Every so often I go on a musical bender and lately I’ve been listening to a lot of early ’80s new wave classics. Blondie’s Parallel Lines and the classic Cars album Heartbeat City have both been in my heavy rotation this past month. With Swedish hipsters The Sounds making a Los Angeles visit last week, it was clear the new wave universe was telling me something, and I needed to be in attendance.
Last time the Sounds came through LA they played the much larger Wiltern Theater. The hollow sound and echoey room didn’t suit them and it felt like the band was too far away from their fans. The Avalon in Hollywood is a more intimate venue. The sold out crowd was smashed up against the stage, and lead singer Maja Ivarsson was in her element strutting from one side of the stage to the other and singing like her life depended on it.
The Sounds are on tour to promote their first release on Side One Dummy Records entitled Something to Die For. They played a bit of new material including “Dance With The Devil,” “Better Off Dead,” and “The No No Song,” but also played crowd favorites “Song With A Mission” and “Living In America,” much to the delight of the packed house.
The Sounds are what rock and roll is missing these days. A group of talented musicians without egos, having fun, performing their songs to people who are excited to hear them. They are the real deal.
