La Roux @ the El Rey 10.19.09

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Just a warning that Elly has been feeling ill and can only perform a short set tonight...so give it up for La Roux!"

FUCK.

I was really looking forward to dancing it up tonight...especially after all that free champagne and dessert we consumed at Capitol City (Monday night sports bars, guys just wanna buy you drinks after their team wins).

I had a lovely "plot of real estate" to the left of the stage and was rarin' to go. Alas, Elly Jackson, with her signature red peacock hair and enlarged cameo necklace, announced after the cheers and hollers that she "flew all the way to Los Angeles and can barely sing" ....but put on a great show regardless.

La Roux is a duo band (tonight there were 4 on stage) with singer Elly Jackson and synth player Ben Langmaid. The band's name originates from Elly's red hair and French heritage (roux is the French male form of "redhead"). Their music is a total 80's flashback, folks...a real guilty pleasure. Who doesn't like to wear sparkles and dance to synthpop?

She opened with "Quicksand"...then went to "I'm Not Your Toy"..."Saviour"...."Colourless Color" and ended with her two hits "In For The Kill" (in which she experienced her first "dance randoms" on stage) and "Bulletproof" in which a little girl dressed in a green and blue bubble unitard sang along - and knew all the words!

Little girl in bubble outfit singing "Bulletproof"

Blitzen Trapper. El Rey. 9.28.09

THE DUKE SPIRIT/BAND OF SKULLS / THE EL REY / 8.1.09

The line was down the street for the opening band, Band of Skulls, who have recently gained loads of popularity due to the vocal duelings of Emma Richardson and Russell Marsden. (A mention as "band to watch" in Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair, and an exclusive song in the upcoming soundtrack to New Moon). Richardson has been compared to Karen O and Patti Smith, and keeps getting better as the band plays around town.

Leila Moss, lead singer of The Duke Spirit, kept the energy going with songs like "Into The Fold" and "The Step and the Walk." She jumped barefoot on stage with a sparkly top and leather mini-shorts. Those who did not attend the Mew show at the Troubadour were all at the El Rey to support both Shangri-La Records bands (kudos to the label for throwing a free after party at HMS Bounty). Overall it was a fun concert-going experience.

Alexi Murdoch. El Rey. April 8, 2009.

The outside of the El Rey looks like a ghost town as we approach. There is no line of concert-goers waiting outside. No one hanging out at the restaurant patio (which, btw, has changed once again. This time to Indian-Tex Mex cuisine. The menu looks quite tasty). The upstairs is closed. No line at the bar. WTF, mate?

We missed the opening act, The Portland Cello Project...but decided we didn't miss out on much when we asked our friends how they were and they responded with a shrug.

It was a very quiet crowd. When Alexi took the stage with his band, the crowd swaying began. Needless to say, it was a sleepy show. Alexi is a poor man's Nick Drake with a side of Bert Jansch. We admire his recent 2 year stint in the Himalayas, but his music doesn't bring much flare to our iPods. There are uber fans of Alexi, but we don't think he is anything to flip over. We laughed at the serious followers chanting "my salvation is in your love" in between making out with their lovers.

Once we left the venue, a usually very opinionated Jackson said nothing until we got home, then spat out, "That was so fucking boring." He thinks if you're gonna see a show live like that, you may as well spend money on Iron & Wine or Califone. Or as Angelic would prefer, be a seated show.

We did have time to draw a penis, drink a few drinks (the non existent line at the bar worked to our advantage) and make friends with the rowdy couple chanting "sing Orange Sky!" Or as we like to call it, "Pinky-Orange Moon-Sky."