Author: Molly Atkins

The Paper Kites at the House of Blues San Diego

Molly Atkins

The Australia-based band, The Paper Kites, brought their sense of magic to the House of Blues San Diego.

With their rock-folk and woodsy forest vibes, the members tend to use their harmonies and magical lyrics to create a mood that you are immersed in the song, feeling everything the words were intended to have — even if you have never heard the song before! Sam Bentley (vocals, guitars and keyboards), Christina Lacy (vocals, guitars and keyboards), David Powys (vocals, guitars, banjo and lap steel guitar), Josh Bentley (drums and percussion) and Sam Rasmussen (bass and synthesizers) make up The Paper Kites and the beautiful music they make.

The Paper Kites are known for their melancholic tones that offer you a sense of sadness mixed with hope. They opened with the song “Red Light” off of their new album On The Corner Where You Live. Thanks to artist Megan Dougherty, the stage was set up to look like you were sitting in an apartment with the band. Artist Mike Castle came up with the lighting design of lights seeping through the blinds that Megan had carefully structured. They also added the featured colors for each song, like the dark blue for ‘Deep Burn Blue’ and the mysterious red for “Red Light.”

‘Deep Burn Blue’ followed ‘Red Light’ funnily enough. This song is about the feelings inside you and your own thoughts that make you not want to leave your own room. It’s as if you are afraid of what the world has to offer. Lead singer Sam put it himself that “music is so much more purposeful and devastating when it makes you feel exposed.” “Revelator Eyes” from twelvefour followed this. It is a song where the person is still trying to hold on to their relationship even though they can notice that their partner is not feeling the love anymore. The theme of the show at this point was following a relationship, which I’m sure many people in the audience could relate to.

The song “On The Corner Where You Live” is about saying goodbye even when that isn’t what you want to do. They continued this feeling of hurt with the song ‘When It Hurts You’, a powerful rock ballad about not wanting to hurt your loved one because you will feel the pain too. I closed my eyes during this and the one following it, ‘Bloom’, which made the room feel like we were all one. It is the song of hope, and the band played it slowly instead of at the fast pace that we are all used to. It was a perfect triage of songs to follow the relationship we were all pretending we knew.

‘Bloom’ was the first song I ever heard by The Paper Kites so I really felt in that moment how far the band has come and who they have developed to be. It is still so surreal to me that the track ‘Bloom’, their most popular song, was made as a bonus track release with the first EP they made. They had no idea it would be so successful. The Paper Kites emphasize continuously in their music that sometimes you have to let go (‘On The Corner Where You Live’), and although it hurts (‘When It Hurts You’), something good can come out of everything (‘Bloom’).

The Paper Kites included an intermission song, which was the track for  ‘A Gathering On 57th’. It gave the audience chills and a familiar feeling of nostalgia. I have always felt with that song that I am on a train visiting family or on my way to see someone I love.

‘Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain’ began after the interlude, and the crowd was back to its’ original excitement and swaying. ‘On The Train Ride Home’, the song from its’ self titled album is a personal favorite. It has a great deep meaning behind the simpleness of it. “If I can’t get the things I want, then give me what I need.” With a feeling of loss under the lyrics. This song may be about the chapter of our lives where we cannot find our true direction, where most of us are not able to handle the pressure to ourselves as we go to face the reality and so we try to go back to our home where we were once settled and happy. The train is a metaphor for our means to go back and within it we try to ask for help.

Some highlights to this show include their performances of “Electric Indigo,” and “Don’t Keep Driving” which they ended with. In the end, the audience was filled with a yearning and a desire to stay in that room forever.

I would definitely see The Paper Kites again if I had the chance. Their songs are so deeply personal, and I would recommend listening to their music if you are going through anything. I’m excited to see what is coming next with this band and where they will take us on their journey.
Review by: Molly Atkins

Tame Impala at Treasure Island Music Festival

Molly Atkins

Seeing Tame Impala live at Treasure Island Music Festival was an opportunity I’d never dreamed of experiencing. 

Led by record-producer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker, Tame Impala is one of the world’s greatest mysteries. After being blown away by them, I wrote about the whole experience for those looking to experience it themselves.

The show:

Opening with the short interlude “Nangs” gave the perfect vibe of what the show would be like. The crowd was enticed by the fog pouring in from both sides of the stage, while the slowly changing lights immersed us all into the trip we were about to undertake. Slowly but surely, Kevin Parker’s voice began to sing “but is there something more than that?” Who knew 7 words could elicit such a feeling of love and excitement from a group of fans.

