Motel Radio @
The Fonda Theater
MOTEL RADIO PERFORM TO SOLD OUT FONDA THEATER
It is not typical to see a packed room full of people when the supporting act performs, but that was the case for Motel Radio who opened for Summer Salt at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. Both the floor and the balcony area of the theater overflowed with people who came to see all three acts that were playing that night — Summer Salt, Dante Elephante, and Motel Radio. Motel Radio recently released their first full album Siesta Del Sol on July 12 which consists of groovy, mellow songs that listeners can listen to on their drive, at a summer backyard party, or even when you are sipping on wine alone in your living room. It was their perfect opportunity to showcase their new tracks and captivate the listeners with their dreamy sound.
In "M.I.A" the bass added an R&B and soul vibe compared to the rest of the setlist that were more laidback tunes and it's evident why it's Andrew’s favorite off of the album.
When the New Orleans band started playing their music, it was no surprise that they have such a strong following. As soon as the curtain unveiled the stage, young girls’ shrieks emerged from the crowd who could not hide their excitement as the band walked on stage. The set was introduced with an instrumental performance to which the audience swayed to the beat of the drums and the melody of the guitar. The song was later joined by the sweet voices and harmonies of Ian Wellman and Winston Triolo.
The setlist included tracks from this amazing new album such as "Midnight", "Liquor Dreams", and "M.I.A". (Andrew’s favorite song off the album according to our interview!. In "M.I.A" the bass added an R&B and soul vibe compared to the rest of the setlist that were more laidback tunes and it's evident why it's Andrew’s favorite off of the album. They also played songs from their older EP’s. In fact, one of best songs performed in their set was “Streetlights”, with its folky southern tune that makes you just want to look at a sunset and reflect on your life. As the band looked to the crowd and shared that it was their biggest show on the tour so far, they expressed their gratitude to Summer Salt for having them on the tour.
Seeking to engage their audience, the band asked the audience to join them in signing a line with them in their last song “Liquor Dreams”. The song is an upbeat track that makes you want to move your body and start dancing with a stranger. Towards the end of the song, there’s a line that goes “do do - do do do ya” which they encouraged the audience to start signing with them. What was impressive, though, is that the band started switching instruments with each other as they were still playing the song — Ian Wellman (guitar) with Eric Lloyd (drums) and Andrew Pancamo (bass) with Winston Triolo (guitar). Never once did they skip a beat or glitch the melody when switching instruments.
Even as opening acts, Motel Radio put on such a memorable performance that audience will surely check them out after the show if they have not discovered them already. Listening to Motel Radio’s new album is the best way to end your summer! Make sure to check out their newest M.I.A. and our interview with the band here!
(4 / 5)
Review and photos by Shion Uza
