Tag: LANY

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LANY @ Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney – 6 August 2023

We’ve all got those bands we wish we knew when they were playing tiny venues. We rarely get the chance for a do-over, but LANY treated Aussie fans to just that when they decided to return to the very first venues they played in this country last weekend. The shows were announced less than a week before they happened and LANY fans were quick to jump on the very limited tickets. I couldn’t quite believe I scored two, especially when I read that they sold out in minutes.

The Oxford Art Factory has a listed capacity of 500, but I’m not sure it held even that. It certainly felt very intimate as we shuffled into this warehouse-style room for the show. There was such a buzz in the air, like we all knew how special this was going to be. And special it was. A short, stripped-back set that celebrated the new material while paying homage to their back catalogue. The tracks from LANY’s upcoming album, i really really hope so, came out early. The beautiful thing about playing such a small gig before an album release is that the people that are there love you. They won’t criticise you like those Red Hot Chilli Peppers fans who wanted the old favourites. They’ll be thrilled to hear these songs live for the first time. And they’ll sing along to every damn word. Even to “XXL”, which dropped on Friday. The smile on lead singer Paul’s face as we joined him in those new lyrics was everything.

This was always advertised as a half-hour show, so I wondered what old favourites might make the cut. When you’re performing for such die-hard fans, you really get the opportunity to play anything that moves you after all. Fittingly for this venue, LANY took it right back, playing “pink skies” from the kinda EP and “Super Far,” “13”, and the predictable but perfect closer, “ILYSB”, from their self-titled debut album. I tried to hang onto every moment, but soon enough the fans down the front were throwing roses on the stage and Paul was assuring us they’d be back early next year. I can’t wait. Until then, I’ll hold my memories of this very special night in Eora/Sydney with LANY close to my heart.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LANY @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – 25 May 2022

Midweek gigs are tough! You get to a certain age and it takes a lot to get you out in your local area, let alone make the trip from the Central Coast to Sydney for a show. But LANY put on one of the greatest live shows I’ve ever witnessed. I might be hurting now, but I was not going to miss it. So back to the Hordern I trudged, ready to back up the weekend’s Dermot Kennedy gig.

Adelaide act Bjéar were a late addition to the line-up after the original support act Sasha Alex Sloan couldn’t make the trip. The enthusiastic crowd didn’t mind the last-minute change one bit. The applause when they took the stage was so rapturous my husband asked me whether the crowd knew this wasn’t the main act. I can’t say, but I can say the young crowd ate up what they did. Meanwhile, I sat there feeling every one of my 42 years. There were moments I enjoyed, especially when the bassist took the mic and we discovered she has the most gorgeous voice. Overall though, the ambling songs and overuse of the vocoder left me feeling a bit disconnected. But as I say, the majority of the young crowd loved it, so maybe there’s something there I’m missing.

While Bjéar weren’t my cup of tea, LANY were all that and more. Near the top of the show, frontman Paul Klein told us we were going to have the best night of our lives. It’s an audacious claim, but I’m not sure he was wrong. I can’t honestly remember a time when I had more fun. Paul has such relentless energy. He’s a born performer, on the whole time whether he’s dancing about or jumping on platforms during upbeat numbers or taking us on a more emotional journey with a tender ballad. As an audience member, it’s infectious. It might have been late on a school night, but we were all partying along with him.

In the three years since LANY last played here, they’ve released two albums. I wondered whether old favourites might be sacrificed for new material, but this set was perfect. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a band get the balance so right. New favourites like “never mind, let’s break up”, “ex i never had”, and “cowboy in LA” took their place against classics like “Thick and Thin” and “Super Far”. I was thrilled to hear so many songs from Malibu Nights, the album that turned me onto the band, make the set. And then there were the deep cuts! After a band releases four albums, you don’t expect to hear early EP tracks like “pink skies” make the set. What a treat!

Speaking of fans, what a joy they are. I must admit, it’s still a little weird to go to concerts where most members of the audience are less than half your age. But after being annoyed by the incessant chatter at the Dermot Kennedy show, I appreciated these fans even more. They were so respectful of the artists, not just the headliner but the support act too. They were properly in it, singing along to every lyric, holding their phones aloft like cigarette lighters, soaking up every moment. No wonder by the end of the show Paul told us that we were the best audience of the Australian tour. He might say that in every city, but we’ll take it. He also assured us they’ll be back next year, the year after that, and every year for the rest of their lives. If they do, so will I. Because nothing is more fun than a LANY show.

LANY will play Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne tomorrow night and Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on Sunday night before they head to New Zealand. If you’re on the fence about a weeknight gig, just buy the tickets. Life is too short to miss shows this good.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LANY @ Enmore Theatre, Newtown – 14 July 2019

Do you remember the excitement you felt at your first concert? The electricity in the air, the pure joy that came from seeing favourite performers create the music you hold so dear right in front of you? Live music has become a bit of a drug for me over the decades, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get the same high I did back in the early days. Now I choose the seats over general admission. While I try to make the support acts, and mostly do, I’ve been known to linger too long over a meal or drinks. Since I typically attend gigs with crowds around my age or much older, the way I experience concerts has mellowed. I didn’t realise how much I missed that “lose your mind” concert excitement until I saw LANY recently at The Enmore.

I’ve never felt so old at a concert. I’m not sure I was the oldest person there, but I’m sure I was the oldest person without a teenage child in tow. I marvelled at the way the young crowd packed out the floor area before Los Leo, the first support act, graced the stage and the way they screamed for the Adelaide opener. I’m not sure they were familiar with his music, but they were more than receptive to his synth-pop tunes. While he’s still a little green, his ‘80s influenced tunes are stellar. With a little more experience, I think he could be a real force.

My inner old fart grumbled at the thought of another support act. It was Sunday night, after all, and while the young audience might have been on school holidays some of us had to get to work the next day. I quickly forgot my reservations watching Robinson perform though. This talented Kiwi is an absolute superstar. Her voice is incredible and she has such a magnetic presence on stage. This woman can move! The room loved her, singing along enthusiastically to songs I didn’t know but quickly warmed to.

I thought the crowd was loud for the support act, but they showed they could reach 11 when LANY graced the stage. Deafening cheers gave way to an enthusiastic singalong of “Thick and Thin,” one of the biggest hits from their 2018 album Malibu Nights. That album was what brought me to the show. It was my favourite release of last year. I think it’s one of the greatest break-up albums ever recorded, so I was thrilled to hear so many of its songs make the set list. Long-time fans weren’t forgotten though, with just as many tracks from their self-titled debut also making an appearance along with a handful from earlier EPs.

Lead singer Paul Klein told the crowd this was the band’s 78th show of the year, an amazing feat considering we’re only just past the halfway point. You might expect a little fatigue to set in, especially with jetlag in the mix, but LANY’s set was one of the most explosive I’ve seen. Paul is such a charismatic front man, whether he’s jumping around during an upbeat number or taking a quiet moment behind the keys. I was absolutely mesmerised. This is no one-man operation though. LANY are one of the tightest bands I’ve ever heard, and that’s because of every person on that stage.

I once read music is the universal language. It crosses cultures and generations. I felt a bit like a fish out of water amongst the young things at LANY, but once the lights went down and we all started singing at the top of our lungs I realised I haven’t left my teenage self too far behind. Paul gushed about how much they love Australia and assured us they’ll be back soon. I will be too, perhaps the oldest in the room but happy to be so.

Image source: own photos