Tame Impala followed this moment with their hit single, “Let It Happen.” At this point, lasers began to shine, which seemed almost close enough to touch. The lasers bounced to the bass, following the sound at each turn as if they were magically being shot out of the band’s instruments. I felt as if it was the first time I was hearing the song even though I knew all of the words. As the song transitioned, Kevin did something we didn’t expect; He had the audience clap along, something you usually wouldn’t see at a psychedelic rock concert. He transformed us into instruments, adding percussion with our hands.

“Are you ready?” Kevin asked. And suddenly, confetti was covering the sky. The visuals at this concert were nothing short of breathtaking, seductive even.

Tame Impala’s lasers

Tame Impala proceeded to throw it back with “Sundown Syndrome,” their first official 2009 single. Being a sultry song, the band shifted the music into having a jazzier flow, while Kevin’s soft spoken vocals taught us how to sway.

“The Moment” started and at this point we were all in our own little worlds. It’s such a fun and easy going song, it’s hard not to dance along. The band followed this with a snippet of  “Sestri Levante” to get us into the mood for something amazing: “Elephant.” This ultimate classic had us all on another level. If you’ve ever seen the Disney movie Dumbo, the song is literally like that one scene with the elephants where you think you’re on drugs. It’s crazy and hypnotic, and Kevin was throwing us through the ringer.

“Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?” was a very hardcore song compared to the others. It was almost like we were in the studio with Kevin as he wrote out the words, unsure and scared of what the feelings he was having meant. Next, “Eventually” came on with its’ distorted and romantic chords. The visuals for this song were also out of this world. The layers of lasers were immersed into a moving cloudy sky of light, flowing with the sound of the guitar. This song is heavily drum based compared to the other songs, so it was amazing to see how they added everything together in person.

Afterwards, “Yes I’m Changing” threw everyone into a reflective mood, as the song holds feelings of love and heartache. This song is about growing and becoming a better person, but not forgetting about who you are and not letting your past hold you down. “There is another future waiting there for you” he sang, telling us all that there is so much we can do to change. This song is the perfect mix of nostalgia and yearning. If you’re going through anything right now, this is the song to listen to. It’s hopeful, and it really makes you think.

The almost romantic but somehow savage song that is “The Less I Know The Better” started playing and we were all in a daze. If you haven’t heard this song before, I would stop what you’re doing right now and look it up. That’s it, I can’t ruin it, you’ll have to listen to it for yourself.

Amongst the excitement and shock of hearing that song live, the audience was blown away by something none of us expected. Tame Impala’s first performance of “Jeremy’s Storm” since November 2012. We were truly lucky to be there and be witnessing something like this. Kevin even said himself that they didn’t even soundcheck it and they were just going to go for it. This song had the most simple visuals which really showed off the bands’ roots. 

“Love/Paranoia” was like a lullaby to us all, waking us up to the dreams that the song emitted. For a song about cheating, it’s one of their most beautiful songs. It feels almost as if you’re trapped in a loop, trying to push out and escape. And somehow, Tame Impala makes it feel like you want to be there.

“Alter Ego” felt like we were all going through some sort of time machine into the past. And it was almost as if we were all traveling together, on a journey to trying to go back to the beginning of the show, knowing the end of it was near. “Apocalypse Dreams” rang out like a cry as we all danced, not wanting it to ever end. One of their longer songs, it was perfect to end on.

Beginning the encore, “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” played with a feeling of hope. Right as the song started, confetti filled the air and we were all moving in the air with it. I was realizing in this point that it really was the end of the show, and this was Tame Impala in their purest form. I didn’t want it to end.

Their last song was introduced with Kevin saying some parting words. “We will see you real soon, I promise,” he said, as “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” began. Everyone was holding onto his words of ‘seeing us real soon’, because he was still in front of us! During the interlude, Kevin spoke: “Alright guys. This is it! This is the last one. We will see you really soon. We love you! Thank you.” Confetti filled the sky one last time. It was the hardest goodbye.

WHAT NOW?

If you ever have the chance to see Tame Impala live, DO IT. Tame Impala has perfected this art of psychedelic, sexy, but somehow distorted way of catching your eye and making you never want to turn back. It was one of the most magical shows I have ever experienced, and for that I am so grateful, and excited, for what is to come with Tame Impala’s future. According to Kevin, we’ll be seeing them “real soon”, and I’ll be sure to hold him to that.

Photos by: Brittany Roache
Written by: Molly Atkins

Game of Thrones Live at Viejas Arena

Molly Atkins

Game of Thrones Live at the Viejas Arena was a phenomenal experience which allowed fans to relive all the highlights from the series.

If you don’t watch Game of Thrones… you are definitely missing out! After the concert, my excitement for season 8 has reached unprecedented heights. For those unfamiliar, German composer Ramin Djawadi is the mind behind all the beautiful, heartbreaking, and intense scores we hear during the show that always leaves us wanting more.

