Los Angeles – It was pretty fitting that just before the four members of Speedy Ortiz took the stage at Los Angeles’ The Echo, Pusha-T’s boastful trap-hop single “Numbers on the Boards” pulsed through the venue’s PA. Sadie Dupuis and company’s latest release for Carpark Records, Foil Deer, has been universally praised for its powerful lyrical themes that make clear declarations of confidence, independence and supremacy. But unlike the braggadocio-driven track pumping up the crowd, the swank in Dupuis’ sound comes from a more complicated feminist perspective and just feels a lot more genuine.
Dupuis was joined on stage by Speedy Ortiz’ reshuffled lineup consisting of longtime drummer Mike Falcone, bassist Darl Ferm, and second guitarist Devin McKnight of Grass is Green. It was clear that the band has had sufficient time to gel, as they were tighter than most any other band to grace The Echo’s stage this year. The band avoids traditional song structures and favors allowing their riffs to suddenly meander or pummel in unexpected and exciting directions; song after song, they hit every note and nailed every sonic about-face.
The quartet briskly covered just about every song from their EP and two full lengths, playing for nearly an hour. They started their set off with Major Arcana’s “Tiger Tank”, which is a perfect example of a song that features an insanely catchy and surprisingly unconventional chorus riff. While it may be one of their older songs, it was the perfect lead-in to a set that perfectly encompassed the highlights of their releases.
The band has clearly gained a broader fan base following the release and acclaim of Foil Deer, and they did not disappoint these new fans by turning in incredible performances of their most recent singles, “Raising the Skate” and “The Graduates”. With both songs, Dupuis tweaked her vocals slightly, giving them a sound that is just a little different from what was heard on the recordings. It is clear that Speedy Ortiz aim to give their audience something a little more exhilarating in a live setting instead of simply offering line-for-line reproductions of their albums.
While during the songs the band was very intense, between songs they lightheartedly interacted with the large and very-excited crowd; they are quite well-known for being a very fan-friendly band, and Dupuis even spent opener Alex G’s set chatting with fans at the merch table. They even reacted perfectly to the guys in the back who kept yelling “Speedy Ortiz!” and “Pile!” at them between every single song – at one point Dupuis and Falcone just began joking that they were in fact members of the Boston punk band and pretended their songs were in fact Pile tracks.
With its electronica influence and danceable qualities, “Puffer” is one of the most unique songs that Dupuis has written. Instead of simply bringing out a laptop to recreate some of the more electronic flourishes, Speedy Ortiz instead adapted it to fit in with their more abrasive, punk rock live aesthetic. To be fair, McKnight did step to the side to play keyboard during song’s beginning measures, but by the end of the track he was right back at the front of the stage pummeling his guitar.
Other standouts from the show include “My Dead Girl” and “Ginger” from Foil Deer, “Plough” from Major Arcana, and of course “Taylor Swift” from the Real Hair EP (played in honor of the pop songstress’ string of dates in the City of Angels).
Speedy Ortiz continues their tour with shows throughout the United States and Canada in June and several appearances at music festivals throughout the summer. This fall, they will head abroad for an extensive European tour.
Check out Speedy Ortiz on Facebook for information on tickets.
Matt Matasci
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