Best Coast Live at The Wiltern
I've already raved over Best Coast's fourth album (and yes, "Fade Away" is most definitely included as a full blown album), and their first since signing to a major label, "California Nights" which is both so unmistakably a Best Coast album and one which gloriously builds upon and affirms the sophistication and maturity shown on 2013's "Fade Away…"
Having only seen the band play at the myriad of smaller (and intimate) venues that are scattered throughout LA and its environs, I approached Saturday evening's gig at The Wiltern with just a little apprehension. The Wiltern can be an unforgiving venue - the acoustics can be a little hit and miss - I've seen bands, excellent bands - struggle in the half-filled venue… Needn't have worried, with the house-full notices posted long in advance, a queue was already stretching literally all the way around the block when Mrs Blog and myself arrived (and which ensured there was already a buzzing crowd for the support act) and to say that a 'Grrr-reat' time was had by all would be in an understatement for a gig that I suspect could well be one of the best that I'll attend this year…
It always help when the support act has the crowd eating out of their hands. Such was the case with Bully, the Nashville quartet fronted by Alicia Bognanno and whose debut album "Feels Like" was released earlier in the week (and now added to my collection) won over the crowd from the opening bars of their first number.
Having only seen the band play at the myriad of smaller (and intimate) venues that are scattered throughout LA and its environs, I approached Saturday evening's gig at The Wiltern with just a little apprehension. The Wiltern can be an unforgiving venue - the acoustics can be a little hit and miss - I've seen bands, excellent bands - struggle in the half-filled venue… Needn't have worried, with the house-full notices posted long in advance, a queue was already stretching literally all the way around the block when Mrs Blog and myself arrived (and which ensured there was already a buzzing crowd for the support act) and to say that a 'Grrr-reat' time was had by all would be in an understatement for a gig that I suspect could well be one of the best that I'll attend this year…
It always help when the support act has the crowd eating out of their hands. Such was the case with Bully, the Nashville quartet fronted by Alicia Bognanno and whose debut album "Feels Like" was released earlier in the week (and now added to my collection) won over the crowd from the opening bars of their first number.
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| Bully's Alicia Bognanno |
This band are tight - very tight - play straight-up no-bullshit guitar-fuelled alt-rock with a strong nineties / noughties twist and let's just say that Alicia - armed with a voice that is equally at home with a lilting melody as well as a raucous shriek honed by gargling on a single malt and razor blades - can belt-out a tune with the best of them. Their songs are short, sweet and to the point - boy do they hit this spot - and which not only went down a storm with an appreciative audience, but will I suspect be blasting out of my car stereo tomorrow morning… The band have already announced an extensive tour for September and October which culminates at the Echo, $10 for a ticket never made more sense…
Now you can tell how good a gig is when a nigh-on twenty-odd song, hour and a half set passes in a blur. Too many great songs, too few column inches to mention them all… With Best Coast augmented to a touring five-piece that created a blistering wall of their trademark West Coast guitar-driven indie-pop, what better way for Bethany and Bobb to open proceedings - on the tour's closing night, in Los Angeles - than with the anthem to the Angelino way of life, "The only place?" Unsurprisingly the set highlights the new album, "Heaven sent" and "Fine without you" reinforce what a stunning album "California Nights" is - the former featuring a great tumbling jam to bring the song to a close. But it's not just about the new album - all the old favourites get a well deserved workout, "Do You Love Me Like You Used To" (you know it's going to be a good gig when your S.O. turns to you and tells you that she really loves this song), "Crazy", "No one like you" - all delivered with such gusto - the haunting "Dreaming my life way" complete with a gorgeous tremolo guitar spot from Mr Bruno…
Now you can tell how good a gig is when a nigh-on twenty-odd song, hour and a half set passes in a blur. Too many great songs, too few column inches to mention them all… With Best Coast augmented to a touring five-piece that created a blistering wall of their trademark West Coast guitar-driven indie-pop, what better way for Bethany and Bobb to open proceedings - on the tour's closing night, in Los Angeles - than with the anthem to the Angelino way of life, "The only place?" Unsurprisingly the set highlights the new album, "Heaven sent" and "Fine without you" reinforce what a stunning album "California Nights" is - the former featuring a great tumbling jam to bring the song to a close. But it's not just about the new album - all the old favourites get a well deserved workout, "Do You Love Me Like You Used To" (you know it's going to be a good gig when your S.O. turns to you and tells you that she really loves this song), "Crazy", "No one like you" - all delivered with such gusto - the haunting "Dreaming my life way" complete with a gorgeous tremolo guitar spot from Mr Bruno…
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| Best Coast tear up The Wiltern |
But ultimately the evening was a celebration of "California Nights" and the live rendition of the album's magical title song reinforces my unshaken belief that this is not only the best song that Bethany has ever written, it is perhaps one of the best songs of the year; there's the shimmering "majesty of Feeling OK", the heartfelt and questioning "Jealously" before the set comes to a close with the rocking version of "When will I change" that features a crescendo of guitars and which ends - in reality not until the band come back on for their much-demanded and well-deserved encore - with a wailing, deafening of wall of feedback.
The band encore with a cover of Oasis' "Hindu Times" (it takes Mrs Blog a few seconds to work out why this song sounds so familiar) before bringing the house down with "Boyfriend" as Bobb Bruno truly demonstrates that he is my guitar hero. It's been a while since I've seen a crowd so in to every song - often there's always someone texting on a cellphone, chatting (loudly!) with a friend, but not tonight - all eyes and ears were focused on the stage. The whole floor and not just the mosh was one sea of heaving, swaying bodies. It was also a brilliant opportunity to hear songs from the latest album played check by jowl with those that got me hooked on the band in the first place. And while there has been a noticeable musical progression and maturity (as Bethany has wryly remarked, this tends to come with age), the pair have also stayed faithful to their musical roots and influences.
So hometown gig, big expectant crowd - as Bethany is moved to remark, LA is perhaps the only place she could get away with sequinned tights - but then what else is a triumphant homecoming queen supposed to wear?
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