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Jan 29, 2014 Kisses By Laura Studarus Photography by Laura Studarus

Ernest Greene isn’t a likely rock star. The Perry, Georgia musician started Washed Out as a bedroom-recording project—and if his first EPs under the moniker were any indication, he would have been happy to let it stay there. But people change. Sub Pop comes knocking. Hipster Runoff fades from the scene and takes the term Chillwave with it. For anyone who still doesn’t believe, Greene made sure to kick out the smooth hits with an extra layer of rock during Monday’s sold out show at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

The leader of a sizable band (which includes Greene’s wife), Greene switched between the guitar, keyboard, and tambourine during the performance, often depending on his backing musicians to do a sizable portion of the heavy lifting. Not an over-the-top showman (again, bedroom musician on the big stage), much of the drama was brought by stage decorations, featuring a twinkly set of lit trees and a lighting pattern that alternated between Easter egg pastels and near darkness.

Yes it was rock—and it was loud. But one cannot doubt the meditative power of Washed Out’s catalogue in a live setting. Although having ushered in a more organic element with recent album Paracosm, Greene still uses many of the tricks that made Within and Without such a success. Long melodic phrases repeated like a hall of mirrors. Mumbled vocals. Slowly building crescendos. The result is that at the end of the night it’s still all pop zen. (Not that we’re complaining.)

Also on hand was Kisses. The Los Angeles duo split the set between debut album The Heart of the Nightlife, and recent release Kids in L.A. The performance was lightweight, giddy, and a lot of fun. Judging by frontman Jesse Kivel’s ironic mustache and the pair’s enthusiastic jumping, that’s exactly the vibe that they wanted.

Washed Out Setlist:

1. It All Feels Right

2. Belong

3. New Theory

4. Get Up

5. Far Away

6. Despicable Dogs

7. FIAA

8. Falling Back

9. All I Know

10. You and I

11. Amor Fati

Encore

12. Weightless

13. Hold Out

14. Eyes Be Closed

Check out photos of Kisses and Washed Out here.

(www.facebook.com/washed.out)

(www.facebook.com/blowkisses)