Krystal Simpson and Lykke Li
While we love frequenting the West Coast, it’s not often we get to head out there, so when we do, we make sure it’s for a really good reason (see: Coachella). What brought us out here this week is none other than our favorite Swedish singer and FOK Lykke Li (told you it was a good reason). When we heard she was performing at the Wiltern Theater, we jumped at the chance to celebrate another fantastic show with her, and maybe even see if we could turn her last music video into a reality (see: shots of Kanon). We turned to one of our favorite bloggers, Krystal Simpson of What is Reality Anyway to give us a different perspective on the show from what we saw in New York. Known for her killer Penny Lane style, we knew she’d give us an appropriately rock ‘n' roll take on the night.
Here’s what Krystal had to say about her night with Lykke and Kanon as the Swedes took over LA:
Last night's sold out Lykke Li concert at The Witern in LA was packed with fans dancing on their tiptoes to see their favorite Swedish singer. They waited patiently through the opener Grimes, a one-woman act who only needed a synthesizer and her microphone to wow the crowd. When Grimes left the stage, the energy went into high gear, and a patient silence fell over the crowd. After a nearly five-minute long intro of smoke and strobes highlighting the long black sheets of fabric pillars that hung around the stage, the band started to appear from behind the cloud to unbridled screams. Lykke Li glided onto the stage in an all-black ensemble, very much the eye of the tornado, and opened with "Jerome" from her new album Wounded Rhymes. She followed with "I'm Good, I'm Gone" off her first album that had everyone in the theater dancing in unison.
Lykke played all her fan-favorites, and even a slew of covers including The Big Pink's "Velvet," The Knife's "Silent Shout," and Kleerup's "Until We Bleed," all of which was followed by an encore of her song "Youth Knows No Pain" that shook the walls of the historic theater. After the show we went over to Bar Marmont for the after-party featuring a list of delicious Kanon Vodka drinks, and got a chance to hang out with Lykke Li herself; still full of energy after her epic LA concert. Thanks to Kanon Vodka and Lykke Li for a wonderful night.
Photos by Aaron Gonzalez.
