Horse Feathers and Y La Bamba Give LA a Taste of Portland

Horse Feathers
Horse Feathers

Everything about last night’s show at The Echo was Portland-esque, from the intimate, nondescript venue; to the good (and cheap) tap selection and flannel clad band and audience members. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve sworn that all three acts on the bill hailed from the City of Roses, but no, the openers, Hi Ho Silver Oh, live right here in LA.

The foursome could have tricked anyone into thinking it was a Northwest outfit. Dressed in plaid and mustachioed, the quartet produced beautiful indie folk harmonies amidst pedal laden guitar riffs, and in the same vein as its Portland-based counterparts, each member of Hi Ho Silver Oh sang at one time or another.

YLaBamba
Y La Bamba

But nothing was as impressive as Y La Bamba’s harmonizing. Though there were seven musicians on stage, each one of them was equipped with a microphone, and at any given moment there was anywhere from a two to seven piece harmony soaring through the room, always led by the gorgeous Luzelena Mendoza’s sultry, bone-chilling vocals. The alt-folk septet showcased its debut LP, Lupan, released on the wonderful Portland record label, Tender Loving Empire, during its performance, and the blend of folk and classic Mexican music influences translated remarkably live.

Y La Bamba was a tough act to follow, but Horse Feathers put on yet another amazing set. Again, the four members on stage harmonized beautifully together, and what set the headliner apart from the other two bands on the bill was the mélange of instruments the quartet played. Not only did the woodsy folk outfit have a cello and violin (and occasionally saw) player, but it also featured Sam Cooper, a multi-instrumentalist who played the banjo, percussion, xylophone, mandolin, and anything else he could get his hands on. Horse Feathers’ quiet, serene melodies left the perfect mood for a wet, winter night.