Red Bull Sound Select events are stronger than ever. May’s installment brought us to the rather secretive Westside, CA venue Del Monte Speakeasy by the water. Flood Magazine curated a night with King Tuff closing out the show after a shreddingly epic set by Venice-locals, The Shrine.
All photos by Marv Watson/Red Bull Sound Select
Outside the unassuming location, throngs of people lined the street in hopes of getting into the rather tiny secret venue for a night that most certainly promised all the dirty rock and roll moments that make local concerts so enticing. Del Monte Speakeasy not only provides an utterly intimate setting for a show, but also has surprisingly decent acoustics for basically being a glorified basement. It is tucked underneath the main bar down a steep staircase at the back of the venue. After making way down the dimly lit stairs, you enter the Devil’s armpit – a room so crowded that there are merely inches allowed for sifting through the crowd of sweaty people who only perpetuate the humid stench wafting through the air. Space is limited, the room’s climate is comparable to primo sauna standards, and the ceiling is so low that all taller patrons walk with a hunchback to avoid concussions. The stage is set at the front of the underground space. Unfortunately, it is only raised about a foot high, so as The Shrine wraps up a tasty shred of a jam, the only visible part of their set is the tops of their long mops as they headbang through to the end. Despite all the opposing physical forces, the night turns out to be a success.
After a refreshing break between sets, the King Tuff trio takes over. It is not even a bother that the guys are hidden by the crowd of people surrounding every inch of the venue – the best part of their music is hearing it live anyway. The intro to their newer song “Madness” beckons clapping and dancing almost immediately. Tuff released his third studio album Black Moon Spell in September 2014 and spent the greater part of the past year touring it. The group took a great stride playing several showcases at SXSW in Austin in March, especially the Flood Magazine night party at Cedar Street Courtyard. The album is widely received as a triumphant perpetuation of the quirky, yet fun rock Tuff continually cranks out.
At a show, Tuff brings the fun to life. They propel an energy that is so vigorous it can make a new fan out of just about any fresh pair of ears it reaches. Frontman and founder Kyle Thomas takes the concept of garage rock to the next level. He blends elements of surf, grit and even some jammy classic rock vibes which ultimately create a catchy sound so enticing it will fill a room with dancing bodies in mere seconds. In this case it also filled the room with thick smoke billowing through across the shallow ceilings practically every three minutes. Despite the unpleasant physical elements, familiar hits like “Beautiful Thing” and especially “Eye of the Muse” incite a dancing frenzy in the center of the pit. Tuff has been known for wildly entertaining sets – like gifts that keep on giving. They even gave the crowd a blast from King Tuff’s past with “Sun Medallion,” to which fans eagerly dance and sing along. Certainly they have taken great strides in the past year moving into a wider range of fandom. It does not stop here as they make their way into the next leg of touring. They even have another Red Bull Sound Select showcase set for June 4 at Austin’s famed Mowhawk.
All photos by Marv Watson/Red Bull Sound Select
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