CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE ACTS WE CAUGHT AT ECHO PARK RISING ’24!
LOS ANGELES, CA- When you go to a festival like Echo Park Rising, there’s a sensory overload. Bands of all shapes and sounds inhabit every corner of this eclectic neighborhood, and you’re left with the near-impossible task of deciding who to check out. This year, one band caught my ear before the event even started: untitled (halo). I had listened to their music on Spotify, and particular tracks like “limewire” and “sKill isSue” hooked me with their blend of grunge-laced ambience and electronic undertones. On paper, they’re an ethereal grunge trio from LA, but onstage, they’re something much more—an enigma that constantly keeps you on your toes.
For new band, their performance at Echo Park Rising was everything I hoped it would be and more. They seamlessly captured the essence of their recordings while adding an unpredictable edge to their live show. Tracks like “El Prado Freestyle” and “intrusive,” which are featured on their debut EP “towncryer” (released in September 2023), took on a new life when played in front of a crowd. The echoing guitars and atmospheric bass lines swirled around the room, creating a hypnotic aura that felt both eerie and grounding.
One of the aspects that intrigued me about untitled (halo) on Spotify was their use of electronic elements, reminiscent of the subtle yet haunting vibes of Sneaker Pimps. During the live performance, these electronic sounds came to the forefront, giving the music an experimental edge. Their use of drum loops and soundscapes added depth to their tracks, amplifying the trance-like quality that had already captivated me on their recordings. The blend of grunge, shoegaze, and electronic elements created an immersive experience that blurred the line between genre seems to be untitled (halo)’s calling card, and I’m absolutely all for it.
What made their Echo Park Rising set special was the sense of unpredictability. One minute, you’re enveloped in lush guitar effects; the next, you’re jolted awake by electronic glitches that feel almost foreign yet strangely comforting. It’s this sense of dissonance that makes untitled (halo) so captivating to me. It may just be that I’m too familiar with their music or playing style yet, but I couldn’t quite predict their next move, and it left me wanting to see where they’ll go.
One of the standout moments for me was the performance of “sKill isSue,” a track that on Spotify gave me the aforementioned Sneaker Pimps vibe. Live, it transformed into something even more multi-dimensional. The song’s layers unfolded in real-time, building tension before breaking into a wave of distorted harmonies. It was a visceral experience that demonstrated the band’s ability to use electronic sounds not just as background noise but as a core component of their storytelling.
Untitled (halo) is still in its early stages, but the potential for growth is undeniable. They have a knack for capturing the ephemeral nature of the human experience in their music—a quality that makes them stand out in a scene often preoccupied with nostalgia or replication. Watching them perform live gave me a sense of witnessing something in flux, an evolving artistry that is still finding its voice but doing so with remarkable honesty and intention. Their combination of electronic and grunge elements, layered with introspective lyrics and haunting vocals, sets them apart as one of the more intriguing acts I’ve come across in recent memory.
*********************
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE ACTS WE CAUGHT AT ECHO PARK RISING ’24!
LIVE CLIPS
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE ACTS WE CAUGHT AT ECHO PARK RISING ’24!
