My last spectacular show on a recent visit to Los Angeles was to see Fleet Foxes at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. What a night it was. As I was late to the party I paid top dollar to get aseat close to the front but it was so worth it. Their new album 'Crack-Up' is easily one of my favourite albums of the year and even though I saw them back in January at the Sydney Opera House it was a great pleasure to see them again. Their melodies of true beauty floated on the air on a beautiful Saturday night. They were working to a strict curfew so there was no encore but it was a great set with a great mixture of old and new. A superb way to finish an amazing trip.

To complete the night the support was none other than the greatness of Beach House. Say no more.

Set List
I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar
Cassius, -
- Naiads, Cassadies
Grown Ocean
Ragged Wood
Your Protector
The Cascades
Mearcstapa
On Another Ocean (January / June)
Fool's Errand
He Doesn't Know Why
Battery Kinzie
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Mykonos
White Winter Hymnal
Third of May / Ōdaigahara
The Shrine / An Argument
Blue Ridge Mountains
Blues Run the Game (Jackson C. Frank cover)
Helplessness Blues

In recent years Kevin Morby has become an artist that is massively important to me. He is creating music that resonates hugely with me. Soulful, emotionally honest lyrics paired with great melodies. A great voice matched with great guitars makes for music that makes my heart soar. In fact in 2015 and 2016 his songs topped by favourite songs of the year. 2017 showed he is not slowing down at all. He released 'City Music' in June and it will easily sit at the higher end of my favourite albums of year. So luckily for me whilst I was recently in Los Angeles he performed a show. Luckily for me it was a wonderful and complete night of great music.

Morby played the Teragram Ballroom, a recently new venue in close proximity to the downtown core of Los Angeles. A medium size venue it was the perfect setting for Morby to shine. Sold out, the room was wonderfully behaved enjoying a stellar night of sublime and touching music. Most of the set would be drawn from 'City Music' and last year's amazing 'Singing Saw'. Although there was still room for older great tunes like 'Harlem River', which was quite epic. His guitarist Meg Duffy is a great player who actually performs lead guitarist role with Morby basically taking the rhythm guitar parts. Such as on opener 'City Music' and its wonderfully distinctive lead riff.  Personal favourites were the buoyant 'Aboard My Train' and the tonally gorgeous 'Parade' Morby also took to the piano such as on songs like 'Destroyer' This also provided a great close up view of his delightful 'City Music' suit. Morby would also give us a Townes Van Zandt cover and a solo acoustic rendering of the important and timely 'Beautiful Strangers'. The encore would complete the night wonderfully with 'Dorothy' just the perfect way to close a superb night. I feel quite lucky that Kevin Morby is making such incredible music and even luckier that I was fortunate enough to see it all live.

Set List
City Music
Crybaby
1234
Aboard My Train
Harlem River
Destroyer
I Have Been to the Mountain
Parade
All of My Life
Come to Me Now
Downtown's Lights
Colorado Girl (Townes Van Zandt cover)

Beautiful Strangers (solo)

Dry Your Eyes
Cut Me Down
Dorothy

Explosions in the Sky are essential to my life as a music fan. Their music is ecstatic and triumphant. Seeing them live lifts that experience to a whole other level. So much so that I recently traveled to Los Angeles to see him. Well not just them, I had a whole week of other delights planned. But they were the starting point for the trip. I had actually seen them live earlier this year at the Sydney Opera House. Of course they were spectacular. So to see them again was a distinct pleasure.

Luckily it was at an amazing venue. The beautiful Greek Theatre in Griffith Park. It's a gorgeous venue in a great setting. I was right down the front too. I arrived just in time to see Holy Fuck open and they were pretty great to be sure. But the men from Texas were the draw card and they let no one down. Just a soaring mass of power and beauty for over 90 minutes. Guitars crashing in joyous unison that creates an atmosphere that is serene and effortlessly sublime. Then they close with the all conquering 'The Only Moment We Were Alone'. A song that I could hear until the end of time. It comes crashing down, the stage goes into darkness. The band thank us and leave. I walk away stunned and enraptured by what I had just witnessed.
 
Set List
The Birth and Death of the Day
Catastrophe and the Cure
Yasmin the Light
Logic of a Dream
Greet Death
Human Qualities
Disintegration Anxiety
Your Hand in Mine

With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept

Colors in Space
The Only Moment We Were Alone