivered. By the end of their set, both the band and the crowd were wet
and physically spent.
I came to this show with no real expectations having only heard a little of L.P.
on the Internet. By the end of her show, I was impressed beyond words with
both her and her band. Their music and impressive live performance held me
somewhat spellbound and I wasn’t alone – the Viper Room crowd was equally
impressed - milling about hoping for more. If that isn’t enough for you, try
listening to L.P.'s latest release and see if you can stop humming it in the
shower. www.lprock.com
Although this review was written during the summer, it still bears running now
since L.P. is still on tour throughout the end of the year. LP and her band
returned to Los Angeles on October 28 proving once again that her music is
creating a major buzz in this "hard-to-win-over- town."
Anyone who has attended a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles knows
that a flimsy excuse for a stage curtain is drawn around a rather small stage
before each act is introduced. Rarely does this practice build excitement or
anticipation for most performing Indie bands - that is until L.P. played
there on a Friday night in June.
L.P. is an Indie artist from New York. Rarely does an out-of-state Indie
artist draw much attention or a decent crowd in Los Angeles. Plus, a 10 p.m.
show isn't exactly the greatest time slot on a Friday night in any town,
including L.A. – until L.P. came to town.
Upon arriving at the Viper Room just in time to catch the not-so-
impressive nine o’clock main attraction, I anticipated that the decent-
sized crowd would start to dissipate before L.P.’s set. Instead the crowd
grew! Even more impressive, the crowd continued to grow even after
L.P. kicked into her opening number. And this crowd was actually paying
attention, listening and getting into the musical energy of the band.
What on earth could cause this type of reaction? Is it even possible without
any radio or ad exposure? All I can say is - Thank God for the Internet! That
should give you an idea as to the incredible talent of this artist and her band.
L.P, has an awesome vocal style and range. She is also a powerful songwriter
and her stage presence is mesmerizing. She has a Jagger-esque androgynous
sexual appeal that is rarely seen in most artists today – Indie or mainstream.
She projects this sexual quality from center stage, and she isn’t shy about
flirting and enticing both male and females in the audience – all with a sly grin
on her face giving you the impression that everyone is fair game.
If that isn’t enough for you, check out her band. L.P. and company
are incredibly strong musicians. These guys know how to effortlessly weave
their riffs around each others individual style and make the overall effect
throb with delight. The throbbing rhythm is powerful and the sound is tight,
tight, tight baby! With every song, the entire band worked the crowd into a
frenzy, building tension and excitement while promising release and they
delivered. By the end of their set, both the band and the crowd were wet
and physically spent.
I came to this show with no real expectations having only heard a little of L.P.
on the Internet. By the end of her show, I was impressed beyond words with
both her and her band. Their music and impressive live performance held me
somewhat spellbound and I wasn’t alone – the Viper Room crowd was equally
impressed - milling about hoping for more. If that isn’t enough for you, try
listening to L.P.'s latest release and see if you can stop humming it in the
shower. www.lprock.com
| Girlyman Prove Their Mettle In California Written by: D. E. Keith/ Photos by Sandra T. Molina |
In the past, one held one’s breath and wondered when seeing and hearing
the opening act at an Indigo Girls show with a few exceptions – namely
Michelle Malone. It’s safe to say the girls have some pretty eclectic tastes
when it comes to choosing their opening act. So it’s not surprising
that some IDG fans approach the opening act with a little trepidation.
Imagine the surprise that some fans felt after Girlyman took the stage at
\The Vault in Long Beach, CA. This talented trio performed a fun, laid back
acoustic set of soulful bitter sweet songs. Not only are they talented
songwriters and musicians – their vocal harmonies are second only to the
Indigo Girls. It is no wonder why Amy Ray – whose Daemon Record
label features this New York trio, invited them on the tour.
www.daemonrecords.com/index.htm
Girlyman set the musical tone by warming up the crowd for a relaxed
evening of splendid entertainment. They have a down-to-earth friendly
stage presence that put the audience in the mood. The stellar moment of
their set was their rendition of Dusty Springfield’s classic “Son of a
Preacher Man.” It was so perfect that even Dusty would be proud.
It was an extra treat when Girlyman was invited to sing with the girls on
stage for several numbers. To hear all those incredible voices come together
was almost spiritual. The evening passed way too quickly for the packed
crowd but it was nice to see this young trio greeting their fans - old and
new - and signing autographs after the show. Check out this awesome act
at: www.girlyman.com/
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
Copyright S. T. Molina 2005
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| Got Live |