Turning the corner onto Santa Monica Boulevard, I found myself in a sea of teens and twenty-something year olds in gold belts, long skirts, and silver nose rings waiting eagerly for the clock to strike. The doors opened promptly at 7:00, the 500-person venue filling by the minute. Eliza McLamb’s name was spelled out on the iconic Troubadour sign, and the young crowd was seeping with excitement for the last night of her very first tour.
This was my first time at the Troubadour and it absolutely exceeded all expectations. The dark yet intimate lighting, tightly packed room, snack bar, and faded wood walls felt reminiscent of concert videos from the ‘80s. As I waited for the show to begin, I pondered all the inspiring artists and musicians that sang, stage dived, or boogied just steps away from where I was standing, feeling at home in the historical music venue.
Around 7:30, Dan O’ Grady entered the stage with just a guitar in his hand. Growing up the main act’s childhood friend, he expressed his delight having watched McLamb’s musical career soar to the place it is today. The fully acoustic set presented vulnerable lyrics and intricate picking as the rest of the crowd shuffled to their positions.
Three piece indie rock band, Mini Trees, led by Lexi Vega, descended the side stage stairs at approximately 8:30. Around a dozen instruments were used during their set, from the mint telecaster, to the synths and drum pads, to the little banana shaker played as a timekeeper. Each of the clearly multi-talented musicians were in sync with one another as proven by non-verbal cues and perfectly timed rests. One could hear a pin drop each break before a high energy beat kicked in. It was hard to refrain from jumping in my place to “Burn Out”, only wishing that the rest of the audience would reflect my sentiments and dance as much as I wanted to. Let’s just say that I’ve got a new addition to my playlist! The ethereal sustainment of their final keys rang throughout the room, the audience captivated and in awe. Mini Trees thanked the concertgoers one last time, receiving generous applause.
After a few minutes to process and a quick roam around the venue, Eliza and her band made their entrance. Every head piqued up, cheers broke the silence, and phone cameras were drawn to capture the long anticipated beginning of a truly memorable night.
Perhaps I’m just a movie fanatic, but during the entire set, I kept imagining her music accompanying a coming of age film. “Irish Exit” created a joyful montage scene visual in my head, and “16” an emotional climax. The underscoring of each song felt effortlessly cinematic, the night’s set a perfect embodiment of a lovable 2000s flick.
“Modern Woman” was a clear fan favorite and teenage anthem. Her conversational tone and relatable lyrics captivated the audience who knew every word and every right time to scream. Voices could be heard flooding the air, screaming “you just wouldn’t get it” with just as much angst and emotion as the performers themselves.
Being in Los Angeles where her songs were written and the final stop of the tour, we were lucky enough to hear two unreleased songs, one written just a few days prior. To my surprise, the audience seemed to already know the lyrics to the first, demonstrating the loyal dedication of her fans. Furthermore, the entire upper level marked “Reserved for Artist” was full, a clear indication of the community she has built and maintained throughout her career.
The performance was more than just music, it was a story. Her eyes were intensely focused when open, and in deep thought when closed. From my corner of the room, I could feel her pain, her joy, and everything in between. For the second to last number, McLamb invited her friends, bandmates, and the opening acts back onstage to celebrate the tour’s end. They all swayed and clinked drinks, resembling a full cast production number, their love and pride in one another apparent.
Before the night could end, McLamb sang her final song, “Mythologize Me”, absolutely saving the best for last. The lights flashed pinks, oranges, and purples just before the disco ball illuminated the audience, inciting movement and an explosion of cheers. McLamb and the rest of the band embraced tightly before taking one final survey of the roaring crowd and ascending up the stairs for the last time of the tour.
As I turned the corner once more on Santa Monica Boulevard awaiting my Uber in the Friday night breeze, the street was lined with attendees desperate for merch purchases and tarrying, taking pictures with their friends. There was clearly no rush for anyone to depart from the historic Troubadour venue and leave their evening with Eliza McLamb behind.
