A highlight of this year’s Red Bull Sound Select 30 Days in LA November concert series, the ascendant Car Seat Headrest rocked a packed Teragram Ballroom Sunday night, their first area show since April.

Their origin story as a bedroom-recording Bandcamp wunderkind has been well documented, though Car Seat Headrest live is very much a proper four-piece band these days – Ethan Ives, searing lefty lead guitar; Andrew Katz bashing the kit, Seth Dalby holding down the low end – and of course, singer-songwriter Will Toledo, on rhythm guitar and vocals. He has a classic throaty delivery that’s more earnest than ironic, that, along with the big guitar sounds, tap right into nostalgia pleasure centers for older indie rock vets, a few of whom are in the room tonight. While at the same time it’s clearly bringing in youngins brand new to indie, forged all the more by his online presence. Toledo’s fast easing into the role of star band frontperson, sporting a smart blazer and skinny tie, cutting a shape something like a vintage anime hero, all big hair and slim limbs.

Car Seat Headrest | carseatheadrest.tumblr.com
Red Bull Sound Select 30 Days In LA | 30days.redbullsoundselect.com

[Words continue below. . .]