Scenestar

ARTICLE BY GREG CARUSO
PHOTO BY THE VAST DIFFERENCE

APRIL 23 | ECHO PARK—Initially, this evening’s closing act was billed as a “special guest,” but as we all know, many cyber heads cajoling on the Internet always find ways to debunk or spoil any one’s secret. Tonight’s special guest was the beloved Architecture in Helsinki!

The evening kicked off with Eastside darlings The Happy Hollows. Seeing this feisty trio is always a treat because they not only bring the rock, but they always make it look like so much fun. Adding to her finger-tapping rhythms and exceptional guitar work, lead singer/guitarist Sarah Negahdari bops around the stage like a hipster version of Toni Basil (of “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind” fame). Unlike Ms. Basil, however, The Happy Hollows have no chance of being a one-hit wonder. Along with bassist Charlie Mahoney and drummer Chris Hernandez, both exchanging vocal cues with Negahdari, the trio treated their fans to a 45-minute set that saw them blaze through 11 songs from their growing repertoire.

The Ruby Suns began setting up right after the Hollows finished their set. It turns out that this band is the brainchild of Ryan McPhun, former drummer of The Brunettes and current drummer for tonight’s special guest, Architecture in Helsinki. Featuring a variety of looping drums and instruments, McPhun and his crew of two lovely ladies created richly textured sounds, which seemed to emanate from a variety of influences. The band performed a very impressive set, but despite their lush vibrations, holding the attention of the crowd was just too daunting. One might say the Suns are too slow, but this doesn’t mean that their songs as a whole falter entirely. One remarkable highlight was the band’s closing song, “Tane Mahuta,” featuring Helsinki’s Jamie Mildren on trombone.

Architecture in Helsinki has always been known to put on a blistering live show. Their barrage of instrumentation, as well as their enthusiastic stage presence, has been drawing in crowds for years. Tonight’s pre-Coachella show was by no means any different. The impressive group arrived on stage amidst heavy applause in the packed Echo. Starting with “Do the Whirlwind” from 2005’s In Case We Die, the group blasted through a wide assortment of selections from their catalog. One thing that can be taken away from a Helsinki show is that their musicianship seems to transcend their overall studio work. Songs such as “Wishbone” and “Hold Music” were taken to glorious levels. The band also treated fans to two covers, “Beef in a Box” by IQ and “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder. The evening ended with an epic “Heart It Races,” which left the tuckered crowd sweaty and happy. Fans at Coachella undoubtedly felt the same way.