AA Bondy: Concert Review

AA Bondy graced Los Angeles with his presence at The Echo Saturday night and music lovers welcomed him with open arms and ears. With Willy Mason and Nik Freitas as openers, it was clear the show was sold out. Fans packed in the small venue from wall to wall in eagerness to hear the folk artist croon his soft ballads and sway us with his pulsating rhythms.

With vocals so sincere, those in attendance paid AA Bondy with the notice a musician can only dream of on a good day. Bondy played a gorgeous set that lasted over an hour and every soul in the room was touched with his gentleness. Rich sounds comprised of soft drums, tender strums on the guitar, and mighty melodies that soared out of his harmonica made us believe this was Bob Dylan in his prime.

Songs from his latest record, When The Devil’s Loose, such as “I Can See The Pines Are Dancing” and “To The Morning” washed over the audience with such spirit many didn’t know whether they would cry as they held a hand over their heart in awe or cheer out to thank him for genuine tales that soothe even the most hardened soul. Soul moving and cheers both occurred that night.

Although there is a dark gravity that he provides in his music, a listener can’t help but want to explore and get lost in the intrigue. The path of the loneliness without the light so easily handed to some can often lead to personal discoveries and Bondy shares how the open spaces in heartbreak and solitude can build a new world.

Strip the early Ryan Adams down to his most vulnerable state, put him in the mist of Band of Horses and you have this man standing in front of you singing his deepest thoughts which only transform vulnerability into profound strength. This growth is heard when he chooses to sing “And I gave my hand to the fates/And they took me ’round.”

Photo by Andrew White courtesy of When You Awake