Many bands bred in Los Angeles don’t stay local for long. Striving to broaden their fan bases, these dedicated acts work hard in order to tour the States and beyond, allowing people all over the globe to catch a glimpse of their musical prowess. Of the SoCal up-and-comers, not many have been as successful in creating their own buzz as White Arrows and NO, and on Friday night, both celebrated a seemingly rare local show at Bootleg Theater.

The show marked the second of two sold-out nights headlined by White Arrows, with the first being so successful that Friday night’s gig was moved to the venue’s larger room. The psych-poppers celebrated their return to the City of Angels by playing a full energy set of the most upbeat tracks off their 2012 full-length debut, Dry Land Is Not A Myth, including the recently released single, “Little Birds.” When the band stepped onstage, guitarist JP Caballero rocked his signature Hawaiian shirt tucked snugly in jeans and a snazzy camo baseball cap equipped with green LED lights. Following typical quirky suit, vocalist Mickey Church strutted to the microphone in pink, ‘50s style sunglasses and later adorned himself in a flattering electric blue wig. As the band powered through its set, trippy projections flashed on a canvas behind the stage, creating an even more entertaining aesthetic. Church ended the set by telling his fans that they’ll be heading into the studio at the end of the summer to record new music. Needless to say, that comment went over well.

And NO’s performance went over equally as well. Though technically the support, the Echo Park indie rock six-piece packed the room. Fresh off the plane from a month in Europe playing various music festivals and opening for the Smashing Pumpkins, the band’s momentum continued into this performance. As they soared through songs off their debut EP Don’t Worry, You’ll Be Here Forever the crowd sang along at full volume. And, while they gifted their fans with brand new songs off their upcoming full-length, including a dance inducing New Wave-tinged track called “Monday,” their supporters showed their approval in the form of bobbing heads and vigorous applause. After NO’s set people buzzed about, some claiming they came to see them and others commenting on their happiness for arriving to the show early to catch the set, though they were previously unfamiliar with NO’s music. Old fans were satisfied and new fans were created: A true sign of a successful gig.

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