LA’s own Local Natives have barely spent any time in their hometown the last few years, touring constantly.
Today, we were able to grab them for a very special performance – the first time they’ve played with a string quartet on the radio, a fitting preview to their sold out show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on February 26. (so sold out, in fact, that Taylor Rice’s mom called the station to try to win tickets!)
They revealed that the show will consist of two sets – the first with a string quartet and the second with a 23-piece orchestra. Taylor says it’s been his dream to play there ever since he went on a tour with an architecture class he was taking at UCLA and heard an organist rehearsing. It literally took his breath away. All the guys said they’re amazed by how far they’ve come in such a short amount of time (reaching your “dream” within a year or so of releasing your debut is pretty incredible), with Kelcey Ayer saying he feels like he grew five years in two.
The string quartet brought new life to songs I’ve loved for a longtime. A track like “Cubism Dream” was simply stunning in this arrangement. They also played a couple covers — “Warning Signs,” which is on the album Gorilla Manor, and Television’s “Careful.”
The band plans on putting down some roots in LA this year to work on their second record.
Writing on the road is rough, so bassist Andy Hamm tells me they’re not going in with songs already worked out. These guys seem (and sing) like brothers who are totally on the same wavelength so I don’t think it will take them long to strike gold while holed up in a studio. Excited to hear what’s next for them.
In the meantime, today’s set is not to be missed AND we’ll be offering it as a Morning Becomes Eclectic podcast on February 24 as a preview to the show!
RR
Local Natives Live on KCRW w/ Strings
Camera Talk
World News
Warning Signs
Stranger Things
Wide Eyes
Cubism Dream
Who Know Who Cares
Careful