Certain Songs

I think I have found my favorite Los Angeles venue so far. I already loved the Troubadour before ever setting foot inside of the place, just knowing it's history and the legendary list of people who have played there. But once inside, it just got so much better. Such a fan friendly set up...and the sound was perfect all night.

Jesca Hoop opened the show and was mesmerizing. Such a beautiful voice, backed by a subdued but capable band, it was clear that her voice was the star of the show. I literally couldn't walk during her entire 40 minutes on stage. She was radiant. The songs she played off of her debut album 'Kismet' sounded even better live.

Then just a few minutes after 10 Matt Pond PA took the stage. First thing I noticed is that the band configuration has changed quite a bit. I have seen them twice before, both times with multiple strings players. Now they play as a tight 4 piece and seem to play with a LOT more intensity. This was by far the best I have heard the boys sound. The highlights were 'Sunlight' and 'Taught To Look Away' from Last Light, the new record....and 'So Much Trouble' and 'Halloween' off of Several Arrows Later.

A great night all the way around....now to catch my breath for a couple of days before Lucero on Saturday night :-)

The title of this post is an absolute untruth. But in my music obsessed mind, i tend to think in song lyrics...and this is what hit me tonight.

I love it when it rains in Los Angeles. I have been here for almost 2 and 1/2 months and this is the second time I have seen rain. It's like a postcard from home. It's a great metaphor for this town actually...no matter how hard LA tries to be bulletproof...there are still some things that are just out of its control. SO many people in this town are all style, no substance. So when it rains...I love to watch all of the beautiful people go running and screaming, as if this was another Pearl Harbor going down...if a little bit of water falling from the sky ruin's your evening...I don't want to know you...not at all.

So I do indeed love Los Angeles...but I think I will choose to stay grounded in my Midwestern roots...where substance definitely has the upper hand over style.