Los Angeles was a busy town this past week, due to Coachella's two consecutive weekends of nonstop music. While bands waited for the second weekend to arrive, many played shows in and around LA, which is great for those of us who prefer to take a rain check on the whole Coachella experience. I went to Coachella a couple of years ago, and decided that if I ever go back, it's gonna have to be in style. The sun was intense, and the tent was an oven-plus we only had one little square of land to fit our car and two tents, not leaving a lot of room for much else. So next time, I'm talking RV with AC… shoot, hopefully I'll be playing the festival by then!
Anyway, instead of Coachella, we decided to see who was playing locally this week. To start was a tried and true favorite of mine, the funky duo known as Chromeo. Promoting their forthcoming album, White Women, these two kept it dancy and fun the whole time, playing some new tunes along with their hits like "Needy Girl" and "Fancy Footwork". The lead singer/guitarist, Dave1, isn't a phenomenal singer, but makes up for it showmanship. What makes Chromeo unique is the other member, P-Thugg, and his talkbox. It's slippery sound against the other synths and drum machines makes Chromeo stand out against another electro pop band out there. Pure fun, dance, and nothing but good times.
Next was Broken Bells, with just as many synths and drum machines as Chromeo, but used in an entirely different way. While Chromeo kept you energized and in the moment, Broken Bells mellowed you out and took you to another world. The group, consisting of Danger Mouse and James Mercer of the Shins (along with some other players for the live show), was accompanied by swirling light shows and trippy graphics. Between just four guys and various changing of instruments, they created a symphony of music, with Mercer's effect-filled voice floating on top of it all. The two are not much for hyping up a crowd, saying barely anything the whole night, but they let the music do most of the talking, and it was magical.
However, by far the most electrifying performance was the third show we saw, from an artist who didn't actually play Coachella, but was in town all the same. His name was Sam Smith, a young British singer who has just started to break into the spotlight. It did not seem to matter that Smith's first full album hasn't even come out yet, because the roar inside the venue was deafening. This artist had barely been on the scene, yet people were SO excited. How is it that Chromeo was putting out its fourth fantastic album, and the amazing supergroup of Danger Mouse and James Mercer played a killer show, yet neither crowd was as jacked as this one? I put on my thinking cap…
Smith's band was great, but nothing out of the norm.
The songs are excellent and catchy, but subject wise, are nothing new and fairly simple.
He's got a cool look, but isn't overwhelming good looking.
What did he have the other two bands didn't have?
A truly incredible voice. When it comes down to the facts, an incredible voice (no effects, or auto tune) kills people. The songs could have been written 50 years ago (I mean, one of his big songs is called "Stay With Me"….really? thats it?), but it doesn't matter, because his voice connected emotionally to what he was singing, and he did it beautifully. Without a doubt, Sam Smith is here to stay, and only getting bigger.
There's more ways than ever to make music these days and actually find some success. The internet ties us all together, and technology makes creating even easier than before. But what's always going to separate the men from the boys is true talent, especially a voice. All three bands were amazing at what they do, but when the spotlight shines on the voice, it shines brighter than anything else. Gosh, I hate to make singers feel any more special than they already do. Just kidding…So if you play music, or especially write music, don't get too carried away on production, or the crazy chord changes...give the voice words and melodies that make it shine, and you'll touch your audience more than any other thing you could do. It's the clearest way to reach the soul, and always will be.
Anyway, instead of Coachella, we decided to see who was playing locally this week. To start was a tried and true favorite of mine, the funky duo known as Chromeo. Promoting their forthcoming album, White Women, these two kept it dancy and fun the whole time, playing some new tunes along with their hits like "Needy Girl" and "Fancy Footwork". The lead singer/guitarist, Dave1, isn't a phenomenal singer, but makes up for it showmanship. What makes Chromeo unique is the other member, P-Thugg, and his talkbox. It's slippery sound against the other synths and drum machines makes Chromeo stand out against another electro pop band out there. Pure fun, dance, and nothing but good times.
Next was Broken Bells, with just as many synths and drum machines as Chromeo, but used in an entirely different way. While Chromeo kept you energized and in the moment, Broken Bells mellowed you out and took you to another world. The group, consisting of Danger Mouse and James Mercer of the Shins (along with some other players for the live show), was accompanied by swirling light shows and trippy graphics. Between just four guys and various changing of instruments, they created a symphony of music, with Mercer's effect-filled voice floating on top of it all. The two are not much for hyping up a crowd, saying barely anything the whole night, but they let the music do most of the talking, and it was magical.
However, by far the most electrifying performance was the third show we saw, from an artist who didn't actually play Coachella, but was in town all the same. His name was Sam Smith, a young British singer who has just started to break into the spotlight. It did not seem to matter that Smith's first full album hasn't even come out yet, because the roar inside the venue was deafening. This artist had barely been on the scene, yet people were SO excited. How is it that Chromeo was putting out its fourth fantastic album, and the amazing supergroup of Danger Mouse and James Mercer played a killer show, yet neither crowd was as jacked as this one? I put on my thinking cap…
Smith's band was great, but nothing out of the norm.
The songs are excellent and catchy, but subject wise, are nothing new and fairly simple.
He's got a cool look, but isn't overwhelming good looking.
What did he have the other two bands didn't have?
A truly incredible voice. When it comes down to the facts, an incredible voice (no effects, or auto tune) kills people. The songs could have been written 50 years ago (I mean, one of his big songs is called "Stay With Me"….really? thats it?), but it doesn't matter, because his voice connected emotionally to what he was singing, and he did it beautifully. Without a doubt, Sam Smith is here to stay, and only getting bigger.
There's more ways than ever to make music these days and actually find some success. The internet ties us all together, and technology makes creating even easier than before. But what's always going to separate the men from the boys is true talent, especially a voice. All three bands were amazing at what they do, but when the spotlight shines on the voice, it shines brighter than anything else. Gosh, I hate to make singers feel any more special than they already do. Just kidding…So if you play music, or especially write music, don't get too carried away on production, or the crazy chord changes...give the voice words and melodies that make it shine, and you'll touch your audience more than any other thing you could do. It's the clearest way to reach the soul, and always will be.