As day two of KAABOO Del Mar heated up, alternative rock act Neon Trees took over the Zuma stage for a mid-afternoon set that offered festival-goers some welcome shade behind the racetrack’s grandstand. Charismatic frontman Tyler Glenn jabbed about the less-than-ideal timeslot, suggesting it deprived the sweaty throng of Neon Trees’ usual light show, but it didn’t seem to impact the band’s electrifying performance. Continue reading…
For a tour named after an album called Smoke + Mirrors, Imagine Dragons sure were transparent when they played Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl on July 21. True, they started as silhouettes behind a white screen before launching into “Shots,†also the first song on their latest album, but once they were unveiled the stage was set for a night of gratitude, humility and perseverance. Continue reading…
Chances are you’ve already heard George Ezra’s breakout single, “Budapest,†a minimalist love song that lures you in with its enchanting subtleties.
The young Brit — whose distinctive, bass-baritone voice may rival that of ’90s-era band Crash Test Dummies — played the international hit to much acclaim on Saturday Night Live and parlayed that buzz into a well-received gig at Coachella in April.
Ezra kicks off his debut album, Wanted on Voyage, with the snappy guitar strum of “Blame It on Me,†which builds like a train picking up steam. In fact, many of the album’s tunes, including “Cassy O’†and “Did You Hear the Rain?†— a blues romp you can imagine belonging in a Tarantino western — follow a similar trajectory, mounting from “foot stomps and clicks and claps†to driving guitar and gospel choirs. Continue reading…