Review: Hiatus Kaiyote at The Observatory and The El Rey

Constructing the February concert calendar for the whirlwind which led me to attend an event each night during Grammy week, I made sure to pencil in Hiatus Kaiyote who announced a series of last min shows in Southern Cali. Getting a chance to briefly chat with them at SXSW in ’15 (peep the interview HERE ), I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see HK (who are based in Melbourne, Australia) twice in one week. For anyone who’s experienced Hiatus Kaiyote live, you know what’s up. For anyone who hasn’t, get thee to a show ASAP.

In town for the 58th Grammy ceremony where they garnered their second Grammy nod for “Best R&B Performance” for “Breathing Underwater”, OC dwellers and Angelenos were treated to shows highlighting brand new experimental joints and familiar material off the debut, ‘Tawk Tomahawk’ and their recent release ‘Choose Your Weapon’. In a festive mood, Nai (cat and MJ repping) met each lyric-singing crowd on Tuesday and Thursday with abundant smiles, lighting up the stage in her signature way, with Simon, Bender and Perrin demonstrating the on-point musicianship that makes Hiatus Kaiyote a tight band (that always provides my airport travel soundtrack). Saying hi at a meet and greet after the LA show, I tried not to fangirl too hard (even though I wanted to) when I asked about 2016 future plans which they told me will include more touring later this year. If they’re in your vicinity, go see them and visit their site for any future show deets HERE!