LOS ANGELES, CA- Hailing from Los Angeles’s own Echo Park, the trio known as James Supercave have been garnering attention since the release of their 2016 debut of Better Strange, an album that managed to set itself apart even amidst the already oversaturated indie pop scene. Following that record came the release of the single “Something To Lose”, and what better way to celebrate that than by playing it live to a sold out room in the bands hometown?
The crowd at the bar stage at The Bootleg Theater was feeling the vibe on this Friday night even before the headliner hit the stage. In place of music simply being played over the speakers in between bands was an actual Dj spinning vinyl of various dance tracks. It was just a warm up for the upcoming dance party and even Joaquin Pastor (vocals, guitar) joined in on the fun when he danced into the crowd after requesting a song from the DJ.
Kicking off the set were two new unreleased tracks that launched the audience into a dance party. “We’re trying some new stuff tonight. This one’s an oldie though” said Pastor before diving into the intro to “The Right Thing”, one of the band’s more popular tracks. Whoever was controlling the light must have been holding back for this specific moment because as soon as the bass kicked in, the room was illuminated with spectacular lasers and strobe lighting. It was the most intense display I’ve seen at this small venue and it fit the dance party vibe perfectly
In the past, critics have compared James Supercave’s sound to other bands such as MGMT and Alt-J, and while I do think there’s fairness in saying that the influences are almost obvious, it’s done in a way that breathes a new life into the genre. Their music takes twists and turns that keep you sharp and attentive, and their live set is no different. From their slower, more haunting songs like “Virtually a Girl” to their faster, dance friendly “Burn”, a song that dominates a room with a simple bass line, their music grabs onto you and won’t let go until all the feels consume you.
The visuals and execution of this show was unparalleled to what I’ve seen at the Bootleg in the past. Right after the first song I heard the biggest roar I’ve ever heard from an audience in this venue. I’d be shocked if this band doesn’t grow exponentially after their next release.
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LIVE CLIPS
@JamesSupercave preforming “No Pressure” at @BOOTLEGtheater. Shot for @BlurredCulture. Full write up and gallery coming to the site soon! pic.twitter.com/gM9U1Ikc4Y
— Hector Vergara (@Hextrn) May 8, 2018
