Whitney Ends 2023 West Coast Tour With a Bang in Los Angeles
Words & photos by Greg Poblete
March 30, 2023 — Chicago-based indie duo, Whitney, concluded their 2023 spring west coast tour with a final sold-out stop at The Regent Theater in Los Angeles, California. Comprised of Julien Ehrlich (vocals, drums, guitar, keys) and Max Kakacek (lead guitar), neither of whom are actually named Whitney, bring a soft and comforting vibe with twangy guitars, gentle vocals, combined with heartbreaking lyrics that’ll make you want to bop your head with tears flowing from your eyes.
In the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, The Regent Theater captures a faux New York late-night lifestyle with the hustle and bustle of hip millennials catching a show and then immediately popping into the pizzeria connected next door. Inside, the venue is ergonomically shaped to support intimate acts, but sizable enough to accommodate a crowd large enough in need of two bars on either side of the room to stay quenched for the entirety of a show. The floor, rather sticky presumably from all the spilled drinks, tilts towards the stage, making it so that no matter where you stand, and no matter what height you are, there is always a great view. And a luminous giant disco ball hangs in the center of the ceiling allowing for plenty of good vibes to shine.
The opening act, Shannon Lay, came through with a pillowy acoustic set garnished with lovely fingerpicking and mesmerizing vocals. With her bright orange hair and Spanish guitar, it was impossible not to give her your full attention, at least for most of the crowd. Some conversations were sputtering during her set, and Lay tenderly asked for people to “shut the fuck up.” The last song of her set, “Awaken and Allow” felt like a mediation of sorts as she held down the strings of her guitar silent and sang a cappella. She prefaced the song as an encouragement to allow for snow to melt, essentially asking the crowd to give in and let go. Lay’s set was beautiful and heartwarming, and paved the stage gracefully for the main act.
Whitney’s stage setup included several guitars, keyboards, a trumpet, and two drum kits, one of which was placed in the center of the stage where Ehrlich performed for most of the show. As the band walked on stage, the chill midwest vibes were at an all-time high, with a third of the band wearing flannel shirts and 5 out of 6 members wearing glasses. Not that wearing glasses is exclusively a midwestern trait; it just seemed like an interesting fact to point out.
The band came out the gates playing hit after hit such as “Golden Days,” “Dave’s Song,” and “BLUE.” The set was a good mixture of older songs, a few from their 2022 release, SPARK, and some unreleased gems. A personal favorite of mine, “Giving Up,” was placed towards the beginning of the 20-song setlist, and I am proud to announce that I did not fall for the fake out in the middle of the song. In the recorded version, about halfway through, there is a slight pause just after the second chorus and then jumps into an instrumental breakdown, which includes a beautiful trumpet solo. At the show, about half the crowd began to clap at the pause only to be greeted by blaring horns played by touring band member, JJ Kirkpatrick.
If it’s one thing apparent about Whitney is that they sound amazing live. Compared to their recordings, it’s basically like taking the Pepsi Challenge. They’re both similar in taste, but one clearly has a bit more bite. Ehrlich’s vocals are crisp, Kakacek’s guitars are punchy, and the rest of the live band’s instrumentation nestles comfortably within the grooves. Genre-wise, Whitney teeters on folk-rock and indie-pop, meshing into a sort of metropolitan-country. There is so much to love about this band, whether it’s the gut-wrenching lyrics, the luscious instrumentation, or the witty stage banter. If you find yourself at a Whitney show, you are definitely in for a treat.
To keep up with everything Whitney, check out their website. And make sure to listen to their new album SPARK, available on all streaming services.
