- PREMIERE: Eloah Jones – “Under the Bridge” - November 18, 2021
- PREMIERE: Highbeams – “Campfires” - November 10, 2021
- Tali Azerad Shines on New Album - November 5, 2021
Let me start by saying that I’m probably not the best person to write this review. I’m not a frequent club-goer, electronic music aficionado, or “guy that dances.” With that having been said, I absolutely love Slow Magic’s new album How To Run Away. It’s layered, filled with variety, and highly addicting. There’s a certain aspect of instrumental music that allows you to turn off an analytical part of your brain. Turning off the expectation of lyrics and words opens yourself up to experiencing music in a different way. This album can mesmerize you, intrigue you, and pump you up all at once. Needless to say I was eager to check the show out last night at The Roxy in Hollywood.
So there I stood – the only sober face in the crowd, like a lone palm tree whose island had washed away. Waves of people on various substances swayed and crashed around and into me for an hour in the extreme heat of the club. I felt like the old grouch of the show with my hands in my pockets, offering a mere head-nod. Normally, this scenario would have been miserable, but Slow Magic’s performance made it all worthwhile.
Donning his signature mask, SM immediately brought intense energy as he effortlessly transitioned from his kit to pounding on his drum. Can someone wearing a mask and not saying a word be engaging? Absolutely. SM frequently interacted and engaged the crowd, showing everyone love and appreciation, even dancing and playing in the crowd at times. Before the show I wondered to myself if the mask would seem gimmicky or if it would add to the performance. Thankfully, the different colors, patterns, and fluctuations of light on the mask really added to the atmosphere and brought the performance to another level. He has created an interesting persona and carved a unique niche for himself and his music. Seeing it all come together on stage last night was awesome.
During his hour-long set, he showcased almost all the songs on his album and really made them come alive, including the hypnotizing “Girls,” “Waited 4 U,” and an encore of “Hold Still.” He also “jammed,” went crazy on the drum, weaved in “Say My Name” over a track, and never relented on energy & passion. If you’re in any of the following cities, get tickets now. Even if you’re the old palm tree in the back – you won’t want to miss this show!
09.13.14 . SODA BAR . SAN DIEGO, CA
09.14.14 . THE CRESCENT BALLROOM . PHOENIX, AZ
09.16.14 . THREE LINKS . DALLAS, TX
09.17.14 . HOLY MOUNTAIN . AUSTIN, TX
09.18.14 . FITZGERALD’S . HOUSTON, TX
09.19.14 . SPANISH MOON . BATON ROUGE, LA
09.20.14 . THE BASEMENT . ATLANTA, GA
09.21.14 . KINGS BARCADE . RALEIGH, NC
09.23.14 . DC9 . WASHINGTON, DC
09.24.14 . THE BOOT & SADDLE . PHILADELPHIA, PA
09.25.14 . SANTOS PARTY HOUSE . NEW YORK, NY
09.26.14 . THE SINCLAIR . CAMBRIDGE, MA
09.27.14 . LE BELMONT . MONTREAL, QC
09.28.14 . THE GARRISON . TORONTO, ON
10.01.14 . BLIND PIG . ANN ARBOR, MI
10.02.14 . THE BASEMENT . COLUMBUS, OH
10.03.14 . LINCOLN HALL . CHICAGO, IL
10.04.14 . THE FREQUENCY . MADISON, WI
10.05.14 . 7TH STREET ENTRY . MINNEAPOLIS, MN
10.07.14 . COLLEGE ST. BAR AND ARCADE . SPRINGFIELD, MO
