by Chloe Catajan
From late summer nights to waiting by the phone for that call or text,
LANY embraces every high and low of love. The trio's songs indulge in these vignettes of falling head over heels, heartache, and everything in between. Powered by dream pop melodies, LANY's music is both reflective and euphoric—a sonic haven cherished by the next generation of romantics.
This was the case when Last.fm caught LANY's sold-out, first of two nights in San Francisco. More than halfway through their world tour, the Los Angeles natives were welcomed back to their home state with gargantuan singalongs and tons of flowers (both long-lived traditions at LANY shows).
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On a two-story stage, the group launched into the infectious groove of “Thick and Thin" from 2018's Malibu Nights. Keyboardist-guitarist Les Priest, drummer Jake Goss, and touring guitarist Giuliano Pizzulo performed on the elevated platform, while frontman Paul Klein stayed at ground level. When Klein wasn't at his guitar or set of keys, he used his space to maximum effect, dancing all across the floor and meeting fans face-to-face.
Live, LANY's music was an emotional catharsis. Klein delivered heartfelt vocals, belting the final notes of confessional tracks like “I Don't Wanna Love You Anymore." Meanwhile, Goss' drumming drove cuts like “Taking Me Back" and “Made In Hollywood" with an epic momentum, while Priest's and Pizzulo's riffs were like electric currents against the glossy synths—vivid and energizing. The immersive experience was made complete by the widespread visuals that switched between glitching patterns, sunset colors, starry skies, and more.
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To close the show, LANY ended with “Thru These Tears" and breakthrough single “ILYSB." The stage screen changed to a final image: the cover of storybook classic, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise.
Singer-songwriter Sasha Sloan opened the concert with an equally emotive set, performing songs off her EPs, sad girl and Loser. Her velvety vocals and gentle keyboard melodies perfectly reflected the thoughtful nature of her music. This especially resonated on “Normal" and “Older," which touched on Sloan's experiences with wanting to fit in and growing up with divorced parents, respectively.
(Photos: Chloe Catajan)
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