“I wanted to take a more holistic approach on POWER and create the universe before the songs,” Sarah Tudzin said about the latest illuminati hotties LP in an interview with Clash earlier this year. “I do think this album will take a lot more elbow grease to pull off live as opposed to past ones […] I do think the infusion of pop on POWER demands a show with higher production value, so one of my main summer projects is trying to elevate that aspect of my concerts to give these songs the performances they need.”
True to her word, her group’s live act this fall has been truly spectacular. A month after the aforementioned record went live in late August, illuminati hotties hit the road for a 30-date trek across North America with Daffo and Maddie Ross. The Can’t Be Still Tour passed through every corner of the United States before circling back to the band’s home turf of Los Angeles, California for their final performance at the Teragram Ballroom.
Whereas it’s common for there to be an incongruence between headliners and their opening acts, the three forces sharing the stage each night of the concert series fit together perfectly. Spunky and vigorous, Ross made every second of her half-hour set count with some of the finest cuts from her catalog. Next, Gabbie Gamberg & Co. aka. Daffo went back-and-forth playing with the energy level of the room, turning it up then back down throughout their 40 minutes.
The audience was nice and warmed up by the time illuminati hotties came on and took complete control of everyone present with a healthy blend of day-one favorites and fresh material. The 22-song performance comprised everything from early-career tunes such as “(You’re Better) Than Ever” and “Declutter” to their most recent joints like “Sleeping In” and “What’s The Fuzz?” Of course, Tudzin’s perpetual chirp mixed with her tenderpunk attitude made the music twice as much fun as it is on record.
Next up, illuminati hotties will be going on tour with Cavetown early next year. The upcoming dates are as follows:
2/11 – House Of Blues – Anaheim, CA
2/12 – Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA
2/14 – Knitting Factory Boise – Boise, ID
2/15 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
2/16 – Knitting Factory Spokane – Spokane, WA
Maddie Ross, Daffo & illuminati hotties Live At The Teragram Ballroom
Maddie Ross in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Gabbie Gamberg w/ Daffo in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Sarah Tudzin w/ illuminati hotties in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Sarah Tudzin w/ illuminati hotties in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Sarah Tudzin w/ illuminati hotties in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
