Upset, All Dogs, Baby Ghosts, and Susan at the Bootleg, LA

UPSET/ALL DOGS/BABY GHOSTS/SUSAN

BOOTLEG THEATER, LOS ANGELES

06 AUGUST, 2014

UPSET

ALL DOGS

BABY GHOSTS

SUSAN

"If you build it, they will come..." Early on in the Upset set, Ali Koehler bemoaned the lack of good shows in LA, and the night's bill was a testament to putting that right. Columbus, Ohio's All Dogs were making a West Coast jaunt, and their appearance at the Church On York fell victim to Highland Park politics as the Church lost their live music privileges. The gig was rescheduled to the bar in the Bootleg Theater, and the bill expanded. LA trio Susan opened up, followed by Baby Ghosts, from Salt Lake City, All Dogs, and Upset, in what turned out to be one of the best value per dollar shows I've attended this year. Ranging from merely great to transcendent, there was no down time, as each band got in their punches, albeit from different stylistic directions.
Susan kicked off the night, and they came to play, overcoming feedback and wonky mic stands to deliver a winning set. They were new to me, but that won't be the last time we cross paths. Baby Ghosts celebrated their last show on a tour with All Dogs by picking up the baton, snapping it in half, and crunching the remains underfoot. A blistering, high octane set of fast, but melodic punk that threatened to come apart at the seams, but didn't quite. They left mouths wide open. Ladies and gentlemen: Baby Ghosts, remember the name. My most-played piece of music last year didn't make the top ten album list, but no mistake, the 4 song 7" from All Dogs has never left active duty, and it was a treat to finally see them. That the songs pack an even bigger punch live was the bonus, and by the time they swung into "Buddy" and "Say" to close the set, the emotional meter was off the charts. Fate would have us cross paths a few days later in Oakland, so you'll certainly hear more about them. With Upset, it's more a case of 'where were we last', as the LA quartet are certainly no strangers to frequent readers. Taken down to its core of Ali Koehler and drummer Patti Schemel, the band has reconfigured with Rachel (from Slutever) sitting in on bass, and brand new guitarist Lauren. No big changes in the set, based on their debut LP, She's Gone, but the sound was faster and harder, and it will be interesting to see where this lineup takes their next record. A thrilling night from start to finish, and while one can't put their finger on precisely what, it felt like the start of something.

UPSET

ALL DOGS

BABY GHOSTS

SUSAN