Opening the evening and armed with only his six-string, Benjamin Francis Leftwich brought a sold out crowd to a stand-still at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood on Friday night. The York based singer-songwriter and recent Vagrant signee held the captive audience for his brief 35 minute set.
Fans sang along to Leftwich’s inquisitive lyrics and distinctive voice. I’ll admit, I was interested to hear the hushness and subtle rasps of his vocals in a live setting. Could someone actually sing like that? They can and Leftwich serves an example. Perhaps the smokes help, as Ben asked the audience to ‘crash’ a cigarette between one song. The banter was casual as the atmosphere and songs were dedicated to executives that were, as he put it, “half man and half dragon”, and tales of getting approached by hookers while on tour in NY. Ben sang his way through a short set material including “Maps”, “Is That You On That Plane”, and closed things with “Atlas Hands” leaving on lookers with an invitation come catch him at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood this coming Wednesday night.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich 
(Facebook)
Next on the stage were Imagine Dragons who performed with the tightness and showmanship of a summer festival band. They have the sort of energetic sound medly that has become synonymous with the modern rock charts over the last twelve (or so) years. Frontman and singer Dan Reynolds wailed on a variety of percussion intermittently throughout the set, including one seriously gigantic mounted kick drum, some floor-toms, shakers, etc. His extra percussion role seemed to border the space between what constitutes things that make for added-depth or gimmick in any band. Either way, the role fills out the fullness of a big sound that many fans become familiar with on record. I’ve seen bands able to swing both ways on this sort of element. Recent single “Radioactive” especially drove home to the capacity filled Troubadour. Imagine Dragons rounded out a lengthy set with an appropriate shout out to local radio for all of their recent love.
Imagine Dragons 
(Official)
The Jezabels are a band that give off a nostalgic wash somewhere in the midst of their atmosphere of delay guitar driven, synth fueled dance rock. Singer Hayley Mary has a charisma, it’s a bit of a star quality that’s not without its own critique, she also has an impressive vocal range that can maneuver with the best of them. The reference list could go from Stevie Nicks, to Benatar, and Hynde to even contemporaries like Karen O and (dare we say) Hayley Williams (add a little Chris Martin like diction). Combine it all with her confident and free-spirited stage presence, and we have the one and only Hayley Mary. As for the band members, the guitar work particularly weaves well throughout the layerings of keyboards courtesy of Heather Shannon. If you like your guitar pop bands served with a lush side of uptempo and well-informed indie rock, then catch Jezabels live and spin a few tracks off of their new debut Prisoner LP.
The Jezabels 
(Facebook)