In addition to his work on Game of Thrones, Djawadi attended Berklee College of Music, worked with Hans Zimmer. and even won an Emmy for his work on the Season 7 Finale “The Dragon and the Wolf.” His contributions to Game of Thrones are embedded within the show’s DNA; Just as the characters and houses have evolved over time, so too has his themes. For example, Daenerys Targaryen’s theme started small, but became progressively more powerful after each season. Daenerys has proven herself to be a “Khaleesi” to many, so it’s only fitting her song grew with her. Her theme was initially built with only a cello, and has progressed into the powerful and strong song that it is now. During the concert, as Daenerys became stronger, she would say ‘dracarys’ and the stage would glow in flames.

Djawadi conducted an 80-piece orchestra along with a local choir. The set up included a screen that projected the show and multiple stages that separated parts of the world in the series. There was a stage dedicated to King’s Landing and one to Winterfell, with the Iron Throne directly in the middle.

Several soloists surrounded the stage, each dedicating their mastery to a specific song. Violin soloist Molly Rogers performed the House Stark theme while ascending into the air with a huge dress on, as rose petals fell from the sky! Some instruments were even specially crafted for the tour, including a 14-ft Wildling horn, which was used during a scene on the attack of the Wall. A lovely soloist brought fans to heaven (and tears) when they heard “The Rains of Castamere.” With scenes as heartwarming as Ygritte and Jon Snow’s cave scene, to the bloody and heart wrenching The Red Wedding, you are thrown headfirst into the very best moments of Game of Thrones. As “The Light of the Seven” was playing, the whole audience held their breath knowing the Wildfire was about to be lit. I intensely cried during a specific scene of Hodor’s (if you know, you know) as my fellow KCR member Peter Swan comforted me.

During the show, Djawadi even admitted that he had to write the music for season 7 before the writing for the show was even released. He also acknowledged that putting together the Game of Thrones Live Tour took over 3 years. This means they were continuously adding the music as the show was being released!

I am extremely lucky to have had this opportunity to see Ramin Djawadi in action and the unique experience of how the series was brought to life. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear Djawadi’s work, whether from Game of Thrones, or any of his other work, I strongly recommend it.

MGMT’S BIZARRE COMEBACK

Molly Atkins

Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, better known as the synth-pop/psychedelic rock band MGMT, are making their well-deserved comeback. They are best known for their songs “Kids,” “Time to Pretend” and “Electric Feel,” which all still play on top hit radio stations. After releasing their debut album “Oracular Spectacular” in 2007, the band hit the top of the charts.

Little do people know, MGMT was actually formed as a joke. Andrew and Ben weren’t even trying to form a band. If anything, they never meant for their band to become big. They originally wrote their music during jam sessions they had as freshman in their free time, while they studied at their small town university in Connecticut. Artists such as Katy Perry and Frank Ocean began to sample MGMT, and the band even did a few collaborations with artists such as Kid Cudi and Beck. Their original joke was taken seriously, as was the infamous line “I want to parachute some heroin and f**k with the stars,” from “Time to Pretend.” Then, Andrew and Ben changed things up.

With their second album, “Congratulations,” MGMT moved toward a punk rock vibe, like the British artists of the late ’60s to early ’80s. With their self-titled record from 2013, the band hit the brakes, slowed itself down and moved back toward those funky but melancholic synth songs. The band has always featured lots of piano, but with their singles from 2013, they moved toward a Grateful Dead vibe with more guitar and just pure jamming out. Now, they are rediscovering their roots with a new freakishly unique twist. Their single “When You Die” is a perfect example of this, with angry singing, happy tones and solemn lyrics. “Hand It Over,” their single released in January, captures MGMT’s usual underground spooky feelings, featuring a gorgeous melancholy sigh of not trying hard but trying just enough. One of their singles, “Little Dark Age,” brings that spooky vibe back, and their new album will be titled that as well.

With their newest single, “Me and Michael,” released Feb. 7, the band transitions back to those ’80s vibes we know and love. The video for the song follows the band as they rise to success in an absurd universe with euphoric and hallucinogenic tones. It’s quite psychedelic, and I would recommend it to anyone trying to understand MGMT’s inherent satire. According to their interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, “Little Dark Age” was shaped by MGMT’s break up, and how Andrew and Ben tried to stay in contact after. Their relationship was distant but they later decided to meet up and express their surprise and dismay at Donald Trump being elected President. They used their feelings toward him as inspiration to write pop music, to try and get rid of the “evil that took over the world.” MGMT’s new album, “Little Dark Age,” was released on Feb. 9. I suggest that anyone looking for cool, refreshing, pop-synth music that might make you feel better about yourself, (according to the band) listen to the album.

MGMT will also be going back on tour in support of the album, and will be coming to San Diego on May 19, 2018, at the San Diego Civic Theatre.