Concert Review: Stereophonics
Arriving at the Stereophonics show at The Henry Fonda Music Box, I was overcome with this overwhelming sense that I was in the presence of rockstars. It wasn’t just the band. The leather jacket and skinny pant dress code memo had definitely been received by 90% of the audience, and with all those hotties I definitely felt out of place. But did it really matter? Not one bit. My excitement over the prospect of finally seeing Stereophonics, a band whose live show I had only heard legend of, was bubbling over and I could no longer be concerned with silly things like a waning self confidence level.
Their show reminded me of some of the elements of a good performance. One of those elements that’s relatively indescribable is the “light” that a band radiates. The way that no matter how near or far, the band can seem larger than life, forcing you to look no where else but the stage, focused on the presentation of their musical endeavors. It’s the kind of factor that doesn’t necessarily make itself known at the time of the show, but it’s the way you look back on it. Picturing the scene there is this light that just floats around the band.
Another characteristic of a truly enjoyable show is the audience and the vibe they bring to the floor. While my initial thought was that these people were all way too hot to have a seriously good time, that was quickly washed away when I began listening to the crowd. People of all ages, from all walks of life, joined together to celebrate this bands arrival in Los Angeles. Hailing from Wales, I even met a fan (clad in all the Welsh gear you could imagine) who apparently lived down the street from Kelly Jones, the lead vocalist. Needless to say the audience was amped, and that energy clearly channeled itself to the band as well.
This tour celebrates the upcoming release of ‘Decade In The Sun: The Best Of Stereophonics’ on November 17th, 2008. Straight from the horses mouth, it’s “a timely collection that brings together all the band’s most memorable tracks.” Along with twenty rockin tracks, you can also get this bundled with a DVD featuring all their videos and bonus footage. Drop by a show, pick up the album, whatever you do, listen to this band!