Last night, the Honda Civic Tour, came to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Performers included Tokyo Police Club, Portugal. The Man, and Grouplove.

Due to traffic (thanks LA) I wasn’t able to see Tokyo Police Club’s set. Luckily, I did walk into the venue just as Portugal. The Man started playing. This is the fourth time I’ve seen them live; the group never fails to impress me. The set was about an hour long. It included some songs off their most recent album, “Evil Friends”, such as “Waves”, “Modern Jesus”, and “Creep in a T-Shirt” weaved in with old favorites like, “So American”, “Sun”, and “People Say”. “Waves” incorporated a curved, wave-like psychedelic light show that made the audience go crazy each time it appeared. The way the band was able to smoothly transition from one song to the next as if the whole show was one, big mash-up is always one of my favorite parts when seeing Portugal. The Man. Every single song gave off the group’s signature rock-groove style. Coupled with Gourley’s impressive melodically high vocals, the band’s instrumental sound was flawlessly original. Another part of the performance I really enjoyed was the slideshow of Gourley’s own drawings playing on the back screen. His original art is so unique and it’s always respectable to showcase more than just a musical talent.

Grouplove came on after a short break. The vibes were definitely more energetic than the laid-back rock from Portugal’s crowd. The group came out to “Wild for the Night”, which set the tone perfectly for the rest of the evening. Songs included “Itchin’ on a Photograph”, “Ways to Go”, “Colours”, and many more. Each member brought life to the stage. I’ve seen Grouplove play live twice before, so just like Portugal. The Man, I knew what to expect. Every time I watch them perform, the amount that each member of Grouplove gets into their own music and brightens up the crowd is something that always impresses me. Whether its lead singer Christian Zucconi’s blue hair and shirts long enough to be a dress, or vocalist Hannah Hooper’s crazy dancing, Grouplove is definitely an act to witness.

Something a little out of the ordinary was seeing former keyboardist/drummer Kane Ritchotte and guitarist Noah Gersh standing right below my section as Portugal. The Man played their set. To my knowledge, these members were still performing with the band. The men were very approachable and my friend and I were even able to have a casual conversation with them. They haven’t been playing with the band for a while, which is something I’m surprised I haven’t heard about. Ritchotte and Gersh were also taken aback that my friend even recognized them in the first place. Apparently he was the first one to say something to them. There’s a lesson to keep your eyes open, kids!

Overall, the experience was amazing. For the amount of concerts I’ve been to I can never get over how great the atmosphere is. I caught myself a healthy amount of times just looking around and taking everything in: the outdoor venue, the smiles on peoples’ faces, the crazy dancing right in front of me. Watching music make people happy is something they don’t put on a ticket. But my $70 definitely included more than just incredible music.