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Writer's pictureThe Mic Magazine

LANY @ Rock City

Los Angeles synth-pop trio deliver a dreamy set of indie hits on the nineteenth leg of their seventy-eight-date world tour


Since their formation in 2014, LA-based indie-pop trio LANY have snuck through the quagmire of pop with their transcendent and spacious synth-pop platform lifting them to great heights in recent years. Consisting of Paul Jason Klein (vocals, keys, guitar), Les Priest (keys and guitar) and Jake Clifford Goss (drums), the trio became internet sensations with the release of debut EP ‘Acronyms’. From there, LANY brought out a well-received self-titled debut record in the summer of 2017 before returning in October 2018 with sophomore album ‘Malibu Nights’, a melancholic recollection of heartbreak with a subtle dose of head-swaying indie bliss.


California alt-pop trio lovelytheband kickstarted the night in spectacular fashion with a rock-oriented set of alternative tracks. Opening their show with “make you feel pretty”, the three-piece’s energy enraptured the lively crowd who had amassed especially for the supporting set. Despite only being given a short time on stage, the band offered enough charm to excite the crowd about the prospect of a return date in the future, and with a spectacular cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”, the trio had already won the crowd over within the opening fifteen minutes.


Before launching into their biggest hit to date in “broken”, frontman Mitchy Collins took a minute to remind the crowd of the importance of looking after each other through times of mental difficulty, which was a poignant moment given the tragic loss of Prodigy icon Keith Flint. Closing the show with crowd sing-along “these are my friends”, lovelytheband pushed their name into the minds of many who hadn’t heard of them before.


As the final swarm of crowd members congregated in the busy Nottingham venue, LANY took to the stage and were greeted with a sea of phones and cameras, eagerly anticipating the opening bars to “Thick and Thin”, a highlight on the trio’s recent ‘Malibu Nights’ record. With the confidence and swagger woven into the fabric of most LA-based artists, “Good Girls” and “4Ever!” were met with a chorus of screams from around Rock City.


The smooth, synth-pop builder of “yea, babe, no way” saw frontman Paul Jason Klein gliding across the legendary stage before weirdly gyrating atop a raised platform. “I Don’t Wanna Love You Anymore” provided the first real highlight of the set, with mass participation during the simple yet addictive chorus. “Made in Hollywood” saw Klein greeting a hysterical front row, whose cries incidentally injected an increased confidence into the trio for “Hurts” and “Run”.


A simple yet effective visual greeted the steady “Valentine’s Day” before “If You See Her” launched yet another frenzied moment within the crowd. Whilst at times, LANY’s set dragged on with its similar and simplistic synth-pop offering, tracks like “If You See Her” provide such warmth within the choruses that it’s impossible not to be overwhelmed by the trio’s euphoric sing-along moments when played live.


As “The Breakup” came and went, early fan favourite “Pink Skies” provided a poignant recollection for both the fans and the band members themselves to look back at how far they’ve come over the past four years. Reflecting on the trio’s last outing in Nottingham supporting Ellie Goulding at the intimate Bodega, the band thanked its fans by launching into the instantly catchy “Super Far” before leaving the stage on the title track of their recent record, “Malibu Nights”.


LANY’s loyal following ensured that the gig was an enjoyable one for all present, and as the crowd welcomed the LA band back for the encore, they were greeted with the moment of the set with “Thru These Tears” which was belted out by almost everyone in the venue. Ending on “ILYSB”, LANY’s simple but effective algorithm for producing instant hit-makers was clear to see throughout the night. Having perfected this formula over two albums already, and with just under fifty shows still to come, LANY are a band continuously striving for bigger and better things, and will likely be rewarded for their enthusiastic work ethic in the near future.


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