The Griswolds Shine At The Hollywood Palladium

Griswolds

Los Angeles – The Griswolds are an indie-pop foursome hailing from Sydney, Australia. On Thursday night at the sold-out Hollywood Palladium, the group performed songs off their 2014 debut LP, Be Impressive. The band’s members include Christopher Whitehall (vocals), Daniel Duque-Perez (lead guitarist), Tim John (bass), and Lachlan West (drums). Their wild mix of youthful exuberance and strong conviction was presented center stage to a crowd of many youngsters and college-aged attendees.

Though the opening band for the evening, they seemingly had a strong following present. Concertgoers were utterly engaged by the band’s frenetic energy and bouncy demonstration. The audience was clearly aware of the band’s most popular tune, “Beware The Dog,” as singing along to the infectious single was amazingly easy for most. The Griswolds performed 10 songs, the majority of the tracks coming from their debut endeavor. Their Foster The People meets MGMT musical style is working out for them quite agreeably. Fortunately, the band transcends the at face-value-only comparisons to other acts with an immense collection of wickedly catchy tunes that convert exceptionally well within a live performance.

“Right On Track” opened the night with 80s piercing synths alongside an enriching chorus. Whitehall’s vivacious vocals right out of the gate attracted those patrons just coming through the doors. The tone is slightly less upbeat than the bulk of their songs, but is nonetheless a catchy and positive effort. “16 Years” is a big, bright, bold electro-pop anthem. It easily has one moving and shaking. As if the audience needed another reason to go crazy, the dominance of “If You Wanna Stay” transfixed everyone. Its thunderous bass and high-octane drumbeats powered by Whitehall’s pitch-perfect falsetto was the most potent formula of the night. “Be Impressive” features kid vocals chanting “Be impressive, be be impressive” from the beginning. Once it passes, the purely optimistic resonance of The Griswolds kicks in. The song, like the entire performance itself, didn’t have a shred of fallacy. Perhaps it was the humid theater, but The Griswolds’ series of songs made it feel like we were in the midst of a summer night—a particular feeling most can agree is unmistakably majestic.

“Mississippi” was featured on the band’s first EP, Heart Of A Lion. The jubilant resonance was expected, but the song felt different than what the songs from their debut record symbolized. This soul-pop gem featured charming vocals and appeasing melodies and was considerably less frantic than what the night mostly consisted of. That moment of slowing down was short-lived as “Down and Out” got the excitement sky high again. This specific jam had a plethora of intoxicating beats and a chorus that would lift one off the floor. Seriously, these guys have a defined tactic in elevating the minds and, most of all, bodies (excessive jumping) of their devoted fans. The second-to-last track of the night was the band’s single, “Beware The Dog,” which came with the obligatory screams and excitement from the spectators. Everyone was belting out the line found in the chorus, “But now you’re fucking crazy.” The mega-hit track is one massively happy-go-lucky song never lacking in zeal that epitomizes the college party anthem to the absolute fullest. The Griswolds are a wild bunch of dudes that played with much exultance without ever showing fatigue or apathy. Undoubtedly, these Australians know how to have a great time in the same way they know how to deliver a piquant exhibition.

The Griswolds are opening for Walk The Moon in North America through May 9.  They continue on their own in the U.K. and Europe before returning Stateside for more dates.

Check out The Griswolds Facebook for upcoming dates in a city near you.
Sean Kayden

Sean Kayden

His father has always been an avid fan of 70s and 80s artists. He introduced Sean at an early age to the likes of many rock groups of that era. In the late 90s, Sean acquired a fondness for the likes of such alternative bands as Smashing Pumpkins, Goo Goo Dolls, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In high school, he gravitated towards artists like Brand New, Saves The Day, and Fall Out Boy. As Sean entered California State University Fullerton, where he earned his BA in Radio/TV/Film, his music taste expanded to the realm of Broken Social Scene, The National, and Death Cab For Cutie. For as long as Sean can remember, he has always had the desire of launching his own stories that would someday be presented through television, film, and print. This form of expression continuously uplifts his spirit. Sean is a certified TRX fitness trainer and teaches group classes as well.
Sean Kayden