Review: Shattered Atom Album Release Show at The Viper Room

For a weekday evening in West Hollywood, The Viper Room’s pseudo-claustrophobic interior seemed to be packed with more bodies than usual, what with the turnout for the debut album release show for Los Angeles-based band Shattered Atom. Things started off almost cinematically, with closed stage curtains opening after a few measures, launching into the first song of the night and resulting in an amiable impression that would remain throughout.

“Maybe Someday” – a song whose chorus bears the album’s title, The Knife, The Thief – set the evening’s tone while providing a seamless transition into the album’s first track, “Under the Stars”. It would be difficult to not liken the vocals and keys of frontman Jeremy Willford to Coldplay’s Chris Martin, a similarity drawn with which to neither say good nor bad, but merely draw the comparison. However, the energy emanating from the band as a single entity is something completely Shattered Atom’s own. Its members – including Daniel Khim on lead guitar, Troy Ross on bass guitar, and Kelsey Drayton on drums – worked well together in their live element, cohesively, with care. This band is their baby, and it was apparent during the performance that they’ve every intention that it does well.

Due to the reduction in performance time (whether self-inflicted or as a result of the previous act), the audience was treated more involving music than personal anecdotes. While we would have loved to see the softer side of the already personable band, the charged yet introspective “Hollywood” (apropos considering the location) and the equally kinetic “Shadow” gave us enough melodic glimpse into their thought process to stave off the desire, for now.

The last song of the evening, “Hold Me Closely”, brought news with it: the upbeat, life-partner-inspired ditty would be featured in a Disney movie. Which one, we don’t know; we’d probably have been killed upon being informed. But in being the least elusive song on the album, we wouldn’t put this news past the realm of reality. Vicariously, we couldn’t be more excited at their jackpot!

So, as a summary and willful admission, there was very much a fangirl moment involving mouthing along to lyrics, at least at my end of the venue (ahem), and enjoying every second of it. Shattered Atom’s ability to work in positive vibes with somber tones alongside oft-available, stirring bursts of energy makes for an awesome sound, and we can’t wait to hear more from them.