The showcase party for new entertainment company, .html, was launched Wednesday night at The Palm Door on 6th Street. The brains behind the company came from none other than The Neighborhood’s own frontman Jesse Rutherford and guitarist Zach Abels, along with Kirk Harding (owner of the Crowd Control Management). It was an inspiring night to see upfront how talented performers can show their exponential growth and involvement within the industry.

There was a two stage set up within the easily transitional indoor and outdoor layout of the venue. A large white tent was positioned in the far back right on the outside of the patio for the outdoor stage.

Ivan and The Parazol were already jamming out on the patio. They had opened with “Baby Blue,” a song on their newest album. Their mixture of cowbell, simple guitar riffs and deep sultry vocals were very reminiscent of The Rolling Stones in the early seventies. Concertgoers still crammed under the small white tent to groovy to their song “Take My Hand.” Ivan and the Parazol still delivered the maximum amount of energy even, as a relatively unknown band in the US; their rock soul got the come crowd engaged and on their toes.

Inside of the Palm Door the artist RÁJ, accompanied by a full band, was setting up for his set. Decked in all black with a black pilgrim hat to match, RÁJ looked like someone of mystery. This California native seemed to have popped up serval months ago thanks to The Neighborhood sticking him on some California dates last fall. RÁJ welcomed the crowd below before immediately beginning the set. His first song, “Gentle,” captivated the audience as they inched closer to the stage. RÁJ’s vocals were haunting and had some sort of sex appeal. The selection of having RÁJ open for The Neighborhood helped set the mood perfectly. It was the rendition of his track “Let Me Love You” that drew the crowd in closer, loaded with applause as the band humbly said goodbye.

With a line still out the door and almost to the end of the block, badge holders, festival goers and music fans alike still held on faithfully trying to get inside. At this point, it was a highly enforced one-in-and-one-out policy with attendance. Those lucky enough to get in the Palm Door still experienced a struggle as people elbowed and wiggled towards the front.

The Neighborhood slinked on stage dressed in their iconic blacked-out apparel. Technical difficulties with the audio stalled the performance for at least ten minutes. Frontman Jesse Ruthford tried his best to divert the situation, apologizing for their lack of preparation of a sound check prior. After counting down they gave the crowd a treat with kicking their set with their new song, “Silver.” The boys delivered a perfect, moody and sensuous performance that was short and sweet. Rutherford stole the stage with his melancholy vocals and smooth hip grinds which no one seemed to mind. The Neighborhood proved to have finally found their sound and spot within the indie-pop culture, but with the launching of Rutherford and Abels’ launching of .html, it’s apparent that these boys are in it for the long run.

The Neighborhood Set List

Silver
Female Robbery
Let it Go
W.D.Y.W.F.M?
Lurk
Sweater Weather
Afraid