LOCAL NATIVES / KROOKED KINGS – LIVE AT COLLEGE STREET

By Ralph Beauchamp

A night at College Street always seems to start with a decent meal. Going to the Local Natives / Krooked Kings tour stop at the Music Hall was no exception. I met up with friends Jeff and Cindy at Te Amo Tequila Bar & Tacos on Temple Street for food and libation. Also in attendance was their son Tim accompanied by his wife Rebecca. After a really good meal, beers (no shots tonight) and excellent conversation, off we went to College Street where I met up with tonight’s photographer, Mia.

Krooked Kings opened the night with a track from their new album entitled Shiver. “Catacombs” is a perfect example of the Krooked Kings’ style of indie rock. Stylistic and introspective, the song sent swells of lush textures throughout the venue. Krooked Kings formed in 2019 at the University of Utah and have been quite active dropping three full lengths since then. Lead vocalist, Oli Martin (Guitar) was once a Mormon but left the faith after going on a mission which in turn inspired him to write music. The rest of the band is comprised of Paul Colgan (Lead Guitar), David Macey (Keys), Matt Monosson (Bass) and Quinn Casper (Drums).

Photos Mia Palazzo

After “Catacombs” KK went into another selection from their 2024 release, Shiver. “On Again, Off Again” also delivered pleasant vibes and brazen rhythms that the audience totally enjoyed. I began to realize that a good portion of this growing crowd was well aware who the Krooked Kings were. There was always an enthusiastic audience response after each song. Most of the set was composed of tracks from Shiver as well as their 2023 release, All Out Of Good Days.

The Kings played an eleven song set that was highlighted by quite a few fan favorites. “Wish We Could Be Friends”, “Bird Scooter” (which came with a fun story) and “Sick of Being Young” all transported the house to enlightened spaces. They closed out with wonderful rendition of “Coming of Age”. Krooked Kings are a exhilarating band that is worth the watch.

By the time Local Natives popped on stage College Street was packed. Local Natives are an indie rock band based out of LA that has dropped five studio albums with the first being Gorilla Manor. They recently released two full lengths entitled Time Will Wait For No One (2023) and But I’ll Wait for You (2024) which were recorded at the same recording sessions. Their sound bridges many genres besides indie. Pop, folk and jazz all get thrown into the mix.

Local Natives described But I’ll Wait for You as “the second half of a large body of music we made together, the first half we shared last year with Time Will Wait for No One. It’s a companion piece. A sister album. Maybe not an answer to a question, but an exhale to an inhale. So little is in our control, but among all this chaos we can choose to be there for each other. Thank you again to John Congleton, Michael Harris, and Danny Reisch, the incredibly talented producers who helped us bring these songs into their fully realized selves.”

Local Natives came out strong. “April” set the tone for the night. The vocals were heavenly with glorious harmonies. The musicianship was outstanding and the band easily captivated the audience. This was their crowd. “Just Before the Morning”, “Megaton Mile” and “I Saw You Close Your Eyes” all followed. College Street was eating it up. The pit was rocking with the audacious vibes Local Natives was letting loose.

Taylor Rice’s (Vocals/Guitar) imposing stage presence was impressive. Kelcey Ayer’s (Vocals/Keys/Percussion) personality lifted the crowd up to the rafters while Nick Ewing (Bass/Keys/Vocals) stalked the stage with a dynamic intensity. Ryan Hahn (Guitar) gave every song a fresh layer of paint. Matthew Frazier’s (Drums) steady beat and cinematic dexterity held everything together. Local Natives were killing it.

Photos Mia Palazzo

Local Natives‘ extended set included adored hits as well as several surprises. “Ceilings”, “Coins”, “Alpharetta” all carried a punch. The ensemble closed out with an explosive barrage of sonic beauty. “Wide Eyes”, “Dark Days” and a unbelievable version of “Sun Hands” left the house wanting more. Local Natives quickly obliged with a powerful encore of “Bowery”, “Who Knows, Who Cares” and their huge smash off of Violet Street, “When Am I Gonna Lose You”. This night College Street was extremely happy and satisfied.

The only caveat to the evening is the fact that Ayer is leaving the band after this tour in order to pursue other avenues. He will be sorely missed but all things evolve. Hopefully Local Natives continue with the same ferocity. We all wish Ayer luck in his future ventures.

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