Hospitality: Round Two

HOSPITALITY

VELVET JONES

SANTA BARBARA, CA

02 JUNE 2012

Tiny, funky Velvet Jones deep in downtown SB was the setting for round two of Hospitality Saturday night.  When the band came onstage, only eight people lined the perimeter of the pit. They didnt bother with formalities, just picked up and blasted.  There is a lesson here for young bands about what to do when faced with adversity.
Where last night  in LA they hit the marks with precision, tonight wad all about kicking up a squall of defiance.  Mix overall was a bit clearer, and many listens down, it's still hard not to be impressed with Amber Papini's observational acuity.  The harmonies from guitarist Nathan Michel and bass player Brian Betancourt were much more evident, and Betancourt's fluid bass runs on "Liberal Arts" and "Sleepover" are unsung elements of both songs.  Set list wise, it was much the same as the previous night, but intensity wise, it was delivered with extra teeth.

If you are in the Greater L.A. area, Hospitality will be returning for a free gig in the loft, upstairs at Origami Vinyl in Echo Park, Sunday the 3rd, at 7pm.