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It seems like only yesterday that I saw AlunaGeorge perform for the first time at Coachella in 2014. I was familiar with their 2013 Disclosure collaboration, “White Noise”, but what I took away from that performance was that theirs was a sound of the (then) future of electropop. Infused with elements of R&B, their music was definitely hook driven which both had you reflecting upon their lyrics while shaking your bon-bon.
Having released their sophomore album earlier this year, they also grew their status as A-list collaborators with featured performances on some serious club bangers including, but not limited to, ZHU’s “Automatic”, Jack U’s “To U”, Flume’s “Innocence”, and the list goes on. Earlier this year, AlunaGeorge returned to Coachella (which I didn’t attend), and Aluna Francis pulled triple duty by not only performing her own set but also taking the stage to perform with both Disclosure and Jack U.
Clearly, AlunaGeorge has been getting their name out there, luring more and more fans into their world to join their musical journey. Being an opener for SIA on a string of dates this year certainly wasn’t a bad move. But with their scheduled performance date right before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I wondered whether their fans would still be able to make it out en masse to celebrate their first headlining gig in a long while. They did … en masse … and AlunaGeorge went above and beyond to give their fans a musical escape that they would not soon forget.
I will say that the song order of their set was impeccably perfect. Even if you weren’t very familiar with their newest material, there was never any lull to the overall flow of the evening’s performance. A new song was followed by a massive chart topper, or with a “special appearance” that kept the audience on it’s toes throughout the evening. Let’s not forget to note that Aluna Francis was a fabulous front-woman, exuding power and confidence with every note she sang and step she danced for the audience
When Aluna Francis told the audience that they had something special up their sleeve for us, we were treated with the appearance of Red Bull Sound Select Artist Pell and a rousing three-piece brass band to perform “Full Swing”. I think it was the first time I’ve ever seen a live brass section perform with an electronic pop artist, and I’ll have to confess that it was amazingly satisfying. There is something kinetic and visceral about live horns that gives life to the music being performed; as if each player’s breath is literally breathing life into the music. If they can afford to keep touring with a brass section, I would highly encourage it. The way the energy level elevated from it’s already turnt position when the brass band took the stage was something otherworldly.
As I watched them perform the end of their set from the beautiful balcony seating of the venue, I found myself shuffling my feet to their music. The mood and energy of the room induced my subconscious dancing with all of my photography gear in tow. The group doesn’t have any scheduled performances for 2017 yet, but I am keen to see them again to see how much their live show varies from this perfect performance.
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CLICK HERE FOR MORE 30 DAYS IN LA COVERAGE!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE 30 DAYS IN LA COVERAGE!
LIVE CLIPS
AlunaGeorge @ Belasco Theater 11/22/16. Review & Photos coming soon to @BlurredCulture. Stay tuned! #30DaysInLA pic.twitter.com/IzcxdFEgv6
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) November 26, 2016
AlunaGeorge @ Belasco Theater 11/22/16. Review & Photos coming soon to @BlurredCulture. Stay tuned! #30DaysInLA pic.twitter.com/5NWUvqnsnf
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) November 26, 2016
AlunaGeorge @ Belasco Theater 11/22/16. Review & Photos coming soon to @BlurredCulture. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/H8HTLYNyrv
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) November 26, 2016
AlunaGeorge @ Belasco Theater 11/22/16. Review & Photos coming soon to @BlurredCulture. Stay tuned! #30DaysInLA pic.twitter.com/I9T5midnUM
— Derrick K. Lee (@methodman13) November 26, 2016
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