Notes: Dean Wareham @ Roxy Theatre, June 19, 2014

Notes: Dean Wareham @ Roxy Theatre, June 19, 2014

Recently relocated from New York, the city with which he’s been long identified, to take up residence here in the Hills, Dean Wareham seemed at ease on stage with an mild though attentive L.A. audience at the Roxy last Thursday. Looking like someone’s cool dad (which he is) just slightly rumpled in a casual stripped polo shirt and dark framed glasses and hair sprouting perhaps a slightly lesser amount of his usual poof, he gives off an air between bookishness (he is after all an author) and rocker cool (he does after all have a shiny Les Paul). He’s self effacing but you sense the confidence underneath it.

Despite the occasion of the new self titled solo record and last year’s e.p. — first ever sets released under his own full name in a musical career that spans four decades (similar to Ben Watt who also just released a self titled set at age 50 after a 30 year span) — the set featured a healthy chunk of Galaxie 500 classics along with a pair of Luna gems to much audible appreciation from the crowd. Ending the night with the prior’s cover of “Ceremony”, it is hard to think of a song that is as much identified by its cover version as its original recording.

Dean Wareham | deanwareham.com


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Photos: Metronomy @ The Fonda Theatre, June 17, 2014

Photos: Metronomy @ The Fonda Theatre, June 17, 2014

Metronomy | metronomy.co.uk
Fonda Theatre | fondatheatre.com
[Full Gallery w/ More Photos. . .]


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Photos: Ben Watt with Bernard Butler @ Echoplex, June 13, 2014

Photos: Ben Watt with Bernard Butler @ Echoplex, June 13, 2014

Ben Watt | benwatt.com


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Photos: Matt Kivel @ Echoplex, June 13, 2014

Photos: Matt Kivel @ Echoplex, June 13, 2014

Matt Kivel | fb/mattkivel


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Notes: Ben Watt with Bernard Butler @ Echoplex, June 13, 2014

Notes: Ben Watt with Bernard Butler @ Echoplex, June 13, 2014

Ben Watt, best known stateside as half of beloved pop duo Everything but the Girl, made his Los Angeles debut as a solo artist last Friday. Touring in support of his well received new album, Hendra, his first solo effort penned under his own name in 31 years, a melancholy, occasionally heartening, expertly crafted set of folky, sometimes mildly rocking songs, Watt played to a modest, appreciative seated Echoplex audience.

A large part of the draw for the evening no doubt (Watt himself would surely admit as much) was his principal collaborator on Hendra who was billed to accompany him on guitar, Bernard Butler. Now twenty odd years on since those classic early Suede years, Butler comes to us as nothing less than a contemporary legend, and a worthy partner to Watt, who thanked him from the stage both early and late in the set. . . [Continue reading]

Ben Watt | benwatt.com


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