The Friday of week one found me at The Fonda. After a long schedule of class introductions and syllabi, I was ready to immerse myself in the world of Chanel Beads. I remember being drawn in by the catchy melody of “Police Scanner,” a song that quickly grabbed my attention during my first year of UCLA. Attending their concert three years later at the close of my college journey felt like a full-circle moment.
Horse Vision consists of Johan Nilsson and Gabriel von Essen, with Nilsson tackling lead vocals and a bit of guitar, while von Essen takes on both acoustic and electric guitar, accompanied by an assortment of dope pedals. The electronic duo from Sweden took the stage after the first opener, Car Culture, and ended their set on a song creatively sampling t.A.T.u’s viral song “All the Things She Said.”
After Horse Vision’s performance, Chanel Beads made their entrance in a nonchalant manner, exemplified by their casual choice of attire: jeans, T-shirts, and sweatshirts. Without any formal warning, they began an instrumental jam that went on for eight minutes before lead singer Shane Lavers then addressed the audience and said: “Thanks, we’re gonna start the set.”
Chanel Beads started as a solo project of Lavers’, but has since expanded to include the talented Maya McGrory and, recently, sick experimental violinist Zachary Paul. The band was accompanied on stage by a throng of other musicians ranging from keys to percussion to chimes, all building together to form one incredible sound.
Lavers brought an upbeat energy to the stage, jumping up and down, nodding at the crowd, and occasionally banging the side of the mic into his head. My favorite part of the show was the blend between Lavers’ and McGrorys’ vocals—a vital part of the “Chanel Beads sound” that particularly captured the ear. They played much of their newly released record, Your Day Will Come, including songs such as “Song for the Messenger” and “Tyler Richard,” but of course, did not forget to feature some of their popular old material, like my favorite, “Police Scanner.” As expected, Chanel Beads brought a remarkable performance to The Fonda, which will go down as a memorable first concert for my last year in college.
Listen to Your Day Will Come here!
