Beneath The Underdog: Mitski/Eskimeaux live

MITSKI

ESKIMEAUX

KITTY

THE ECHO, LA

02 JULY, 2015

Mitski

Eskimeaux

It took a bill the like of Elvis Depressedly, Mitski, and Eskimeaux to get me to make a mid-work week sojourn to the Echo, in Echo Park, LA, and it was a trip well worth making, as the trio of bands winds their way down the west coast before heading to the desert. Making the return trip up the coast in time for work meant selling out the headliner, so much apologies to Elvis Depressedly, and we'll look forward to their return. Kitty was added on as opener, and she did her damnedest to get the party started, making the best of a borrowed computer and a more rock oriented crowd. Kitty faced them down with her laptop anthems, faring better on the uptempo numbers ("Marijuana"). Downtempo "Florida" seemed overlooked by the talkers in the audience, but was the standout of the set.

With the just-released It's Ok under her belt, Eskimeaux (Gabrielle Smith) took the form of a band, including Told Slant as drummer, and they proceeded to shred the well-produced LP versions of the tracks, investing them with an unexpected vigor. Kicking off with "Alone At The Party" and "Folly", Eskimeaux exerted full control on "The Thunder Answered Back", and it's always impressive to see a supporting act pull off a singalong, "Broken Necks", but by then the spell was cast. Finishing up with "I Admit I'm Scared", Eskimeaux raised a considerable bar for the evening.

If there was a person up to the challenge, it would be Mitski Miyawaki, whose late 2014 release Bury Me At Makeout Creek has been a staple all through this year. The album marked a shift from the orchestrated grandeur of her first two LP's to a more guitar-based approach, while not sacrificing her singular songwriting. In the current lineup, Mitski plays bass and anchors, in every sense, a powerful trio. Kicking off with "Townie" and "First Love, Late Spring", it was alternatively funny and harrowing, with "Francis Forever" and "I Don't Smoke" also standing out as highlights. The towering "Drunk Walk Home" ruled all, and her closing cathartic screams seemed to mark a natural end to the set. Who the hell could top that. But Mitski carried on, breaking out "Class of 2013" from her previous LP, Retired From Sad, New Career In Business, and finished up new LP closer "Last Words of a Shooting Star", a mic drop in song form if ever there was. It was one of those nights that sold out for a reason.

MITSKI

ESKIMEAUX

KITTY